MLBPAA Newsletter Oct 03 6Pg.Indd
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Baseball Alumni News A Publication of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association Fall 2003 Where Another Star-Studded Legends Lineup are they he Major League Baseball Players Alumni House of Representatives from Kentucky in 1986 and is Association (MLBPAA) is proud to announce now serving his first term as a U.S. Senator. the 2003 Legends Dinner Lifetime Achievement Now? Award recipients. This year’s award winners Orlando Cepeda, nicknamed the Baby Bull, played 17 T years at first base for the Giants, Braves, Cardinals, A’s, include Senator Jim Bunning, Orlando Cepeda, Al Will Clark Kaline, and Roger Maris. The awards recognize these Red Sox, and Royals. He was selected Rookie of the The thrill is not gone. Will (the thrill) Clark, owner men for not only their on-field accomplishments, but Year in 1958 and won the Most Valuable Player award of one of the sweetest swings in baseball was born also their charitable and philanthropic efforts following in 1967. Cepeda was named to seven All-Star teams and March 13, 1964 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He their retirement. “I am honored to be receiving this was inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1998. In his attended college at Mississippi State where he led award and recognized by my peers,” commented Orlando first game for the Giants, he homered off Don Drysdale the Bulldogs to the College World Series and a third Cepeda. “But the and went on to hit 25 homeruns and lead the league in place finish in 1984. After his senior season, Clark doubles. He had his best season in 1961 when he finished played with Team USA in the 1984 Olympics. In real winners will be the children with 182 hits, 46 homeruns, 142 RBI’s, batted .311, 1985, Clark was the second overall draft pick by leading the league in homeruns and RBI’s. He finished the San Francisco Giants. After a short three-month that will benefit his career with 2,351 hits, 379 homeruns, 1,365 RBI, and stint with the Giants Single A Fresno team, Clark from the fund- a batting average of .297. started his Major League career off with a bang by raising efforts that evening.” homering in his first at bat off Hall-of-Fame pitcher Al Kaline, a fifteen time All-Star and eleven time Gold Demonstrating Nolan Ryan. The rest of Clark’s career was just as Glove winner, played his entire 22-year career for the successful as his first at bat. He went on to become their support for Detroit Tigers. After a modest rookie season, Kaline a seven time All-Star (1988-92, 1994), the NLCS their peers, several followed up with an outstanding season. He won a MVP in 1989 against the Cubs, and finished his other baseball batting title (.340), becoming the youngest player ever 15 year career (Giants, Rangers, Orioles, Cardinals) legends will to do so, and also hit 27 homeruns, 102 RBI’s with 121 with a lifetime batting average of .303, 2,176 hits, attend, including runs scored. He finished second in the MVP voting that 284 home runs, and 1,205 RBI. Bob Feller, Rollie season, while leading the league in hits and total bases. Fingers, Pedro Since his retirement in 2000 Clark enjoys spending His best season came in 1956 when he collected 194 hits, Brooks Robinson, MLBPAA President, Guerrero, Monte time with his wife and two children. He has been addresses the 2002 Legends Dinner 27 homeruns, 128 RBI’s, and batted .314. He finished Irvin, Ferguson married to his wife Lisa for nine years, and they attendees. his career with 3,007 hits, 399 homeruns, 1,583 RBI’s, Jenkins, Brooks have two children, a seven-year-old son Trae, and and a career .297 batting average. He was enshrined in Robinson, Tom Seaver and Lee Smith among others. a 16-month-old daughter Ella. Clark also enjoys Cooperstown in 1980. hunting and fishing in Louisiana and on his ranch in These players will be honored at the MLBPAA’s 4th Mississippi. An avid outdoorsman, he spends a lot of Roger Maris, a four time All Star and back-to-back Most annual Legends Dinner held Friday, November 7, 2003 at time battling many saltwater species of game fish off Valuable Player award winner, and the single season 7 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Alumni the shores of Louisiana, and hunting deer, ducks, and homerun king, played 12 years for the Yankees, Cardinals, Association members will also vote to recognize current doves on his ranch in Mississippi. Indians, and Royals. In 1960, he was traded to the New players in the following categories: American