2016 Hutch Award Luncheon

For the 7th year in a row, I attended the Fred Hutchinson Award luncheon at Safeco Field.  The purpose is to honor the great Seattle baseball player and manager Fred Hutchinson and to support the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.   For the first time, an honorary Hutch Award was given to former President Jimmy Carter.  Grandson Jason Carter accepted that award on his behalf. (bottom picture)
This year's award went to Cardinal  pitcher Adam Wainwright. Wainwright has been an ace on that staff since 2006, as both a relief pitcher, a closer, and since 2007, a starter.  He missed the 2011 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.  On the Cardinal staff, Wainwright is second only to Bob Gibson in most strike outs in franchise history.   Wainwright's foundation has worked to provide better conditions for people in impoverished countries.
Hall Of Famer Carlton Fisk was keynote speaker, with a career that started in the late 60s and ended in the early 90s. Fisk was known for hitting a game winning home run in the 1975 World Series for the Boston Red Sox.  He would later play for the Chicago White Sox until 1993.  At the time of his retirement, he had hit more Home Runs than any catcher in Major League history. The record was later eclipsed by Mike Piazza.  A 2 time cancer survivor, Fisk concluded his speech by saying that if he was as wealthy as Bill Gates, the Hutch would not need fund raisers.
The top picture is me posing with Adam Wainwright on the left and Carlton Fisk on the right.