Having led the Baltimore Orioles to a first-place finish in their division in 2014 and subsequently sweeping the Detroit Tigers for his first major league ALDS title, Buck Showalter was named the eighth annual MLB Baseball Manager of the Year by the Chuck Tanner Baseball Manager of the Year Awards committee.

A two-time American League Manager of the Year, William Nathaniel “Buck” Showalter has earned a reputation for building baseball teams into postseason contenders in short periods of time.

Showalter helped the New York Yankees rise from the bottom half of the AL East to first place before a players’ strike prematurely ended the 1994 season. Also under his watch, the Arizona Diamondbacks made their first-ever playoff appearance in the team’s second year of existence. He left both teams just prior to seasons when they won the World Series. Baltimore has decided not to let Showalter go so soon, as they have signed him through 2018.

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. The award 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 will be on hand to receive the Chuck Tanner 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.