Old-Timers and Active Baseball Assoc. Banquet

On Saturday, January 14, I was thrilled to attend the 78th annual (can you believe it?) Old-Timers and Active Baseball Association banquet.  What a great way to spend a winter evening, enjoying a meal while listening to Neil Everett (ESPN SportsCenter), Mike Stutes (P, Phillies), Kevin Gregg (P, Orioles), Alex Hinshaw (P, Padres), and Tom Trebelhorn (M, Salem-Keizer) tell stories about their lives in baseball.  The young pitchers (Stutes and Hinshaw) talked about the initiation rites they went through when they were called up to the majors. Stutes talked about the Hello Kitty backpack and red boa he was forced to wear all year, so recognizable that fans started coming to the park wearing boas too.  Hinshaw talked about being messed with by his childhood heroes Barry Zito and Randy Johnson.

Gregg, a 10-year veteran, related the veteran side of player initiation and how he subjected new bullpen members to the old "taser gun testing" gag.  Gregg also told his side of his famous "fight" with David Ortiz last July.  I'll say this about that, I would be nervous in the box if Kevin Gregg decided he was upset with me.

Trebelhorn, former manager of the Brewers and Cubs, was a more polished public speaker.  But his jokes were appropriate for the organization.  They were definitely old-timers.

Everett described his unlikely ascension to ESPN, after spending time in Hawaii chilling out and doing local broadcasts.  He made a case for being prepared when your chance comes.

Over 500 people attended the banquet, which was held at the Multnomah Athletic Club.  Proceeds from the banquet and an annual golf tournament go to grants for youth baseball and college scholarships for worthy students.

Aside from the speakers, there were several other "names" in attendance.  Jack Cain, former owner of the Portland Rockies was there.  As was Dale Murphy, former Atlanta Braves great, who donated a signed Braves jersey to be auctioned off for charity.  Scott Brosius, former A's and Yankees third-baseman, won the jersey with a $600 bid.

Milwaukie City Councilman Joe Loomis was also in attendance, and he spoke for a few minutes about their city's efforts to build a stadium and attract a Single-A team.  He was wearing a Minnesota Twins necktie, and he told me he was originally from Minnesota.  I knew I liked that guy.

This was the first such event I attended, and I confess to not knowing much about the organization before I went.  Thanks to Barbara Pearson and the association for inviting me and treating me like a celebrity.  If you want to learn more about the Association and attend next year's banquet or their golf tournament, go to:

http://www.oldtimersbaseballpdx.org/