OTTAWA – Baseball Canada will host some of its most distinguished Major League alumni, corporate partners and friends at the Northern Lights Ballroom of the Renaissance Toronto Hotel at Rogers Centre on Saturday, January 15th, 2011.
The National Teams Awards Banquet and Fundraiser will honour the accomplishments of alumni throughout the evening. Fresh off his 2010 MVP season, Joey Votto will become the third member of Baseball Canada’s Wall of Excellence which will be presented by RBC Wealth Management. Due to illness, Votto will not be able to travel to Toronto to accept the award.
Receiving Special Recognition Awards will be John Axford of the Milwaukee Brewers and Scott Mathieson of the Philadelphia Phillies. Axford enjoyed a breakout season with the Brewers in 2010 as he recorded a team high 24 saves. Mathieson’s 2010 season saw him win the Phillies minor league Pitcher of the Year Award as he saved 26 games for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Jamie Romak will receive the Senior National Team MVP award after helping Canada qualify for the 2011 Pan Am Games. Romak’s performance at the Pan Am Qualifier garnered him tournament MVP honours. Another key contributor to the Pan Am Qualifier team was Chris Robinson who will receive the Stubby Clapp Award.
The Junior National Team MVP will be given to Kellin Deglan. Deglan was selected in the first round of the MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers and was a presence behind the plate for Canada as they claimed fourth place at the World Junior Baseball Championships.
Russell Martin, Jeff Francis, Michael Saunders, Scott Richmond, Paul Quantrill, Adam Stern and Chris Leroux are among the current and former Canadian Major Leaguers who will be on hand for the event for an evening of Canadian baseball celebration, emceed by Blue Jays radio voice Jerry Howarth.
Other special guests include Toronto Blue Jays President Paul Beeston, Blue Jays General Manager Alex Anthopoulos as well as former Montreal Expos General Manager and current Blue Jays executive Jim Fanning. National Team Field Manager Ernie Whitt will be in attendance along with former MLB All-Star and current Vice President of Baseball Canada Jason Dickson.
In addition to an elaborate awards presentation, social hour and formal dinner, this evening will feature many interactive opportunities with the stars and an extensive auction of sports memorabilia and sporting event packages. With Sportsnet, TSN and The Score covering the Awards Presentations, this event will have a very strong media presence.
This evening will also serve as a very important fundraising source for Baseball Canada’s National Junior and Senior Teams. With the World Junior Qualifier, the Pan-American Games and World Baseball Classic Qualifier, Baseball Canada’s National Teams will be very active on the world baseball stage in 2011.
Tickets for the gala cost $400 per person, $3,200 for a table of eight guests or $4,000 for a table of ten guests. Baseball Canada has registered charitable status.
There will be a pre-banquet press conference covered by Sportsnet, TSN and The Score from 3:30-5:30 pm, Saturday January 15th, in the Aurora Room of the Renaissance Toronto Hotel at Rogers Centre (Aurora Room is adjacent to the Northern Lights Ballroom).
The press conference will begin with opening statements from Baseball Canada President Ray Carter and Director of National Teams Greg Hamilton. This will be followed by a scrum style question and answer period with the players and MLB management personnel attending.
For more information concerning the gala, please contact Greg Hamilton, Coach and Director of National Teams, via e-mail at ghamilton@baseball.ca.
For media interested in covering the press conference, please contact Adam Morissette, Coordinator of Media & Public Relations, via e-mail at media@baseball.ca.
*Please note, for those attending the banquet, there is no ticket required. Please visit the registration table upon arrival at the Northern Lights Ballroom prior to the Cocktail hour.
2011 Baseball Canada National Teams Awards Banquet and Fundraiser Program
