The 5th Annual Taft College Triple Play Dinner & Auction is nearing the on-deck circle. The event will be held again at The Historic Fort in Taft on Friday, January 19, 2018 with a no host cocktails at 6:00 pm., with dinner beginning at 7:00 pm.
Taft College Athletics is proud to announce that former Dodgers great, Maury Wills, will speak at this years' event.
Wills, a 7-time National League All Star, was instrumental in bringing the stolen base back as a crucial part of baseball strategy in the 1960's when pitchers dominated most of the decade. At the end of his career, Wills held both the single season and career stolen base records, which were later broken by Lou Brock and then by Rickie Henderson, (both are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame). Wills was the National League MVP in 1962 and during that historic season, he became the first MLB player to steal 100 bases in a single season (104 SB's). He led the National League in stolen bases every year from 1960 to 1965. Wills was also an outstanding defensive shortstop as well, receiving the National League Golden Glove award in 1961 and 1962. Wills was a 3-time World Series champion with the Dodgers in 1959, 1963 and 1965.
Later in his career, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Montreal Expos. He also served as the manager of the Seattle Mariners from 1980-81. In 2014, Wills fell just three total votes short of making the Hall of Fame as a Golden Era Committee candidate.
Previous speakers were Dave Dravecky in 2014, a former pitcher and cancer survivor from the San Francisco Giants; Ron Coomer a Taft College student athlete alum and major leaguer, who is the Chicago Cubs radio announcer, in 2015; Charlie Hough the knuckleball pitcher who began his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016; and Eric Byrnes former major league baseball player and current MLB television analyst.
This event is one of our greatest fundraisers, with such an amazing group of attendees, helpful students, great food and awesome speakers! We also have the silent and live auctions which have had some wonderful items. Our baseball and softball programs are in need of new items. This event can move us closer to our goal of purchasing those items.
Sponsored tables can be purchased for $500 each and individual tickets to this event are $65. Tickets can be purchased at the Taft College Athletic Office in the Al Baldock Cougar Sports Center or call the athletics office at 661-763-7829 or 661-763-7822.