Everything you need to know for next week's Clarinda A's Baseball Banquet
Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith was on hand at last year's Clarinda A's Hall of Fame Banquet. Smith and Von Hayes signed autographs for more than 1 1/2 hours during the banquet and then took part in a question and answer session at the end of the program. Smith played for the A’s and was part of the 1981 Hall of Fame Class. He’s still a major supporter of the A’s and is scheduled to be at this year's banquet Saturday, Feb. 7.
The Clarinda A’s host their 51st annual Hall of Fame Banquet Saturday, Feb. 7, at the Clarinda High School Gymnasium.
Doors open at 3:45, the autograph session begins at 4:15 and the meal, catered by Clarinda’s J Bruner’s begins at around 5:30. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which includes a live auction, and a question/answer time with the guest celebrities, follows the meal.
Advance tickets for the banquet are $40 for adults and $30 for K-12 students. Tickets at the door increase the price by $5. Tickets are good for one autograph from each guest celebrity, dinner and bidding on auction items.
Clarinda A’s greats and former Major League players Von Hayes and MLB Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith are back for this year’s banquet and will sign autographs. One change to this year’s autograph session is that Smith is unable to sign additional autographs, which had been available to purchase in years past, because of contractual obligations. The one autograph from Smith per ticket is limited to small items, like photos, baseball cards or baseballs. Hayes can sign additional autographs for a fee.
Clarinda A’s General Manager Rod Eberly said there is plenty of Smith memorabilia in the silent auction again this year. The silent auction includes several items, most of which are baseball-related, although there are several non-baseball items available as well. Austin Ascherl with Triple A Auctions will conduct a live auction during the program for some of the big-priced items.
Ascherl said all the live auction items aren’t yet set but what he expects to be included at this point is an Ernie Banks signed jersey, a Bobby Witt Jr. signed jersey and a signed jersey from Smith. Also available in the live auction will be a Clarinda A’s bundle which includes A’s gear and throwing out the first pitch prior to the July 3rd Fireworks Night game. Eberly said check the Clarinda A’s Facebook page in the days leading up to the banquet for a Facebook Live detailing the live items.
The banquet is the program’s top annual fundraiser with all the money raised going back into the program. Eberly said this year’s money is going, in part, to new uniforms and making some final upgrades to the facility that started last offseason.
This year’s Hall of Fame class consists of two former players and three sets of house parents.
House parents and supporters Ann and Arlen Meyer, Anne and Jake Morrison and Audra and Aaron Riddle are being inducted for their contributions.
Ryan Bilovesky played parts of five different summers for the A’s in the early 2010s and is an inductee this year. Blake Trahan is the other former player being inducted. He played for the 2013 A’s team that placed fourth at the NBC World Series. Trahan went on to play five seasons professionally, including 11 games for the Cincinnati Reds in 2018.
Anyone wishing to purchase tickets to the banquet can contact Eberly at 712-303-9903 or send payment to 225 E. Lincoln, Clarinda, IA 51632. Tickets can be picked up locally or left at the door the day of the banquet.
