Photo courtesy of Craig Macnaughton/New York 90 Photos
As advocates of the artistic spirit, Guild Hall is excited to be partnering with the historic Artists & Writers organization this year to promote a truly original softball game. It can get wild and wooly and it’s always fun and creative.
The Artists & Writers Charity Softball Game traces its origins to a pick-up softball game, organized in 1948 by a group of artists that included Willem de Kooning, Franz Kline, Philip Pavia, and Jackson Pollock. We are proud to say that we have works by each of these artists in the Guild Hall permanent collection. For the last 39 years, community leader and artist Leif Hope has stewarded the game and brought together nationally known celebrities and figureheads such as Alec Baldwin, Bill Clinton, Yogi Berra, Christie Brinkley, Joe Torre, and others.
The 2019 game will be held on August 17 at East Hampton’s Herrick Park, with the first pitch set for 3pm. Funds raised at this event will support vital charities on the East End including The Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center, Phoenix House Academy, The Retreat, East End Hospice, and Guild Hall.
Bring the whole family to the park and cheer on the players!
New players participating this year, including guitarist and musical legend GE Smith; his wife, producer Taylor Barton; NYC Ballet executive director Jon Stafford and multi-media artist Clifford Ross. That foursome will be taking the field for the Artists side, along with fellow Artist-newcomers model, photographer and skincare entrepreneur Rebecca Underdown; musician and photographer Chloe Gifkins; and model and influencer Sean O’Donnell, who has over one million followers on Instagram. Also new to the Artists side is acclaimed photographer Delfina Blacquier, who happens to be married to polo master Nacho Figueras.
The Writers, meanwhile, are expected to have a host of new players as well. Those include broadcaster and hockey legend Ron Duguay; ABC weatherman and new WLNG owner Bill Evans; CBS correspondent and Inside Edition weekend anchor Diane McInerney; screenwriter Daniel Pulick; Emmy award-winning filmmaker Rob Levi; stand-up comedian, actor and podcaster Remy Kassimir; parenting expert Erika Katz and financial writer Stone Abramson.
The Writers will be led by The New Yorker writer Ken Auletta and sportswriter/novelist Mike Lupica. Among the team’s many returnees are screenwriters Bill Collage and Alec Sokolow; copywriter Brett Shevak; Fox News correspondent Rick Leventhal; strength and conditioning expert Jay Cardiello; rap artist Lance Romance; surf reporter Tom LaGrassa; sports news reporter/producer Ann Liguori; explorer Richard Weise; biographer and media legend Walter Issacson and last year’s Most Valuable Player essayist, musician and illustrator Andy Friedman.
The Artists roster is being managed by Leif Hope and architect Ronnette Riley. The Artist returnees include street artist Zak Meers, landscape architect Ed Hollander, CharityBuzz founder Peter Borish, urban planner/designer Joe Sopiak, CBS News anchor Chris Wragge, film and video producer Stu Sleppin, graphic designer Walter Bernard, agent and entrepreneur Robert Tuchman as well as musicians Brian Pfund, Eddie McCarthy and Ron Noy.
To make a donation or sponsor the event please contact Kristen Curcie at 631-324-0806 x20 or
kcurcie@guildhall.org