Brooks Robinson |
LOS ANGELES -– Dubbed “The Human Vacuum Cleaner” for his reputation as one of the finest defensive players in Major League Baseball history, Brooks Robinson will be receiving another great honor at the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation’s 7th Annual “In The Spirit of the Game” Sports and Entertainment Spectacular when he receives the Foundation’s Player Lifetime Achievement Award at its gala on Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.
Today’s announcement of the honor awaiting Robinson represents the former Baltimore Orioles third baseman’s sustained excellence, ambassadorship and loyalty to Major League Baseball. Robinson joins an impressive list of past honorees including Sandy Koufax, Duke Snider, Cal Ripken Jr., Tony Gwynn and Rich “Goose” Gossage.
The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation has helped baseball scouts in need due to job loss, illness or financial hardships over the past six years through the success of the annual “In The Spirit of the Game” Sports and Entertainment Spectacular. Dennis Gilbert heads the foundation.
“On behalf of the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation, it is a pleasure to honor Brooks Robinson, who is in an elite class within baseball for his career performance and also happens to be one of the game’s classiest people,” Gilbert said. “To have Brooks receive our Player Lifetime Achievement Award is a deserving tribute, and we thank all of our friends in advance for joining us on Jan. 16 to help our beloved baseball scouts who are in need of our support.”
Robinson will receive the Player Lifetime Achievement Award at the gala, which is annually attended by 1,500 guests, including many prominent figures from the world of sports, entertainment and media.
The slick fielding Robinson was a two-time World Series winner (in 1966 and 1970), the World Series Most Valuable Player in 1970, and the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 1964, when he posted single-season career highs on offense with a .317 batting average, 28 home runs and 118 runs batted in while sporting a .972 fielding percentage.
Additionally, Robinson was a 16-time Gold Glove winner from 1960-75, a 15-time Major League Baseball All-Star from 1960-74 all while spending his entire 23-year playing career (1955-77) with the Orioles, which is a MLB record for consecutive tenure with one team. Inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 1983 and named to MLB’s All-Century Team, Robinson compiled 2,848 hits, 268 home runs and 1,357 RBI, and posted a scintillating .971 fielding percentage for his career.
Robinson, 72, remains involved in Major League Baseball through his service as president of the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA), which assists in providing player and fan interaction off the field.
Other honorees at the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation’s star-studded 2009 “In the Spirit of the Game” Sports and Entertainment Spectacular include St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa and former Los Angeles Dodgers star Manny Mota, among others yet to be determined.
The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation’s 2008 honorees included Bill Bartholomay, the Buddy Bell family, Bobby Cox, Preston Gomez, Tony Gwynn, Larry King, Dave Winfield and scouts Ralph Avila, Stan Benjamin, Eddie Bockman, Joe DiCarlo, Tom Giordano, Al LaMacchia and Joe Lewis.
In years past, the event has honored many legendary baseball Hall of Fame players, managers, scouts, coaches and executives, including Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson, Frank Robinson, Duke Snider, Sandy Koufax, and Cal Ripken, Jr., as well as Goose Gossage, Whitey Herzog, Eric Gagne, Curt Schilling, Olympic Gold Medalist Jennie Finch, the Boone Family, the Brett family, the Alou family, Major League Baseball executive Pat Gillick, the Boeckmanns, legendary baseball scouts George Genovese, Dave Garcia, Hank King, Gene Bennett, Mel Didier, Epy Guerrero, Moose Johnson, Lenny Yochum and the late Bob Zuk. Past attendees include: MLB Commissioner Allan H. “Bud” Selig, Rod Carew, Tommy Lasorda, Frank McCourt, Arte Moreno, Jerry Reinsdorf, Lew Wolff, Mark Attanasio, Brady Anderson, Bret Saberhagen, Chase Utley, Darrell Evans, Don Newcombe, Barry Zito, Joe Borchard, Alyssa Milano, Don Johnson, Tom Arnold, Jane Seymour, James Keach, Michael McDonald, Donnie Most, Mary Hart and Kenny Loggins.
Tickets and sponsorship packages are available to the public by calling 310-996-1188.
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