Archive for month: November, 2014

After having guided the Mercyhurst College Lakers to 10 consecutive winning seasons, the longest string in school history, Joe Spano has been selected to receive the eighth annual Chuck Tanner College Coach of the Year Award.

In 2014, head coach Spano began his 15th season as Lakers manager. He led Mercyhurst to one of the best seasons in its program, going 30 – 15 overall and 20-8 in the PSAC.

Each year the Pittsburgh Rotary Club holds its Chuck Tanner Awards Banquet in Pittsburgh. The highlight of the event is the presentation of the Chuck Tanner MLB Manager of the Year Award, as selected by a distinguished group of baseball professionals from around the country. Previous winners of the Chuck Tanner MLB Manager of the Year award were Joe Torre, Joe Maddon, Ron Gardenhire, Jim Leyland Bob Melvin, Davey Johnson and Clint Hurdle. This year, the Manager of the Year is the Baltimore Orioles’ Buck Showalter. Last year’s College Coach of the Year was Marc Marizzaldi of Seton Hill University.

The awards presentation will take place at a banquet on November 15, 2014 at the Rivers Club in downtown Pittsburgh. The Master of Ceremonies will be Dan Zangrilli of 93.7-FM “The Fan,” and a live auction of sports memorabilia will be conducted throughout the gala event.

Former Pirates great Dick Groat also will be presented with this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and Major League Baseball executive Katy Feeney also will be presented with this year’s Sally O’Leary Distinguished Women in Baseball Award.

Erie native and nationally recognized celebrity sports artist Kevin-John is returning to create a special limited edition print of Dick Groat for everyone in attendance, and he will be present to personally sign his creation. Kevin-John is one of only 20 Disney master artists worldwide, and his artwork has been showcased on ESPN, Spike TV, NBC and at Super Bowl XXXIX, XL, XLI and the PGA Tour.

To purchase tickets to the banquet or to find out about other ways to support the event, visit www.chucktannerbanquet.com or call (412) 471-6210.

This charitable event and its silent auction of sports memorabilia and other items will be used to support Pittsburgh Rotary Club operations and its programs, including global humanitarian relief, such as polio inoculation and shoes for Nicaraguan children, as well as post-high school scholarships and an annual high school ethics symposium, which is attended annually by more than 400 students.

KeepScore Baseball/Softball Scorebooks is a contributor on the Chuck Tanner Banquet committee.