FORMER YANKEE GREAT TO JOIN ALL-STAR LINE-UP IN OTSAR PITCH
BROOKLYN, NY, June 17, 2005 -- Former Cy Young Award winner and Yankee star Ron Guidry has signed up to match his managerial skills against Johnny Bench in the 2nd Otsar Celebrity Grand Slam to be played on Sunday, September 18, at Keyspan Park in Coney Island -- home of the Brooklyn Cyclones.
Earlier this month, Otsar Family Services, an organization that benefits developmentally disabled individuals, announced that Hall of of Fame catcher Johnny Bench would manage one of the teams in the celebrity softball tournament. In addition to the game in which donors will play alongside former Major League Baseball players on a professional field, the Grand Slam will offer plenty of other family activities, including an all-day carnival; contests; and professional instruction clinics in pitching, fielding, and batting for contributors and Otsar beneficiaries. More than 7,000 people are expected to attend the event.
Guidry, who played for the Yankees his entire career, from 1975 to 1988, was a five-time Gold Glove winner and a unanimous choice for the Cy Young Award in 1978 after his 25-3 season. In addition to managing the team, Guidry is expected to make an appearance on the mound and hold several pitching clinics in advance of the game, including one for the children who are Otsar clients.
"Baseball, for me has always been about kids, and one of the best parts of this event will be the chance to reconnect with kids back on a New York baseball field, particularly the special kids who are part of Otsar," Guidry said.
Otsar is a 25-year-old organization dedicated to enabling developmentally disabled children and adults to become vital and contributing members of their families and the community; providing families with the knowledge and tools to fully engage children with special needs; and serving as a support network for families of children with disabilities.
