Award-winning New York Mets play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen returns for the 2024 installment of the Ridgefield Library’s popular Hot Stove program on Saturday, February 17. This special event benefits the annual operating fund of the Ridgefield Library.
A 2023 inductee to the Mets’ Hall of Fame, and a member of the New York State Baseball Hall of Fame, Gary will entertain questions from the audience, share anecdotes from his more than three decades broadcasting the Mets and provide his take on the upcoming Major League Baseball season, including new Mets GM David Stearns, manager Carlos Mendoza and major player acquisitions. As in previous years, Gary will sign autographs and take pictures with fans following the Hot Stove discussion.
The Hot Stove event sells out quickly, and fans are encouraged to purchase tickets early. To accommodate increased demand, the 2024 event will take place at the Ridgefield Playhouse, allowing more fans to participate in the conversation.
The Library is offering dedicated fans a special VIP package that guarantees seating in the first four rows of the Playhouse, a commemorative 2024 “Hot Stove with Gary Cohen” t-shirt, 10 raffle tickets, and priority access for the post-event Meet and Greet with Gary.
Saturday, February 17
At the Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 East Ridge Road, Ridgefield, CT
1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Seating begins at 12:00 noon)
Tickets available online at https://ridgefieldlibrary.ejoinme.org/HotStove2024
Donation: Field Level (orchestra) -- $40; Upper Deck (balcony; no ability to ask questions) -- $25
VIP Packages (including seating in first four rows, commemorative lanyard and t-shirt, priority access to the Meet and Greet with Gary and 10 raffle tickets) -- $110
Beginning Monday, December 4, Library patrons and Mets fans have opportunities to bid on exclusive game packages and memorabilia. Bidding runs through 2:25 p.m. on Saturday, February 17, with winners announced at the end of the Hot Stove program. Attendance is not required.
Packages include:
- The “It’s Outta Here!” package – 4 field-level seats with a pre-game visit to the SNY broadcast booth (courtesy of Gary and Lynn Cohen)
- The “Polar Bear” package -- 4 seats in the Citi Pavilion, with $30 beverage and store credit per seat, free soda/beer/snacks, signed Pete Alonso Major League baseball and 2 Pete Alonso bobbleheads (courtesy of Citibank)
- The “Spring Fever” game package – 4 seats to an April or May home game, including free parking (courtesy of the New York Mets)
- The “I’m Keith Hernandez” package – An exclusive signed and framed 2023 game-used scorecard from SNY broadcaster and all-time Mets great Keith Hernandez (courtesy of Keith Hernandez and Lynn Cohen)
- “The Franchise” package – A hard-to-find bottle of Mets legend Tom Seaver’s 2017 GTS cabernet sauvignon and a replica of the Tom Seaver statue outside of Citi Field (courtesy of David Yaun)
- The “GKR Superfan” package – A complete of set of “Gary, Keith and Ron” bobbleheads and official major league baseballs signed by Gary, Keith and Ron (courtesy of the New York Mets)
- The “Fabulous Gary Keith and Ron” package – An autographed and framed promotional poster and MLB ball signed by all three (courtesy of Lynn Cohen and SNY)
- The “Forever Blue and Orange” package – A one-of-a-kind Mets designer tote bag, exclusive to the Ridgefield Library Hot Stove; a Francisco Lindor “Grass-Growing Bobblehead;” and a copy of Sports Illustrated’s The New York Mets: Celebrating Six Decades of Amazin’ Baseball (courtesy of Jan Conti; Lynn Cohen; and Triumph Books)