The fifth Professional Scouts Foundation Dinner was held January 19, 2008 at the Hyatt Century Plaza. A number of scouts were honored at the lavish affair, including Eddie Bockman, who had eight players on the 25-man roster of the 1980 World Series champion Phillies; the Dodgers’ Ralph Avila, and 101-year-old Joe Lewis.

Broadcaster Roy Firestone entertained the gathering with musical renditions, said, “Scouts are the most unappreciated segment of baseball.”

During a live auction at the dinner, a Babe Ruth collage that included an autographed bat and a canceled check went for $55,000. Event organizer Dennis Gilbert, who hosted an after-dinner-party at his Calabasas home, invited the high bidder to his home the next day.

Bob Uecker was at the scouts dinner to introduce Commissioner Bud Selig and he delivered some of his patented one-liners.

“In 1962 I was named the minor league player of the year,” Uecker said. “Unfortunately, I’d been in the majors for two years.”

“I signed with the Milwaukee Braves for a $3,000 bonus. My parents couldn’t avoid that, but they paid it anyway.”

“I remember one time I’m batting against the Dodgers in Milwaukee. They lead 2-1, it’s the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded two out and the pitcher has a full count on me. I look over to the Dodger dugout and they’re all in street clothes.”

“The highlight of my career? In 1967 with St. Louis I walked with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run in an intrasquad game in spring training.”

If you own a business and would like to generate more bottomline profits through barter email Bob Meyer for more information on how to do so, see address below photo, top right.

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 26th, 2008 at 11:31 am and is filed under Professional Athletics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.