EL1 Reading Fightin Phils

Looper Added to Winter Banquet, Final Lineup Set

Published on January 14, 2011 under Eastern League (EL1)
Reading Fightin Phils News Release


(Reading, PA) -Benny Looper, the Philadelphia Phillies assistant general manager of player personnel, has just been added to the Phillies 2011 Winter Banquet, which will take place on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at The Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel. Looper joins Major League Baseball and Reading Baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg, Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, 2010 Eastern League All-Star Matt Rizzotti, Philadelphia Phillies assistant general manager Scott Proefrock, and television play-by-play voice of the Philadelphia Phillies Tom McCarthy, who will serve as the Master of Ceremonies for the event.

The banquet will begin at 5:30 p.m. with cocktail hour, and will feature prizes, auction items, highlight videos, dinner and more. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Rizzotti, who is a member of the Philadelphia Phillies 40-man roster, will sign autographs for the fans in attendance.

Tickets for the banquet are $65 each or $600 for a 10-person table, and can be purchased in-person, online at readingphillies.com, or by phone (610-370-BALL). Proceeds benefit the Reading Phillies Baseballtown Charities, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping more children, who otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity, play baseball. Complete registration and financial information of Baseballtown Charities can be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State at 1-800-732-0999.

Looper, who joined the Philadelphia Phillies on November 7, 2008, spent the previous 22 years in the Seattle Mariners organization, more recently as vice president, player personnel (2007-08), VP, player development and scouting (2004-2006), and VP, player development (2002-03). Born on September 29, 1948, Looper first joined the Mariners organization in 1987 as a part-time scout.

Sandberg, 51, was named the new manager of the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs on November 15, 2010. During his illustrious 16-year playing career (1981-94, 1996-97), Sandberg was a 10-time National League All-Star and won nine Gold Gloves and seven Silver Slugger awards. He was originally drafted by the Phillies in 1978 and in 1980, "Ryno" appeared in 129 games for the R-Phils -- compiling a .310 batting average with 11 home runs, 79 RBIs, and 32 stolen bases. In 1981, just a year removed from Reading, Sandberg made his major league debut with Philadelphia -- appearing in 13 games.

Manuel, 67, was named as the 51st manager of the Philadelphia Phillies on November 4, 2004. In 2008, in just his fourth season at the helm, Manuel guided the Phillies to their second World Championship in franchise history and first since 1980. On October 21, 2009, Manuel became the first manager in franchise history to lead the Phillies to two consecutive World Series appearances. A native of North Fork, WV, Manuel was the Cleveland Indians manager from 2000-2002, posting a 220-190 record and leading the team to the American League Central Division title in 2001. Manuel will enter the 2011 season ranked fourth on the Phillies' all-time managerial wins list (544).

McCarthy, who is in his second stint with Philadelphia, is entering his fourth year doing Phillies television play-by-play. In his first tour of duty with the club, he spent five seasons (2001-05) as the host of the pre- and post-game radio shows, while also doing radio play-by-play. A native of Jersey City, New Jersey, McCarthy also hosted his own weekday afternoon-drive show on ESPN Radio 920 AM, which concentrated on local sports. He spent the 2006-07 seasons as a radio broadcaster with the New York Mets on WFAN before returning to the Phillies in November of 2007.

Rizzotti, 25, played at three different levels last season (Clearwater, Reading, and Lehigh Valley), and led the entire organization with a .343 average in 125 combined games. As a member of the R-Phils, the Manhattan College product hit a remarkable .361 with 16 home runs and 62 RBIs in 77 games. A sixth-round pick in the 2007 draft by the Phillies, Rizzotti also posted an impressive .452 on-base percentage, a 1.087 OPS, and a .635 slugging percentage -- all Eastern League highs at the time of his promotion to Triple-A (August 5).

Proefrock, 50, joined the Phillies on November 17, 2008 as assistant general manager. In his role with the Phillies, he interprets the Major League Rules and Basic Agreement with the MLB Players Association and assists in trades, free agent acquisitions, arbitration and contract negotiations, along with player development and scouting.

The Reading Phillies trademarked the name Baseballtown in 2002 and began programs in its name with goals to honor Reading's rich baseball history and secure its baseball future by giving more kids the opportunity to play and learn from the game's life lessons.

The Reading Phillies will open the 2011 season at the newly-renovated FirstEnergy Stadium on Thursday, April 14 for a 7:05 p.m. game against the Akron Aeros. Fans interested in renewing their season tickets and mini-plans, can do so now by visiting readingphillies.com, or by calling 610-370-BALL. Individual game tickets will go on-sale online on Friday, February 18 and via phone and walk-up orders on Monday, February 28.

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