Baseball is focus of fundraising for Vermont farms

RANDOLPH, Vt. — Some of the heaviest hitters in baseball management are going to bat for Vermont farms damaged by flooding from Tropical Storm Irene.

Former Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein, now of the Chicago Cubs, is in Randolph on Saturday along with Brian Cashman of the New York Yankees and Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington to talk baseball.

The effort is part of a fundraising effort by ESPN baseball writer Buster Olney, who grew up in the area.

An online auction of baseball memorabilia donated by players and teams is being held.

The funds raised will go to the Vermont Farm Disaster Relief Fund, set up by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture and The Vermont Community Foundation.