League York Yankees and won the Most Valuable Player award by Clark has kept his hands in baseball since his Player of the Year, American League Pitcher of the Year, three votes over Mickey Mantle. His best season, in 1961, retirement. He has been active in passing on his National League Player of the Year, and National League Maris broke the single season home run record held by knowledge of hitting and fielding to local college Pitcher of the Year. The MLBPAA will also present the Babe Ruth by hitting 61 homeruns and would hold the baseball players, as well as current Major Leaguers Dick Schaap Memorial Player of the Year Award, in record until 1998. In that same season, he led the league such as Hee Seop Choi, Corey Patterson, and Mark which key members of the media select Major League in RBI’s and runs Belhorn of the Chicago Cubs. Clark would like to Baseball’s Player of the Year, regardless of position and with 142 and 132 keep active in the game of baseball, whether it be on league. a professional or amateur level. respectively, led Established in 1999 and broadcast nationally on Fox the league in extra Looking back on some of the great moments of his Sports Net, the MLBPAA, along with the invaluable base hits and total career, his favorite was his first at bat home run against assistance of Rusty Staub, Legends Dinner Chairperson, bases and won Nolan Ryan, and playing in the 1989 National League created the Legends Dinner to not only recognize the his second Most Championship Series. He also remembered the Giants award winners, but also to serve as the primary fund- Valuable Player great battles against the Los Angeles Dodgers and their raiser for the Alumni Association’s youth programs. award. He won great pitcher, Orel Hershiser, who Clark considered his “We are excited to provide valuable funds to assist the three World Series and the Giants greatest rival. Playing in the “Earthquake MLBPAA with its youth outreach efforts. The money rings and appeared World Series” in 1989 against the Oakland A’s is also in more World something that he said he would never forget. raised will help the Alumni Association not only further its Legends for Youth clinic reach, but also build needed Series (7) than Clark continues to live in New Orleans and is backstops for children in Guatemala to promote the game any other player in enjoying his retirement. He is spending a lot of time internationally,” said Staub. the 1960s. Maris Orlando Cepeda (center), one of this year’s with his family and plans on continuing to do that finished his injury honorees, presents to Juan Marichal(left) at and spending more time hunting and fishing. Senator Jim Bunning, a right-handed pitcher, who shortened career the 2002 Legends Dinner. pitched seventeen seasons for the Tigers, Phillies, Pirates, with 1,325 hits, 275 homeruns, 851 RBI, a .260 batting Kent Hrbek and Dodgers. He was a seven-time All-Star, leading the average and one Gold Glove in 1960. Kent Hrbek was born on May 21, 1960 in league in wins once and strikeouts three times. He was Bloomington Minnesota. He also grew up in the first pitcher since Cy Young to win over 100 games The primary beneficiary of the Legends Dinner’s fund Bloomington and loved sports as a child. His father and strikeout 1,000 batters in each league. He pitched a raising component is the Legends for Youth baseball played softball, and Hrbek grew up around the no-hitter for the Tigers in 1958 and a perfect game for clinic program. The Alumni Association has conducted softball fields watching his dad play in the summer, the Phillies in 1964. Bunning’s best season occurred dozens of FREE clinics and served 15,000 boys and and he played hockey in the winter. in 1965, he won 19 games, throwing seven shutouts, girls since its beginning in 1996. The MLBPAA’s goals are to provide a fun, positive baseball experience and Hrbek was drafted by the Twins in 1978 and spent pitching 15 complete games, striking out 268 batters and three years in the Twins Minor League System. He posted a 2.60 ERA. He finished his career with 224 wins, to talk with youth in a life skills station. The life skills was called up in 1981 and had a successful rookie 40 shutouts, 2,855 strikeouts, a career 3.27 ERA, seven station attempts to prepare youth to meet the challenges year, being the only rookie to be selected to the All- career homeruns and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame. of growing-up in today’s society by using positive role Star team. Hrbek went on to play his entire 14-year After finishing his career, he was elected to the U.S.