washingtonwildthings.com: Hot Stove Banquet

2012 Wild Things Hot Stove Banquet

The 2012 Hot Stove Banquet, which benefitted Casey's Clubhouse, was held at the Double Tree in Meadow Lands February 18th. The evening was a celebration of baseball, that included dinner, an autograph session*, silent auction and speeches from our featured guests, including Sean Casey, Bob Walk, Lanny Frattare, and Lenny Randle. All proceeds benefit Casey's Clubhouse.

Wild Things' owner Dermontti Dawson, who hosted the event, spent the evening talking to fans and signing autogrphs. The new Pro-Football Hall of Famer also assisted in auctioning off an autographed Pro-Football Hall of Fame helmet.

Roughly 350 guests attended the event, which benefitted Casey's Clubhouse and the Miracle Field project.

About the featured guests:

Sean Casey, a former Major League first baseman, played for the Cleveland Indians, the Cincinnati Reds, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox. The Upper Saint Clair graduate who played from 1997 – 2008 was known as “The Mayor” during his MLB career because of his friendly manner. He was named a National League All Star in 1999, 2001, and 2004. In addition he was nominated for the Robert Clemente award.

Bob Walk, a former Major League Pitcher, nicknamed "The Whirly Bird", played for the Philadelphia Philles, Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates. Walk served as a spot starter and swingman for the Pirates' teams that won three straight NL East titles from 1990-1992. His most memorable outing being when manager Jim Leyland removed him from the bullpen and named him a surprise starter in Game 5 of the 1992 NLCS aganist Atlanta. He is currently an announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Root Sports Pittsburgh and radio

Lanny Frattare served as a broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Pirates for 33 years, making him the longest-tenured broadcaster in that team’s history. Western Pennsylvania sports fans will recall his familiar catch phases “And there was no doubt about it!” and “Go ball, get out of here!” After his retirement from the Pirates booth, he joined Waynesburg University where he currently serves as an assistant professor of communications and as faculty advisor to the school’s radio station. In 2010, he hosted the first Sports Announcing Camp for high school students at Waynesburg, which included a trip to CONSOL Energy Park to practice broadcasting a Wild Things game.
For tickets and more information, call 866-456-WILD (9453).