61st Annual Pitch & Hit Club of Chicago Awards Dinner

Michael Bowden will be awarded the American League Minor League Player of the year award.

Michael Spidale will be awarded the National League Minor League Player of the year.

Brandon Gass from O'Fallon will accept the Bo Jackson Courage Award. More to come.

Dizzy Trout Award - Pete Vonachen

Scholarship Award -- Seth Blair, Very impressive portfolio submitted by Seth.

White Sox Executive of the Year -- Roger Bossard

MLB GM of the Year -- Ned Colletti

Sportscaster of the Year -- Peggy Kusinski

Patriot Award -- Bryan Anderson

Sports Writer of the Year -- Barry Rozner

Come Back Player of the Year -- Brian Stewart (Just an absolute amazing story)

Amateur Coach of the Year -- Mike Hall

Congrats to Seth and ole humble Jarther forgot to mention his own award, Congrats to you as well John.

Duce

congrats js, i will be there.

Thanks, but not a big deal on my end, people like Bryan Anderson, Brandon Gass, and Brian Stewart are a big deal.

Here are links on some of the award winners:

http://www.peoriachiefs.com/news/?id=7183

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/146069,CST-NWS-backhome22.article

http://www.pjstar.com/stories/120806/SPO_BBODN5TP.081.shtml

http://www.esquire.com/features/articles/2006/061207_mf...y_07_Anderson_1.html

http://www.pitchandhitclub.org/banquet.htm

http://www.esquire.com/covergallery/coverdetail.html?y=2007&m=1

http://www.ihsbaseballreport.com/emarketing/pitchnhit/61stawardsdinner.html

First post of the 2007 year.

Happy New Year JArthur!

Happy New Year to you as well CP. Your Lions did a number on my guy Tony Romo.

Nothing against Dan Kusinski, but Steve Ruzich from South Suburban should have been named JUCO coach of the year for taking his South Suburban squad to the Division I JUCO World Series.

Congrats to everyone who won!

Press Release for the Pitch & Hit Club of Chicago's Awards Dinner

How bout it Slidepiece. Kuskinski does a great job, but to beat out Ruzich? No way. The guy took his team to the D1 Juco World Series, an incredible feat, he assembled a talented team and coached his rear off as usual. On top of that he helped a ton of his players get scholarships to 4 year schools as well. One of the most well respected Junior College coaches in the country. This was actually his 2nd trip to the world series, went once before, early 90s I believe. Met him years ago taking my kid to his winter camps, he made it fun, and was very knowledgeable, helped my kid a ton with his catching (Ruzich was a former catcher in the White Sox system).

And Bowden, a wonderful prospect. we all know that. But to beat out Eric Lis? When was the last time a local kid (Richard HS and U of Evansville) led the Midwest League (the only local professional league) in hitting? This might be a first, he had an incredible offensive season all around, (his 2nd in a row). And then he does not win the local player award? Compare his numbers to Bowden's, both good years, but pretty clear who won. Hope all these kids do well and fulfill their dreams, and Bowden will certainly win his share of accolades in the future, but this just doesn't seam credible. Oh well, will let all of you decide for yourself.

What ever happened to the best man winning? Lots of nepotism in that Pitch N Hit Club. Wonder how many other awards are "questionable". This once proud club has really fell apart the last 10 years. No wonder it is losing all the professional members. Hijacked by a small click of self promoters with an agenda to take care of one another. Shameful people.

!!!! Yikes, this post smells of a similar poster who has just recently reared his ugly head again.

I sent an email with no response, shocker? Same dude different name. I voted for the person listed above and several others who didnt win. Life.

Um, I don't know Slidepiece at all actually. So not true. Hopefully he will post again. Because we share a similar belief on a public forum we are conspiring? Sorry this does not fit perfectly into your little world of self promotion.

Why emailing me Jarthur? We don't know each other. Why not say what you need to say publicly? Feel guilty? It's a public forum, you use it to promote the club (multi replies to your OWN post), yet nobody else can have an opinion? Feel free to explain why Slidepiece or I are wrong rather then try to immediately discredit others. Just my opinion, I am entitled. And you have done nothing to change my opinion either. As a former Chicago minor leaguer player and former Pitch N Hit club member at least I speak from experience.

I just asked for your opinion on what I actually agree with you. My bad. Also never thought or implied about slidpiece. I thought that person's comment was well deserved.

Joe,
It took you all of two posts to lose your credibility on this site.

For one you know nothing of the process that is involved in selecting "winners" for the dinner. Among things that I heard in the meetings of which I attended and voted (this is not just specific to this winner but others)...he has received the award 3 times in the last 5 years, he will not show up to accept the award, he has other obligations at that time, they have a school/pro event that weekend. These are among several issues that come up when dealing with selecting winners for awards. There is no debate that Steve R. had a great year that deserved awards; I don’t think anyone here will debate you on that.
Calling jarthur a self-promoter is like saying Mother Teresa hated people, nothing could be further from the truth. One of the reasons that he keeps "self-promoting" this event on his OWN forum is because some people like to be informed as of updates on who will attend the event.

In the future when presenting yourself to large group of people you don't know (ONLY 2 posts)I would suggest that you stay away from saying blatantly disrespectful things such as: What ever happened to the best man winning?

Lots of nepotism in that Pitch N Hit Club. Wonder how many other awards are "questionable". This once proud club has really fell apart the last 10 years. No wonder it is losing all the professional members. Hijacked by a small click of self promoters with an agenda to take care of one another. Shameful people

Please try and attend the event as it will be a celebration of great baseball people no matter who the winners are. Come up and introduce yourself to me and jarthur, we will be "self-promoting" ourselves wherever the most people are.

Justin Stringer
HSBASEBALLWEB SPONSOR

where were those comments going, I remember the old days at the martinque and man was that thing going downhill. I avoided the dinner for like 10 years until two years ago. i do recall larry monroe stating that the club and dinner have become revitalized