Baseball Writers Association of America, St. Louis Chapter’s 57th Annual Dinner

The Baseball Writers Association of America-St. Louis Chapter hosted its 57th Annual Dinner, Sunday, January 18, 2014 at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel. This dinner offered not only the customary award presentations but also honored the 30th Anniversary of the Cardinals’ 1985 National League pennant winning team, the first Red Schoendienst Award to retiring baseball Commissioner Bud Selig, and the 2014 Redbirds.

Adam Wainwright won his second consecutive J.G. Taylor Spink Baseball Man of the Year, the baseball writers most prestigious award, after compiling a 20-9 record with a 2.38 ERA. His 20 wins registered second in the National League, his ERA third, his 5 complete games second, his 3 shutouts third, and his 227 innings pitched second. He also ended up third in the Cy Young Award voting. This consistency earned him the starting berth in 2014 All-Star Game. Wainwright displayed an incredible fortitude, working through a troublesome elbow that required off-season surgery. Away from the field, he manifested a philanthropic spirit through his charitable foundation, prompting Derrick Goold to comment that maybe Wainwright has helped redefine this award as “a man of faith, a sportsman, a humanitarian, and tonight the St. Louis Man of the Year”. Adam spoke about the meaning of this award and his desire to remain a life-long Cardinal.

Mark Ellis won the Darryl Kile Award, voted annually by the team and given to the player who best exemplifies the leadership qualities that marked the late St. Louis pitcher. Veteran broadcaster Ron Jacober and sportswriter Dick Kaegel received the Dr. Robert F. Hyland/Rick Hummel Award for Meritorious Service to Sports. The writers also recognized second baseman Kolten Wong with the Jack Herman/Joe Ostermeier Award-Rookie of the Year; Marco Gonzales (Cardinals Minor League Pitcher of the Year) and Magneuris Sierra (Cardinals Minor League Player of the Year).

One of the evening’s new highlights involved the inaugural presentation of the Red Schoendienst Medal for “Invaluable Service to Baseball” to Red Schoendienst, himself, and retiring Commissioner Bud Selig. Red Schoendienst has served baseball for over 70 years as a Hall of Fame player, manager, coach, and adviser. The new award will represent the highest honor bestowed by the St. Louis BBWAA and will commemorate the greatest living Cardinal and one of the most valued, yet one of the most modest, individuals in the history of the organization. In also accepting the award, Mr. Selig expressed his gratitude and humility to the audience, stating, “Serving this game that America counts as its national pastime has been an amazing privilege for me”. He then cited men such as Stan Musial and Red Schoendienst who have made this game so special. He concluded, “And this event tonight, which allowed me to visit this extraordinary baseball town and receive the inaugural Red Schoendienst Medal, is another illustration of what a privilege this entire journey I’ve been on has been.”

A few somber moments occurred with reference to Oscar Tavares’ passing, which had repercussions throughout the organization personally and professionally. The Cardinals felt an offensive void had to be filled, resulting in the trade of pitcher Shelby Miller and prospect Tyrell Jenkins for Atlanta Braves outfielder Justin Heyward and reliever Jordan Walsh. The writers also noted the losses of superlative caricature artist Amadee Wohlschlaeger and sports columnist Bryan Burwell.

The mood turned when Lou Brock finally had the opportunity to acknowledge personally the major league’s 2014 basestealing champion, Dee Gordon. Brock quipped that the Los Angelas Dodgers lost the divisional playoff series to the Cardinals. Yet they traded Gordon during the off-season even though he played well throughout the year.

Rick Horton, former 1985 Cardinal pitcher and Fox Sports Midwest Cardinals analyst held two rounds of panel discussions with some fan favorites from the 30th anniversary team, including relief pitcher Jeff Lahti, outfielder Andy Van Slyke, relievers Todd Worrell, Ken Dayley, Pat Perry, trainer Gene Gieselmann, first baseman Mike Jorgensen, outfielders Vince Coleman, Willie McGee, Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith, and Hall of Fame manager Whitey Herzog. Coleman stole the “show” (no surprise there) and had the audience “going crazy, folks” when he described himself as mischevious and talked about some of the off-field antics, much to everyone’s delight or horror.

Not to be overlooked, Tom Ackerman facilitated a panel from the 2014 team that comprised third baseman Matt Carpenter, shortstop Jhonny Peralta, first baseman Matt Adams, and pitcher Lance Lynn. They addressed last season’s early challenges, the late charge to the division championship, and the post-season death of Oscar Tavares, causing both shock to the organization and new opportunities.

The baseball writers announced two new scholarships in 2015: one in memory of Bryan Burwell, the late Post-Dispatch sports columnist, will target a minority student pursuing a career in sports journalism and the other will designate a female student in sports journalism. Jennifer Langosch, MLBlog Cardinals Insider, also revealed a remarkable bond established between a low Cardinals affiliate, the State College Spikes, its manager, and a young boy suffering from an aging disorder. Josiah Viera and manager Oliver Marmol’s relationship provided a poignant story within the proceedings. Both received the Harry Mitauer Good Guy Award.

The St. Louis Baseball Writers Dinner originated with Bob Broeg, a Hall of Fame baseball writer and the former sports editor of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. With the assistance of his newspaper rival, the Globe-Democrat’s Bob Burnes, and the inspiration of the national organization of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, Broeg established the dinner in 1958. It has transpired every year since, save one. The list of honorees appears both regal and robust, ranging from Rogers Hornsby, Dizzy Dean, Ozzie Smith and Stan Musial to Joe Torre, Tony LaRussa, Bob Costas, Whitey Herzog, Albert Pujols, and every championship team the Cardinals have fielded.

The writers dinner represents one of three remaining in the country; the others occur in New York and Boston. Tickets to the event cost $150.00 per person, or $175 with a pass to the Winter Warm-Up. A portion of the funds go to the Bob Broeg Endowed Athletic Scholarship, University of Missouri; Robert L. Burnes Endowed Scholarship, St. Louis University; Jack Buck Journalism Scholarship, University of Missouri; the Journalism Foundation, Cardinals Care, and the Rick Hummel Internship, University of Missouri.