A
POSITIVELY “BAD” AFFAIR
2004
Gala Most Successful to Date
UNIVERSAL
CITY, CA – Hollywood joined forces with baseball
as Baseballers Against Drugs celebrated its 15th anniversary
and annual Positive Image Awards Gala. Once again the
Sheraton Universal Hotel was home to the festivities and
Los Angeles Dodger announcer Rick Monday returned to host,
with assistance from sportscaster Joe Buttita. Sports
and celebrity guests were in abundance, joining loyal
BAD supporters to pay tribute to this year’s Positive
Image honorees and raise needed funds for another successful
summer season of anti-drug clinics.
Leading
the list of honorees was All American Girls Professional
Baseball League star and Baseball Hall of Famer Pepper
Davis. Davis, who received the 2004 Ernie Banks Positive
Image Lifetime Achievement Award, was an All-Star and
League Champion who played in the all girls league from
1944-1953. The story of the league and many of Davis’
experiences were celebrated in the hit feature film A
League of Their Own for which she served as special advisor.
Penny Marshall, who directed the film, was in attendance
to pay tribute to her friend Pepper and several of the
cast members joined in the fun as well. In fact, table
#7 was a popular attraction for attendees who visited
with Pepper and Penny, film stars Tracy Reiner, Ann Cusack,
and Patti Pelton, as well as former professional softball
stars (and sisters) Gina Casey and Alice Fracasso.
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Ballplayers
in Attendance
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Hollywood
and professional baseball were also well represented at
other tables throughout the evening. Sitting with current
pitching stars Randy Wolf (Philadelphia Phillies) and
Jeff Suppan (St. Louis Cardinals) was another honoree
from the entertainment world. Actor Robert Hays, whose
television and film career is highlighted by his memorable
portrayal of pilot Ted Striker in the comedy classic Airplane,
took home Positive Image in Entertainment honors. His
spontaneous performance at the dinner made it evident
why he was honored, as his head to head repartee with
Penny Marshall and any willing audience member made for
some terrific unrehearsed comic fun. Rounding out the
list of deserving honorees were businessman Dean Kunicki
and attorney Ron Bamieh for Positive Image for Action
in the Community.
Sixteen
ballplayers joined in the annual celebration including
former Negro League stars Ross Davis and Neale Henderson
who joined us for the second year in a row. As always
there were prizes for many in attendance including sports
memorabilia, vacations, DVD players, color televisions
- even an opportunity to join Rick Monday in the broadcasting
booth at Dodger Stadium! But the biggest prize of all
was the most successful gala in BAD’s history. Thanks
to the generosity of the 200 in attendance that means
kids will benefit from our success throughout 2004.
View
Past Recipients • 2001
Highlights • 2002
Highlights • 2003 Highlights
