Jan. 6, 2003
ATLANTA – Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda, who spent 20 seasons as the helm of the Los Angeles Dodgers, will be the featured speaker at the Yellow Jackets’ annual Baseball Benefit Dinner on Saturday, Feb. 8.
After a brief big league career as a left-handed pitcher, Lasorda became one of the most enthusiastic and successful managers in baseball history. Known for his fondness of pasta and pitching, the jovial Lasorda led the Dodgers to eight division titles and two World Championships in 20 seasons as manager. After his retirement, he became a Dodgers executive, and in 1999 completed his 50th year in the organization. He also managed the United States to its first-ever gold medal in baseball at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Several former Georgia Tech standouts, including catcher Jason Varitek of the Boston Red Sox, outfielder Jay Payton of the Colorado Rockies, and pitchers Kevin Brown of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Doug Creek of the Toronto Blue Jays, Kris Wilson of the Kansas City Royals, David Elder of the Cleveland Indians, and Cory Vance of the Colorado Rockies have attended the banquet in the past are expected to attend the dinner this year.
Lasorda continues a tradition of well-known baseball figures to speak at the dinner, including former Tech all-American Jason Varitek last year. Major league managers Joe Torre of the New York Yankees, Jimy Williams of the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros, and Sparky Anderson of the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers, as well as major league general managers John Schuerholz of the Atlanta Braves and Cam Bonifay of the Pittsburgh Pirates have also been featured in the past. Popular ESPN analyst Peter Gammons was the guest speaker in 2001.
The annual dinner and auction, with proceeds to benefit the Georgia Tech baseball program, is being held at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel at the Cobb Galleria Centre and will begin at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $70 per person and $680 for a table of 10. The evening includes silent and live auctions, as well as the introduction of the entire Tech team, which is ranked No. 1 in the nation in Baseball America’s pre-season poll.
Also on tap for the weekend is the annual Georgia Tech Alumni Game, where the current Tech team takes on stars of the past, on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Russ Chandler Stadium. In addition to the game, former Yellow Jacket stars will be on hand for an autograph session. The game begins at 12 noon and admission is free.
If you would like more information or to RSVP, please call (404) 894-4400 or send a check (payable to GTAA) to: GTAA, Attn: Chris Cowan, 150 Bobby Dodd Way NW, Atlanta, GA 30332-0455. If you are mailing a check, please include the number of people attending, your address and your daytime telephone number). Please RSVP by Friday, January 31.
