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YSU’s baseball breakfast Saturday
Photo
Hirschbeck
By Joe Catullo Jr.
Youngstown
Walking around the Watson and Tressel Training Site on Tuesday, Youngstown State manager Steve Gillispie traded his baseball uniform for a different, unusual set of clothes during the Penguins’ photo day. A blue button-down shirt and a wide-striped tie blanketed underneath his black JCPenney suit jacket. From the waist down were dark grey Champion sweatpants with white tennis shoes.
Gillispie promised he wouldn’t look that formal for Saturday’s First Pitch Breakfast at McMenamy’s Restaurant and Banquet Center in Niles. The event is more about what YSU can raise than how good Gillispie looks in his profile pic anyways.
“It gives our program and student-athletes and coaches the ability to meet with our community,” said Ron Strollo, YSU’s Executive Director of Intercollegiate Athletics. “It gives them a chance to socialize and the ability to raise some money.
“I love baseball. It’s always been a part of my life and my son’s life. I feel it’s an important sport to northeast Ohio.”
The Penguins hope to raise as much money as they did during last year’s event. YSU raised nearly $15,000 with approximately 500 people in attendance, including Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle and Wally Bell, a former MLB umpire who died in October from a heart attack. Bell, a graduate of Austintown Fitch High School, served 21 years in the majors.
The money raised supplements the program’s budget. Gillispie said it allows YSU to do things at a much higher level than it would otherwise, including traveling first class and improving its facilities.
“Any time they call and ask me to do it, I enjoy doing it,” Bell said last year. “It’s a good cause and a great turnout. You get up a little earlier than usual on a Saturday, but it’s worth it.”
Saturday’s guest speakers are MLB umpire and Mahoning Valley native John Hirschbeck, Cleveland Indians president Mark Shapiro and seven-time MLB All-Star Al Oliver.
“One of the neat things for me, personally, is the relationships that I’ve been able to build in just the short time I’ve been here,” Gillispie said. “I get an email daily from Clint Hurdle with motivational type of things. It’s really neat to see those types of people that are so well thought of in their profession would take an interest in what we’re doing.”
Along with the guest speakers, numerous items will be auctioned. The silent auction features YSU memorabilia and apparel, Baird Brothers Fine hardwoods and a YSU fire pit.
Hirschbeck, Shapiro and Oliver bring a wider selection for the average baseball fan. There will be autographed items from George Brett, Alex Gordon, Reggie Jackson, Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer, Alfonso Soriano, Buck O’Neil, Hurdle and Bell.
“I think it serves to bring the general baseball fan out that might not be associated with YSU yet,” Gillispie said. “Anything that you can do with the people in the valley and have the local talent involved is fantastic.”
Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. The buffet breakfast begins at 8:45 a.m. followed by the program beginning at 9 a.m. Tickets are $15 apiece. For more information, contact YSU associate head coach Kevin Smallcomb at kdsmallcomb@ysu.edu or 970-978-0504.
“One thing that we’ve learned is that the people are very supportive and generous,” Gillispie said. “We knew we had a good event. We knew that it would be something viable for our program. It’s something that we definitely wanted to do again this year.”