When Utah baseball coach Bill Kinneberg flew back to Salt Lake City after attending Game 3 of the World Series in Denver, he couldn't help but notice that half the passengers on the plane were wearing Boston Red Sox gear.

"The Red Sox nation is everywhere," Kinneberg said. "We saw that in Denver."

Tonight at the Sheraton City Centre Hotel, it's Salt Lake's turn.

"An Evening with Terry Francona," a $100 per-plate fundraising reception and dinner for the University of Utah baseball program, is completely sold out. A crowd of 450 will gather to meet and hear remarks from the manager of the World Series champion Red Sox.

"Every time he wins he's got to come back to Salt Lake," Kinneberg said of Francona, who was also the guest speaker at Utah's annual fund-raiser in 2004 after Boston won the title. "But I won't put that pressure on him again."

Kinneberg and Francona were teammates at the University of Arizona and have remained good friends.

"He's been very special for me and my family for the last 30 years," Kinneberg said. "He's my son's godfather, so there's a lot of deep and cherished friendship with our families. It's very special to have him here again."

Between visits by Francona, Utah welcomed Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. and Brooks Robinson to town. The 4-year-old function has proven to be quite popular.

"I hope that this banquet is something that's a reflection of Utah baseball as well," Kinneberg said. "People have come and enjoyed the three previous banquets, and word has spread."

The next step, Kinneberg said, is to take it to the field. The main objective of the annual fundraiser is to create an atmosphere to get Utah baseball in the public eye, and the Utes can do their part by putting together a successful program.

With baseball season fast approaching — the Utes open at San Jose State on Feb. 22 — Kinneberg isn't looking too far ahead. Especially, he explained, when it comes to finding next year's guest speaker. Topping Francona, Ripken and Robinson won't be easy.

"I don't even want to think about next year," Kinneberg said. "I'll think about this again in October."