ST. PETERSBURG -- Baseball will continue to thrive in Florida. That was the universal message delivered on Tuesday night, when a high-profile cast of politicians and baseball personnel, along with an unexpected celebrity, convened inside Tropicana Field for the Governor's Baseball Dinner.

After the event disappeared for a number of years, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist revived the annual gathering to celebrate the dawn of another Spring Training, promote the Grapefruit League and champion the progress that the Florida Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays have made in their quests to obtain new stadiums.

The dinner, which was highlighted by the appearances of Major League Baseball President and Chief Operating Officer Bob DuPuy, Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and comedian Bill Murray, took place on the eve of Wednesday's first Spring Training contests. The event also comes in the wake of the news that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians, and perhaps the Cincinnati Reds in the near future, plan to move their spring sites to Arizona.

"We're not having this dinner by accident," Crist said. "I wanted to show how much we appreciate Major League Baseball and what they do here in Spring Training, and Minor League Baseball as well.

"It's awfully important to Florida and Floridians that the Grapefruit League continue to be prosperous and successful. So when I got elected Governor, one of the first things I wanted to do was reinstitute the Governor's Baseball Dinner to show that appreciation."

Despite the decisions by the Dodgers and Indians to call Arizona their new spring homes, beginning in 2009, Florida continues to benefit greatly from the constant presence of baseball. Currently, there are 16 communities within the Sunshine State that host big league ballclubs during Spring Training, and more than 1.7 million fans flocked to Florida last March to attend the exhibition games.

According to a survery originally published in 2000 and updated in 2005, professional baseball in the state of Florida nets an estimated $450 million to the state in economic impact. That total could continue to rise if both the Marlins and Rays' plans for new ballparks come to fruition. Just last week, Miami city officials approved a proposal to build a 37,000-seat stadium at the Orange Bowl site in time for the 2011 season.

Next in line are the Rays, who have proposed a $450 million waterfront ballpark that would be built on the site of Tampa Bay's current spring home, Al Lang Field, in St. Petersburg. The Rays have agreed to fund $150 million, and DuPuy said MLB might not be against assisting in paying for the project.

"We have even more to celebrate now," DuPuy said, "with the vote in Miami last week ensuring that the Florida Marlins -- soon to be Miami Marlins -- are going to stay here for generations to come. And when the vision that was outlined on the waterfront ... earlier this year becomes a reality, it'll do the same for the Tampa Bay Rays as well.

"We'll get it done," he continued. "Whatever [the Rays] ask us to do, we'll provide as much assistance as possible. We like this market. We believe in this market. We believe this ballpark they outline will do the same thing for this area that it's done in so many other areas in Major League Baseball over the last 20 years.

"Historically, we haven't been able to [provide funding], because the money hasn't been there. ... Things have gotten better, teams are making money and I think there's a commitment to seeing baseball survive in some places. We're not opposed to looking at some forms of assistance when asked."

"It's awfully important to Florida and Floridians that the Grapefruit League continue to be prosperous and successful."

-- Florida Gov. Charlie Crist

Crist and DuPuy were joined on Tuesday night by representatives from clubs that currently maintain spring sites in Florida. Reds radio voice Marty Brennaman served as the master of ceremonies and Hall of Famer Robin Roberts, former slugger Fred McGriff, Rays senior baseball adviser Don Zimmer and Ripken were among those seated at the head table.

Some of those in attendance included Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, Reds manager Dusty Baker, Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland, Red Sox principal owner John Henry, and Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail, among others.

Everyone on hand, including the hundreds of guests who purchased tickets, were entertained by a brief speech made by Murray -- an owner of three Minor League franchises, including the Fort Myers Miracle. Murray, who is well-known for being a die-hard Cubs fan, strolled behind the podium on stage and welcomed the crowd with his best Lou Gehrig impresion.

"Today," said Murray, pausing to let his voice echo throughout the stadium to an eruption of laughter. "I consider myself ... the luckiest man ... in the state of Florida. I did not RSVP to this dinner. I still had a delicious filet and a salad and a fantastic dessert on Major League Baseball. I'm going to tell everybody."

Murray turned to Roberts and said the long-time Phillies pitcher was a source of some of the comedian's "first nightmares" during his childhood, thanks to the Hall of Famer's performances against the Cubs. Murray then said that Baker and Zimmer -- each former Cubs managers -- could understand the suffering he's endured as a lifelong Chicago fan.

"They know my pain. They know my feeling," Murray said. "To me, the ark of the covenant, the holiest of holies in baseball, is wherever the Chicago Cubs are. You understand what I'm saying? And yet, I prefer Spring Training in Florida."

After a long standing ovation, Ripken spoke about a few of his favorite Spring Training memories from his days in the Baltimore organization. Ripken smiled while talking about traveling with his dad, Cal Sr., as a kid on car rides in Daytona Beach, and he spun a tale about facing Hall of Famer Goose Gossage in his first-ever big-league Spring Training at-bat.

"I've only known baseball and Spring Training to be Florida," Ripken said. "I've had a wonderful time cruising around playing against many great players in the state of Florida and I had 21 years to really enjoy that at the Major League level."

Even though a pair of clubs have decided to leave for Arizona, DuPuy believes the state will continue to thrive as a host for Spring Training and a home to the Marlins and Rays. Crist and DuPuy also hope the Governor's Dinner can once again be an annual kickoff event.

"Things fluctuate and communities rise to the occasion," DuPuy said. "But Florida has been a critical part, and the Grapefruit League has been a critical part, of Major League Baseball. It will continue to be a critical part of Major League Baseball. We won't let the balance get out of whack.

"It's a wonderful time to celebrate baseball. It's a rite of spring," he added. "Governor Crist reviving this, the Florida Sports Foundation reviving this, it's a great way to celebrate."