The stars will once again shine in Southern California as the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation salutes baseball’s finest at the 14th annual “In the Spirit of the Game” Sports and Entertainment Spectacular, on Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Rachel Robinson, the wife of the late, great Jackie Robinson, will be honored with The Pioneer Award in celebration of the 70th anniversary of her husband breaking the color line in Major League Baseball when he started for the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947.
Rachel Robinson, who is 94 years young, was born in Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA, where she met her future husband. The two married in 1946, and one year later after being signed by Branch Rickey, Jackie went on to become the first African-American to play in the Major Leagues for the Brooklyn Dodgers; paving the way for all who followed, and impacting all of society.
The Hall of Famer became one of the greatest players to play the game, having his number “42” retired throughout Major League Baseball.
Mrs. Robinson has continued to build upon the ideals of her husband, foremost as the founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation in 1973, the year after his death. The Foundation has provided college scholarships, career services and leadership development to college students across the country for 43 years, having disbursed over $70 million, and will soon begin construction on a new national Jackie Robinson Museum.
Rachel Robinson is an inspiration for all that she has done to impact society and to preserve her family’s great American legacy, one that is near and dear to baseball.
The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation was started by former player agent Dennis Gilbert.
The foundation assists the dedicated baseball scouts across the country, who have given so much back to the great game. Gilbert’s group helps those scouts in need.
Last year’s event honored Joe Torre, Maury Wills, Andre Dawson, Terry Collins, Bill White, Roland Hemond, Larry King and the creator of the foundation, Dennis Gilbert in a star-studded event.
The “In the Spirit of the Game” event has honored many legendary baseball Hall of Fame players, managers, scouts, coaches and executives, including Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson, Frank Robinson, Dr. Frank Jobe, Al Rosen, Jim Leyland, Johnny Bench, Duke Snider, Sandy Koufax, Vin Scully, Don Mattingly, Bob Feller, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken, Jr., Jim Palmer, Ferguson Jenkins, Tony LaRussa, Robin Roberts, Tom Seaver, Joe Garagiola Sr., Robin Yount, Jim Fregosi Sr. as well as Goose Gossage, Whitey Herzog, Eric Gagne, Curt Schilling, Olympic Gold Medalist Jennie Finch, the Boone Family, the Brett family, the Alou family, the Manny Mota family, the Lachemann family, the Tim Wallach family, the Hairston family, Major League Baseball executive Pat Gillick, Tom Werner, the Boeckmanns, Laura Ziskin, legendary baseball scouts George Genovese, Dave Garcia, Hank King, Gene Bennett, Mel Didier, Epy Guerrero, Moose Johnson, Lenny Yochum and the late Bob Zuk.
Tickets and sponsorship packages are available by calling (818) 224-3906.
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