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Home , Al Leiter, Brad Mills (manager), Carl Erskine, Corey Dickerson, Doug Glanville, Mike Myers (baseball)

NEWS WINTER 2018

AN EVENING OF HONOR, CELEBRATION AND CHARITY 2

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MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYERS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

BETTS, FRANCONA AND GIBSON HONORED AT LEGENDS FOR YOUTH DINNER

By Bill Ladson, MLB.com It was quite a year for Betts, who is an you to the Alumni Association, the Red Sox, NEW YORK ­— , Terry AL MVP winner and my teammates.” Francona and were winner. Besides guiding the Red Sox to Brandon Nimmo, who was the honored on Tuesday, November 8 at the their fourth championship Heart and Hustle recipient for the Mets, said Players Alumni in 15 years, Betts led the Majors in runs Betts deserved the overall award. Association’s Legends for Youth Dinner scored (129), average (.346) and (.640). “We all believe Mookie plays the game the at Capitale in Manhattan. right way. What an award to win, to add A few hours after winning an American Off the field, Betts was active in the to his accolades,” Nimmo said. “He will League , Betts was community, and he brought hot meals to probably end up winning the AL MVP. named the overall Heart and Hustle the homeless outside the Library Not only does he play the game extremely Award winner. The last member of the after the Red Sox defeated the Dodgers, well, he plays it extremely hard. He plays it Red Sox to win the award was Dustin 4-2, in Game 2 of the World Series. with a passion and joy that we really enjoy. Pedroia, in 2013. Betts did not attend the dinner because He is definitely the winner. We are happy The award was created in 2005 as a way to of the birth of his daughter, but he left for him.” honor active players who “demonstrate a a video message, thanking the MLBPAA Betts wasn’t the only award winner at the passion for the game of baseball and best for the award. MLBPAA dinner. Indians Terry embody the values, spirit and tradition “It means a lot to me, to my family. We Francona received the of the game.” take those things seriously. Thank you for noticing,” Betts said. “I did want to say, thank Story continued on p. 3....

A PUBLICATION OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION www.baseballalumni.com E-mail: [email protected] Telephone: 1-800-336-5272 Looking for a tax free deduction? WINTER 2018 The MLBPAA is designated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Under the IRS code, your contributions, other than dues, are fully tax deductible. Contributions can be made in the form of cash, securities, or real estate. Check with your accountant or tax advisor regarding which is best for you. All checks should be made payable to the MLBPAA and sent to: 1631 Mesa Avenue, Suite D Colorado Springs, CO 80906.

MLBPAA Board of Directors Jim Hannan – Chairman Fred Valentine – Vice Chairman Sandy Alderson, John Doherty, Denny Doyle, Brian Fisher, Joe Garagiola, Jr., , Jim “Mudcat” Grant, Rich Hand, , Steve Rogers, Jim Sadowski, Fernando Tatis, Jose Valdivielso MLBPAA Officers Jim Hannan – Chairman Fred Valentine – Vice Chairman Brooks Robinson – President Vice Presidents – Bob Boone, , Carl Erskine, , Brian Fisher - Assistant Secretary Dan Foster – Chief Executive Officer Visit: baseballalumni.com/necrology Geoff Hixson – Chief Operating Officer David Mindell – Secretary/Treasurer & General Counsel Sam Moore – General Counsel Emeritus for our updated obituaries and archive. MLAM Board of Directors May they rest in peace. Jim Poole - Chairman , , John Doherty, Evan Kaplan, , Brian McRae, Ethan Orlinsky, Andy Parton, Brooks Robinson, Ed Weber MLAM Officers Jim Poole – Chairman Orestes Destrade – Vice Chairman – President Vice Presidents – Fergie Jenkins, Al Leiter, Andy Parton, Dan Foster – Chief Executive Officer Geoff Hixson – Chief Operating Officer David Mindell - Secretary/Treasurer & General Counsel MLAS Board of Directors Craig Skok – Chairman Eddie Robinson – Chairman Emeritus Steve Rogers – Secretary/Treasurer , , Dexter Fowler, Steve IN REMEMBRANCE OF BASEBALL LEGENDS Garvey, LaTroy Hawkins, Jason Phillips, MLAS Officers Front Cover: Honoree (right) and (left) Craig Skok – Chairman Eddie Robinson – Chairman Emeritus All Legends for Youth Dinner photographs courtesy of Rob Cuni Photography and Alex Li/MLB.com Steve Rogers – Secretary/Treasurer David Mindell – General Counsel

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DENNIS RASMUSSEN (LEFT) AND HALL OF FAMER Story continued from cover page... AND HONOREE BOB GIBSON (RIGHT)

Community Service Award for his pennants and two accomplishments on and World Series titles. off the field. His best year was in 1968, and what On the field, he won two World Series a season to remember. He had an titles as the Red Sox manager, in 2004 incredible 1.12 ERA, 28 complete games and ‘07. He also led the Indians to the and 13 shutouts. Believe it or not, what AL pennant in 2016. Off the field, Gibson accomplished in ‘68 is not what Francona raised money for cancer fills him with the most pride. research and created a pasta sauce to “The fact that I played Major League help fund inner-city participation in baseball for 17 years,” Gibson said. “I DESI RELAFORD (LEFT) AND ORESTE MARRERO (RIGHT) sports and education. gave it everything I had. Sometimes, I ‘I’m honored just to be here, to be stunk a little bit. Every time I went out a part of the night,” Francona said. there, I tried to be the best that I could “Any time we do something for other be and I’m proud of that.” people, regardless of what area it is, Off the field, Gibson gave back. we’re OK. To be honored tonight, He hosted an annual golf classic in especially [to receive] something Omaha, Neb., for 12 years, raising with Brooks’ name attached to it, is millions of dollars for local and extremely meaningful.” national charities, including the Boys Hall of Fame Bob Gibson was and Girls Clubs of Omaha and the given the Lifetime Achievement Award. . (RIGHT) AND LISA BURNHAM (LEFT) POSE FOR A PHOTO AT THE 19TH ANNUAL LEGENDS FOR YOUTH DINNER “When you are playing the game, you don’t think about awards you receive after you get through,” Gibson said. “But when somebody decides you are worthy [of the Lifetime Achievement Award], it’s just wonderful.” And what a career he had. All of his 17 seasons were spent with the Cardinals, from 1959 to ‘75. During that period, Gibson won two Awards and guided the Cardinals to three AND MICHELLE DAMON ADDRESSES THE CROWD AT THE AT THE 19TH ANNUAL LEGENDS FOR YOUTH DINNER 19TH ANNUAL LEGENDS FOR YOUTH DINNER

Front Cover: Honoree Terry Francona (right) and Brad Mills (left)

CURRENT PLAYERS RAJAI DAVIS, , BRANDON NIMMO AND HARRISON BADER FRANK CATALANOTTO (LEFT) AND JIM LEYRITZ (RIGHT)

A PUBLICATION OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION 3 Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association 1631 Mesa Avenue, Suite D Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Phone: (719) 477-1870 Fax: (719) 477-1875 Email: [email protected] www.baseballalumni.com

@MLBPAA

MLBPAA Mission Statement To promote the game of baseball, raise money for charity, inspire and educate youth through positive sport images and protect the dignity of the game through former Major League players.

To see additional photos and videos from the Legends for Youth Dinner, please visit: MLB.com/lfydinner

Hall of Famer presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to Hall of Famer Bob Gibson at the 19th annual Legends for Youth Dinner.

A PUBLICATION OF THE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PLAYERS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION