Tommy Lasorda, the legendary manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is the special guest speaker at the annual "Meet the Redhawks" dinner and auction benefiting the Seattle University baseball program, to be held Saturday, Feb. 12, at the Campion Ballroom on the Seattle University campus.
Lasorda took over as the skipper of the Dodgers for the final four games of the 1976 season and held that position until midway though the 1996 season, compiling a 1599-1439 overall record. A two-time National League Manager of the Year, he led the Dodgers to seven division titles, four National League championships (1977, 1978, 1981, 1988), and two World Series championships (1981, 1988). Lasorda was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., by the Veteran's Committee in 1997.
For $150, guests will gain access to the entire evening of events, including a VIP cocktail party from 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., which will be the only span of time in which Lasorda will sign autographs (no bats please!). For those who just want to attend the 5:30 p.m. no-host reception and the 6:30 p.m. dinner program, as well as participate in the silent auction, cost of attendance is $50. A table of eight can be bought for $500 and will include an autographed Lasorda and Seattle U baseball.
The event is being held at the Seattle University Campion Ballroom, located at 914 East Jefferson Street on campus. Parking will be available in the Murphy Garage at 1001 East James Way. Besides attending the Feb. 12 event, people can support the Seattle U baseball program by sponsoring a player for $50 or make a direct donation to the program.
To attend this special night, download the form attached to this article and mail it to the address at the bottom of the form, call the Seattle U athletics department at 206-398-4420 to make your reservations, or e-mail Greg Sempadian at sempadig@seattleu.edu. Please respond by Friday, Feb. 4, to guarantee your spot for this event.
The Seattle University baseball team enters its second year of competition after being reinstated as a varsity sport. The Redhawks will begin the 2011 season with a four-game series at Cal State Northridge Feb. 18-20 before opening the home schedule against Notre Dame, with the home opener taking place Friday, Feb. 25, at Everett Memorial Stadium and the other two games of the weekend series being held Feb. 26-27 at Bannerwood Park in Bellevue.