Raul Ibanez Wins Hutch Award

Once again, I joined friends in attending the Fred Hutchinson Award ceremony at Safeco Field.  Three time Mariner Raul Ibanez (Pictured below) was this year's recipient.  Baseball legend Rod Carew  (pictured above) was keynote speaker.
 Carew is a former Minnesota Twin and California Angel,  He is an 18 time All Star and over 3,000 hits.  He spoke about losing a daughter to leukemia and why it was his life mission to find a cure for the disease.
Ibanez came up as a catcher in the Mariner organization, he is now an outfielder. He left the M's in 2001, to go to Kansas City, after starring with the Royals, he returned to the Mariners in 2004. He left again to go to the Philadelphia Phillies, then to the Yankees.  Last year, he signed a one year agreement with the Mariners, where he hit 29 home runs to tie Ted Williams for most hit by a player over 40, this coming season,  he will play for the LA Angels. Ibanez makes his home in the area and is active in the community.  He said that it was important to be, above all, a great role model.