COOPERSTOWN, NY - Jim Rice spent his entire big league career playing in front of Fenway Park's Green Monster.

But come Sept. 7 in Cooperstown, Rice will be playing a different kind of "green" in support of Pathfinder Village residents.

The 28^th Annual Otesaga Hotel Seniors Open and Pro-Am Golf Tournament will be held Sept. 7-10 at the Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown. 2009 Hall of Fame inductee and Boston Red Sox legend Jim Rice, who spent his entire 16-year major league career with the Red Sox at Fenway Park, will appear as the celebrity host for the Tuesday Pro-Am, while top pros from around the country will compete in the Seniors Open, which runs Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 8-10. The Seniors Open continues to be known as one of the country's premier non-PGA tournaments.

The presenting sponsors for the 2010 Otesaga Hotel Seniors Open and Pro-Am Golf Tournament are NBT Bank, Coca-Cola Enterprises and Strategic Financial Services, LLC, of Utica.

Tuesday's Pro-Am will feature approximately 32 teams comprised of four amateurs and one professional each, in a two-man, best-ball format. Rice, an eight-time American League All-Star and 1978 AL Most Valuable Player, will help kick off the Pro-Am by participating in the tournament, which begins with an 11:30 a.m. shotgun start.

Proceeds from the traditional post-Labor Day event benefit Pathfinder Village, located in nearby Edmeston, a residential community dedicated to children and adults with Down syndrome. Annually, the Seniors Open raises more than $50,000 for scholarships for Pathfinder and directly helps the village's 80-plus residents. Over $1.3 million has been raised for Pathfinder Village through the years.

Proceeds also benefit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum educational program, which enables the world-famous Museum to fulfill its educational mission and care for its priceless collections.

Overlooking picturesque Otsego Lake, the Otesaga Hotel's Leatherstocking Golf Course is considered one of the East's most scenic and historic par-72 layouts. Designed by the legendary Devereux Emmet in 1909, Leatherstocking has been rated "four stars" by Golf Digest's "Places to Play."

In 2009, Jeff Roth of Flushing, Mich., won the Seniors Open with a three-day total of 207. The complete list of former champions: 2008: Jerry Tucker; 2007: Scott Spence; 2006: Bobby Heins; 2005: Darrell Kestner; 2004: John Gentile; 2003: Lonnie Nielsen; 2002: Dan Wood; 2001: John Traub; 2000: Paul Parjeckas; 1999: Marty Bohen; 1998: Tony Perla; 1997: John Gentile; 1996: Austin Straub; 1995: Tom Joyce; 1994: Tom Joyce; 1993: Ray Montgomery; 1992: Dave Philo; 1991: Tom Joyce; 1990: Jim Albus; 1989: Dick Sarta; 1988: Pete Hessemer; 1987: Doug Dalziel; 1986: Bob Bruno; 1985: Richard Howell; 1984: Rolland Stafford; 1983: Donald Hoenig.

**MEDIA ALERT**

 Jim Rice to Meet with Media

 at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 7 

 -- Hall of Famer in Cooperstown as Celebrity Host for Pro-Am --    

WHAT:  Hall of Famer Jim Rice will be available to the media before the start of the Otesaga Hotel Seniors Open Pro-Am. 

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 7, 11 a.m. Media should plan to arrive no later than 10:45 a.m. 

WHERE: Patio, Leatherstocking Golf Course, Cooperstown, N.Y. 

RSVP:  Those interested in covering the media availability MUST RSVP by Sept. 3 by contacting Brad Horn, the             Museum's Senior Director of Communications and Education, at 607-547-0287 or via e-mail at bhorn@baseballhalloffame.org.