Legends for Youth Dinner

The 2019 Legends for Youth Dinner took place Nov. 7, 2019 at Capitale in New York.

The MLBPAA is excited to announce our 20th annual Legends for Youth Dinner. This year, Tony La Russa was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award, while Johnny Damon was honored with the Brooks Robinson Community Service Award.

Established in 1999, the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) created the Legends for Youth Dinner to recognize former Major League players for their on-field accomplishments and their off-field contributions to communities across the nation.

The event, held annually in New York City, also serves as the primary fundraiser for MLBPAA's youth programs and honors baseball's legends with MLBPAA Lifetime Achievement Awards. Past Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Hank Aaron, Yogi Berra, Bert Blyleven, Wade Boggs, George Brett, Gary Carter, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Clemente, Andre Dawson, Carl Erskine, Bob Feller, Whitey Ford, Jim "Catfish" Hunter, Jim Kaat, Al Kaline, Harmon Killebrew, Juan Marichal, Mickey Mantle, Buck O'Neil, Phil Niekro, Tony Perez, Gaylord Perry, Bobby Richardson, Robin Roberts, Brooks Robinson, Jackie Robinson, Tom Seaver, Lee Smith, Ozzie Smith, Rusty Staub, Bobby Valentine and Dave Winfield.

The MLBPAA allocates proceeds from the event to the Legends for Youth Clinic Series. The Legends for Youth program is a series of free baseball clinics designed to provide children with positive role models, teach young players baseball fundamentals and promote the game of baseball. Former players, such as George Foster, Bobby Grich, Ferguson Jenkins, Phil Niekro, Brooks Robinson, Harmon Killebrew, Orlando Cepeda and Tom Seaver, have participated in past clinics.

2019 Celebrity Attendees

  • Harold Baines, HOF
  • Andre Dawson, HOF
  • Tony La Russa, HOF
  • Lee Smith, HOF
  • Joe Torre, HOF
  • Rick Ankiel
  • Brian Boehringer
  • Reid Brignac
  • Byron Buxton*
  • Greg Cadaret
  • Chris Capuano
  • Frank Catalanotto
  • Phil Coke
  • Jeff Conine
  • Johnny Damon
  • Orestes Destrade
  • John Doherty
  • Scott Erickson
  • Steve Garvey
  • Jason Grilli
  • Jason Grimsley
  • Jim Hannan
  • Craig Hansen
  • Scott Hemond
  • Al Hrabosky
  • Ron Kittle
  • Steve Lyons
  • Tino Martinez
  • Fred McGriff
  • Jeff McNeil*
  • Mike Myers
  • Jim Poole
  • Dennis Rasmussen
  • Steve Rogers
  • Reggie Sanders
  • Ed Spiezio
  • Scott Spiezio
  • Fred Valentine
  • Jon Warden
  • Rickie Weeks Jr.
  • Preston Wilson
  • Tony Wolters*

*2019 Heart & Hustle team nominee

  • Harold Baines, HOF
  • Andre Dawson, HOF
  • Tony La Russa, HOF
  • Lee Smith, HOF
  • Joe Torre, HOF
  • Rick Ankiel
  • Brian Boehringer
  • Reid Brignac
  • Byron Buxton*
  • Greg Cadaret
  • Chris Capuano
  • Frank Catalanotto
  • Phil Coke
  • Jeff Conine
  • Johnny Damon
  • Orestes Destrade
  • John Doherty
  • Scott Erickson
  • Steve Garvey
  • Jason Grilli
  • Jason Grimsley
  • Jim Hannan
  • Craig Hansen
  • Scott Hemond
  • Al Hrabosky
  • Ron Kittle
  • Steve Lyons
  • Tino Martinez
  • Fred McGriff
  • Jeff McNeil*
  • Mike Myers
  • Jim Poole
  • Dennis Rasmussen
  • Steve Rogers
  • Reggie Sanders
  • Ed Spiezio
  • Scott Spiezio
  • Fred Valentine
  • Jon Warden
  • Rickie Weeks Jr.
  • Preston Wilson
  • Tony Wolters*

*2019 Heart & Hustle team nominee