The Public is Invited to Philly Sports Writers’ Banquet

PSWA Dinner

 

The Public is Invited to Philly Sports Writers’ BanquetPosted: 30 Dec 2010 07:33 PM PST [To comment: larry@larrylitwin.com]

Dear Sports Fans –

Tickets are still available for the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s 107th annual sports awards dinner, which will be held Monday, January 31, 2011, at the Crowne Plaza hotel on Route 70 in Cherry Hill. Click here to purchase tickets online.

Below are some clips from recent press releases about the dinner.

Phil’s ace Roy Halladay named Pro Athlete of the Year
Phillies Cy Young Award-winner Roy Halladay, the only pitcher ever to throw a perfect game and no-hitter in the same season, has been named the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association’s Pro Athlete of the Year, it was announced by PSWA president Rich Westcott.

Halladay, who also won a Cy Young with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003, led the Phillies to the best regular season record in major league baseball in 2010 by going 21-10 with a 2.44 ERA and 219 strikeouts.

Former Eagle Bill Bergey named Living Legend
Bill Bergey, one of the greatest linebackers in the history of the Philadelphia Eagles, has been named the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association Living Legend.

Bergey, who was acquired in a trade with Cincinnati , was voted into the Pro Bowl in four of his seven seasons in Philadelphia . He played here as a middle linebacker from 1974 to 1980 with his last game coming in that year’s Super Bowl against Oakland.

Ian Laperriere will accept Flyers’ Team of Year award
The 2009-10 Philadelphia Flyers, who came within a shootout of not making the NHL playoffs at all, will be honored by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association as the 2010 Team of the Year at the PSWA’s 107th annual banquet on January 31, 2011.

After upsetting the No. 2 seed New Jersey Devils in the first round, they found themselves down three games to none in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Bruins. They forced a seventh game in Boston, and after trailing 3-0, pulled off the biggest comeback in franchise history, winning the game – and the series – 4-3. They are now only one of three teams to win a playoff series after trailing 3-0.

Tickets for the dinner at $95 apiece are available online by clicking here.

Fans can also friend PSWA on Facebook.

Thank you,

Robbie Kenney
Ticket Chairman
(609) 702-7473
Email: pswadinner@yahoo.com

‘Flyin’ Hawaiian’ Earns PSWA’s Humanitarian AwardPosted: 30 Dec 2010 07:21 PM PST

Shane Victorino, PSWA Humanitarian

Shane Victorino of the Phillies, the “Flyin’ Hawaiian,” has soared to new heights this year, landing the 2010 Humanitarian of the Year award given by the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association. The centerfielder will be in Cherry Hill, NJ to receive his award at the PSWA’s 107th annual banquet on January 31, 2011 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Route 70. Tickets are available to the public.

The former All-Star and his wife Melissa have created the Shane Victorino Foundation to promote opportunities for youth in Philadelphia and Hawaii by engaging in projects which provide children with educational, recreational and wellness programs. Beneficiaries of the 2010 Shane Victorino Foundation Celebrity Dinner & Golf Classic in Maui include the Waipio Little League program, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui and St. Anthony’s School Shane Victorino Scholarship Fund.

Through a $900,000 pledge to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, the Foundation’s first effort in Philadelphia will be to renovate the Nicetown Club, located in one of the most impoverished, economically challenged areas of the city, with no positive after-school options for neighborhood youth.

Shane was also honored recently with the Phillies’ Roberto Clemente Award, the 2010 Phillies Charities Community Service Award and named the prestigious Union League’s Sportsman of the Year. Previously, he was honored with the 2009 Phi Delta Theta International Lou Gehrig Memorial Award given annually to the MLB player who best exemplifies the giving character of Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig. Shane is also a member of the Philadelphia Action Team, a national young volunteer initiative by the MLB Trust and Volunteers of America and is featured in a national ad campaign promoting volunteerism.

On the field, Victorino recently finished his sixth season with the Phillies and became one of nine National League players to win 2010 Rawlings Gold Glove Awards, his third Gold Glove Award in as many years. Victorino posted a .995 fielding percentage, committing only two errors in 373 total chances. He finished tied for the NL lead in outfield assists with 11, first among all National League center fielders, and ranked second in double plays (4). Victorino is now the sixth Phillie to have won at least three Gold Glove Awards, joining Mike Schmidt (10), Garry Maddox (8), Manny Trillo (3), Scott Rolen (3) and Jimmy Rollins (3).

The “Flyin’ Hawaiian” will join other Phillies personnel – teammate Roy Halladay (2010 Pro Athlete of the Year), general manager Ruben Amaro Junior and manager Charlie Manuel – at the PSWA’s head table.

Other announced honorees include Bill Bergey, the former Eagles great selected as Living Legend; and the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers, selected as 2010 Team of the Year. The award will be accepted by popular Flyers right winger Ian Laperriere.

Other awards, including Amateur Athlete of the Year, Good Guy Athlete, Native Son and Outstanding Penn Relays collegiate performer, will be announced soon.

The most coveted award, the Most Courageous, is kept secret until the night of the dinner.

The Philadelphia Sports Writers Association was founded on May 12, 1904, and the first of what would become an annual Awards Dinner was held Feb. 15, 1905.

Tickets for the dinner are $95 apiece and can be purchased online by clicking here.

Fans can also friend PSWA on Facebook.