Jimmy Rollins, Michael Young and Michael Weiner to be honored at the 2014 "Going to Bat for B.A.T." fundraising dinner
Group will be Recognized Alongside Commissioner Selig at the January 21st Event. Hall of Famers, Baseball Legends and Current Major Leaguers To Attend the 25th Anniversary Dinner to Raise Money for B.A.T.
The Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) announced today that it will honor three-time All-Star and 2007 National League Most Valuable Player Jimmy Rollins, seven-time All-Star Michael Young, and posthumously, Michael Weiner, the former executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, at the 2014 "Going to Bat for B.A.T." fundraising dinner to recognize their individual efforts in supporting the charitable organization and the general community. This year's event, the organization's 25th annual dinner, is scheduled for Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel. Tickets are still available at BaseballAssistanceTeam.com or by calling 212-931-7822.
Rollins will receive the Big B.A.T./Frank Slocum Award for his financial support and generosity to the community, and in particular, the B.A.T. organization. Young will receive the Bart Giamatti Award, which is presented annually to an individual in baseball who best exemplifies the compassion demonstrated by the late Commissioner, for his generosity in giving back to the community.
Weiner, who waged an inspiring and heroic 15-month battle against an inoperable brain tumor before passing last November, will be honored posthumously with the Baseball Assistance Team Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of support of the organization. In his role as Executive Director of the MLBPA, Weiner was a key advocate in garnering support for B.A.T. from both Major and Minor League Players and the MLBPA. Accepting for Michael will be his wife, Diane Margolin.
Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig was previously announced as being the recipient of the inaugural "Commissioner Bud Selig Leadership Award" at the Dinner.
Several members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, including Roberto Alomar, Orlando Cepeda, Rollie Fingers, Tommy Lasorda, Jim Palmer, Frank Robinson and Dave Winfield, are scheduled to attend. Additionally, Baltimore Orioles All-Star center fielder Adam Jones, who is on the Board of Directors of B.A.T., and pitcher Jason Marquis are scheduled to attend. Also scheduled are former All-Stars Edgardo Alfonzo, Jim Bouton, MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark, John Franco, Tito Francona, B.A.T. Dinner Chairman Steve Garvey, Bud Harrelson, Keith Hernandez, Tommy John, Howard Johnson, Cleon Jones, Lee Mazzilli, Sam McDowell, Willie Randolph, Eddie Robinson, Lee Smith, Rusty Staub, Bob Watson, Roy White and Dmitri Young. MLB Network's Harold Reynolds and Matt Vasgersian will co-emcee the dinner, while several of their colleagues at MLB Network, including Eric Byrnes, Sean Casey, Al Leiter and Joe Magrane, are also scheduled to attend. Representing MLB.com at the B.A.T. Dinner will be five-time All-Star Jack Morris as well as Marlon Anderson and C.J. Nitkowski.
Additionally, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers will each be presented with the 2013 Bobby Murcer Award. Named after the former B.A.T. Chairman who introduced the B.A.T. Spring Training Fundraising Tour, the Award is given to the team in the American League (Yankees) and National League (Dodgers) whose players commit the most amount of money to B.A.T. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Yankees have won the award and the third time in four years for the Dodgers.
Performing the "National Anthem" at the Dinner will be two-time Grammy Award nominee, Season two winner of "The Voice," and New York native, Jermaine Paul. Paul has previously performed at MLB's Urban Invitational in 2013 and the MLB Fan Cave in May 2012.
The Baseball Assistance Team is a 501(c) 3 charity and a unique organization within the sports industry created to help members of the Baseball Family who are in need. At the annual "Going to Bat for B.A.T." Fundraising Dinner, which is one of the organization's largest fundraisers, fans are given the opportunity to interact with Baseball Hall of Famers and former and current Major Leaguers while raising money to assist others who have fallen on hard times. The night's festivities include a cocktail hour, at which attendees have the opportunity to meet and receive autographs, and a dinner, at which players are seated with guests at each table. All proceeds from the evening go to the Baseball Assistance Team.
ABOUT THE BASEBALL ASSISTANCE TEAM
B.A.T. was founded in 1986 by former Commissioner Peter Ueberroth, a group of former players and Major League Baseball. The organization is dedicated to assisting members of the Baseball Family through financial grants, healthcare programs and rehabilitative counseling. More than $29 million in grants have been awarded to date, benefiting more than 3,100 members of the Baseball Family who are in need of assistance with nowhere else to turn. All aid provided by B.A.T. is strictly confidential allowing those in the need to receive help discreetly.
In addition to assisting former Major League players, B.A.T. also offers support to former Major League managers, coaches, scouts, umpires, athletic trainers, front office personnel, Minor League Baseball players and personnel, Negro Leagues players, players from the Women's Professional Baseball League, as well as spouses and children under the age of 24 years old.
Entering its 29th year, B.A.T. strives to provide a means of support to people with financial, medical or psychological burdens through charitable contributions from corporations, foundations and individuals. Major League Baseball is B.A.T.'s largest supporter, and all administration expenses are paid for by the league.