BASEBALL CANADA
NATIONAL TEAMS AWARDS
BANQUET & FUNDRAISER
TO BE STAR STUDDED EVENT

OTTAWA – Baseball Canada will host some of its most distinguished Major League alumni, corporate partners and friends at the Northern Lights Ballroom of the Renaissance Toronto Hotel at Rogers Centre on Saturday, January 24th, 2009.

The National Teams Awards Banquet and Fundraiser will honour the accomplishments of alumni, such as Larry Walker, Jeff Zimmerman, Rheal Cormier and Chris Reitsma. 

National League Rookie of the Year runner-up Joey Votto, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Scott Richmond, Olympians Nick Weglarz and Brett Lawrie will be recognized for exceptional achievements in 2008.

Paul Beeston, J.P. Ricciardi, Steve Rogers, Jim Fanning and Ernie Whitt will join a host of MLB and National Team stars such as Russell Martin, Shawn Hill, Peter Orr, Paul Quantrill, Stubby Clapp, Adam Loewen, Adam Stern, Mike Saunders and Phillippe Aumont for an evening of Canadian baseball celebration, emceed by Blue Jays radio voice Jerry Howarth.

In addition to an elaborate awards presentation, social hour and formal dinner, this evening will feature many interactive opportunities with the stars and an extensive auction of sports memorabilia and sporting event packages.  With Sportsnet, TSN and The Score covering the Awards Presentations, this event will have a very strong media presence.

This evening will also serve as a very important fundraising source for Baseball Canada’s National Junior and Senior Teams.  With the World Baseball Classic, World Cup and World Junior Qualifier, Baseball Canada’s National Teams will be very active on the world baseball stage in 2009.

Tickets for the gala cost $400 per person, $3,200 for a table of eight guests or $4,000 for a table of ten guests. Baseball Canada has registered charitable status.

There will be a pre-banquet press conference covered by Sportsnet, TSN and The Score at 3:30 pm, Saturday January 24th, in the Aurora Room of the Renaissance Toronto Hotel at Rogers Centre (Aurora Room is adjacent to the Northern Lights Ballroom).

The press conference will begin with opening statements from Baseball Canada President Ray Carter and Director of National Teams Greg Hamilton.  This will be followed by a scrum style question and answer period with the players and MLB management personnel attending.

Baseball Canada – 12 January 2009

For more information concerning the gala, please contact Greg Hamilton, Coach and Director of National Teams, at 613-748-5606 ext. 225 or via e-mail at ghamilton@baseball.ca.

For media interested in covering the press conference, please contact André Cormier, Manager of Media & Public Relations, at 613-748-5606, ext. 221 or via e-mail at media@baseball.ca.