09:49 AM EDT on Tuesday, July 13, 2004

"I didn't get a chance to get any licks in at batting practice, so I can't promise much. That's okay. I'm used to booing. In Virginia, they boo differently than in Providence. Up here, they boo you in Italian. A-Boo, A-Boo." -- Pete Gillen, University of Virginia basketball coach.

"In the fourth grade, I played Little League. I struck out all season. Then I got lucky and hit a grand slam. I quit after that and never played again." -- Dickey Simpkins, former PC center and Chicago Bull.

"Damn, that hurts my hands." -- Marvin Barnes, while taking batting practice.

"I'm waiting for Nettles to show up so I can drill the son of a [gun]." -- Bill Lee.

""This is awesome. It's great to be back. The five years I was here were the greatest five years I've spent (in baseball). It was hard to leave here, but the reason why I was here was to have a chance to go to the big leagues. So, it's great to be back. Ben has treated me like a family member, and I think it's great for them to have this event. To be a part of this means so much more." -- Former PawSox and current Red Sox play-by-play broadcaster Don Orsillo.

"This is great. Bottom line is, a lot of us played here, and were treated very well in our Triple-A days. To be able to come back and give something back to Ben, Mike and Lou, it's an honor to be part of this. It's a privilege. If there's anything I can do for this organization down the road I will." -- Former PawSox, Red Sox and current minor-league director for the Cincinnati Reds Tim Naehring.

"Not that I don't like J.P., but Dom's my man," said Pawtucket bullpen catcher Joe Voccio, who was hoping he'd be on fellow Italian-American Dom DiMaggio's team rather than Johnny Pesky's.

"Besides my family, the two things I love in life is music and baseball," song writer Terry Cashman, who wrote "Talkin' Baseball."

""This is like being a little kid." -- Doug Flutie.

"It's all about being in the right place at the right time. I came up with the bases loaded and Wade Boggs on deck. So I knew I had to do something. Again, it was right place, right time and a great memory." -- Dave Koza, who played at McCoy from 1977-83 but is best known for stroking the game-winning hit to end the historic Longest Game in the 33rd inning back in 1981.

"That's why you have assistants. After 17 years as a coach, I can finally delegate. I wouldn't miss this for the world." -- URI coach Jim Baron, when asked if he might miss any recruits because of his detour back to Rhode Island for last night's festivities.