Hall of Famer Andre Dawson during his playing days with the Chicago Cubs. Photo: Michael Ponzini/National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.
<br>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.<br>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 <b>Hank Aaron</b>, <b>Yogi Berra</b>, <b>Wade Boggs</b>, <b>George Brett</b>, <b>Gary Carter</b>, <b>Orlando Cepeda</b>, <b>Roberto Clemente</b>, <b>Carl Erskine</b>, <b>Bob Feller</b>, <b>Whitey Ford</b>, <b>Jim "Catfish" Hunter</b>, <b>Al Kaline</b>, <b>Harmon Killebrew</b>, <b>Juan Marichal</b>, <b>Mickey Mantle</b>, <b>Buck O'Neil</b>, <b>Tony Perez</b>, <b>Gaylord Perry</b>, <b>Bobby Richardson</b>, <b>Robin Roberts</b>, <b>Brooks Robinson</b>, <b>Jackie Robinson</b>, <b>Tom Seaver</b>, <b>Lee Smith</b>, <b>Ozzie Smith</b>, <b>Rusty Staub</b>, <b>Bobby Valentine</b> and <b>Dave Winfield</b>.<br>This year, Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Blyleven and Andre Dawson will be honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 18th annual Legends for Youth Dinner.<br>In 2016, the Brooks Robinson Community Service Award was given to <strong>Manny Acta</strong>, and <strong><forge-entity title="Todd Frazier" slug="todd-frazier-453943" code="player">Todd Frazier</forge-entity> </strong> accepted the Heart and Hustle Award. <strong>Phil Niekro</strong> received the Lifetime Achievement Award.<br>The MLBPAA allocates proceeds from the event to the Legends for Youth Baseball 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 <b>George Foster</b>, <b>Bobby Grich</b>, <b>Ferguson Jenkins</b>, <b>Phil Niekro</b>, <b>Brooks Robinson</b>, <b>Harmon Killebrew</b>, <b>Orlando Cepeda</b> and <b>Tom Seaver</b>, have participated in past clinics.<br><strong>For more information or if you have questions regarding the Legends for Youth Dinner and how you or your corporation can attend, email Nikki Warner at <span class="token token-hyperLink" id="token-DAA3C641E235F12010EAA"><a href="mailto:nikki@mlbpaa.com">nikki@mlbpaa.com</a></span>.</strong><br>• <strong><span class="token token-hyperLink" id="token-58A1DF3754B43CFED5A93"><a href="/mlbpaa/downloads/2017-lfy-dinner-sponsor-levels.pdf" target="_blank">LFY Dinner sponsor levels, ad pricing and registration form »</a></span></strong><!--• <strong><span class="token token-hyperLink" id="token-72FC7349A8604E2A858BC"><a href="/mlbpaa/downloads/2016-lfy-dinner-ad-pricing.pdf" target="_blank">LFY Dinner ad pricing »</a></span></strong>--><br>The MLBPAA has created three table levels, an Honoree Table, Hall of Fame Table and a Legends Table, for the Legends for Youth Dinner. This opportunity offers a significant client entertainment or internal sales incentive platform and the ability to mingle in a first-class setting with baseball's legends. In addition, the Legends for Youth Dinner fulfills cause-related marketing/philanthropic objectives because of the youth program beneficiaries. Whatever your objectives -- cause-related, client entertainment, incentive programs or business development -- this opportunity meets those goals.
Honoree table benefits
• Ten invitations to VIP Cocktail reception
• Ten invitations to Legends for Youth Dinner pre-event cocktail reception
• Ten plates at the Legends for Youth Dinner, where your guests will be seated with a Legends Dinner Honoree
• Ten invitations to the VIP post-event cocktail reception
• Right of refusal for 2018
• Social media promotions
• One dozen baseballs signed by Heart and Hustle Award Winner
• One dozen baseballs signed by celebrity attendees
• Two Legends for Youth clinics held in cities of choice in 2018
• Logo inclusion on promotional pieces
• Full-page advertisement
Hall of Fame table benefits
• Ten invitations to VIP Cocktail reception
• Ten invitations to Legends for Youth Dinner pre-event cocktail reception
• Ten plates at the Legends for Youth Dinner, where your guests will be seated with a former or current Major League Baseball player
Legends table benefits
• Ten invitations to Legends for Youth Dinner pre-event cocktail reception
• Ten plates at the Legends for Youth Dinner, where your guests will be seated with a former Major League Baseball player