MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Winter Banquet Raises $43,000

Published on January 18, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The Whitecaps 13th annual Winter Baseball Banquet raised more than $43,000 for charity, breaking the highest total from 2003 of $31,000. Detroit Tigers Manager Jim Leyland, Whitecaps Manager Tom Brookens and Tigers broadcaster Dan Dickerson addressed the crowd of 976 people at DeVos Place Wednesday night. Also in attendance were Tigers players Justin Verlander, Brandon Inge, Placido Polanco, Craig Monroe, Vance Wilson and Chris Shelton and coaches Gene Lamont and Lloyd McClendon.

The Whitecaps held a raffle, silent and live auction during the event that raised $43,312.40 for the Whitecaps Inner-City Youth Baseball and Softball Program and Detroit Tigers Foundation. The banquet, sponsored by Varnum Riddering Schmidt and Howlett, LLP, raises money for underprivileged children to participate and have uniforms and equipment to play baseball.

The top-selling item in the silent auction was a Gerald R. Ford signed baseball and four Ford museum passes that went for $800. Other top items were a Whitecaps suite with on-field meeting with Brookens and Great Lakes Manager Lance Parrish ($735), Nolan Ryan autographed jersey ($675), one-year family YMCA membership ($651), Brett Favre autographed jersey ($600), Ivan Rodriguez autographed jersey ($550), suite for a Whitecaps home game ($435) and three innings on-air with Dave Skoczen ($376).

The featured item in the live auction was a Tigers recliner that was autographed by Leyland and all the Tigers players in attendance. Leyland and several players even sat in the chair to raise the price. The Dreamseat recliner drew the highest final bid of the night at $3,200. Another top live auction item was the trip to Comerica Park to watch batting practice from the field that went for $2,100. A suite for 18 people at Comerica Park netted $1,900 while two tickets to the 2007 All-Star game this July in San Francisco raised $1,600.

The night was capped off with the featured speaker portion of the program. Fans were excited to hear Leyland talk about the Tigers' memorable run to the World Series and their plans for the upcoming season. Brookens was welcomed by the crowd as the Whitecaps new manager and shared stories of playing for Leyland in the minor leagues. Dickerson spoke to the crowd about his special call after Magglio Ordonez's walk-off home run to send the Tigers to the World Series. Inge also made an appearance on stage for a brief Q&A with Dickerson as he talked about his fond memories in West Michigan and playing for the Whitecaps.

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Midwest League Stories from January 18, 2007


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