Hutch Award Luncheon raises record $485,000

Hundreds of baseball fans flocked to Safeco Field Jan. 30 to see Major League Baseball star Barry Zito and legendary former Seattle Mariners manager Lou Piniella at the 48th annual Hutch Award Luncheon. The fundraiser brought in more than $485,000—a new record for the event. Proceeds from the event support early cancer detection research through The Gregory Fund, a collaboration of the Hutchinson Center and The Moyer Foundation.

Zito, pitcher for the San Francisco Giants, accepted the Hutch Award during the luncheon from Fred Hutch board of trustees member Jim Sinegal. MLB icon Piniella provided the keynote address.

Before the luncheon Clinical Research Division Director Dr. Fred Appelbaum gave Zito, whose family has been touched by cancer, and Piniella a tour of Fred Hutch. They visited Flow Cytometry and the lab of Dr. Beverly Torok-Storb, where they left signatures on her international "autograph wall."

Earlier in the week, Piniella visited the Hutch School, where he answered questions and signed photos and baseballs for the students, who are cancer patients or family members of patients.

Every year, the Hutch Award goes to a Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the honor, courage, and dedication of legendary baseball player and manager Fred Hutchinson. 
     
Forty-eight players have won the honor since Mickey Mantle accepted the inaugural award in 1965, including baseball Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax, Carl Yastrzemski, Willie McCovey, and Lou Brock. Joining their ranks in recent years: Jamie Moyer, Trevor Hoffman, Craig Biggio, Mike Sweeney, Jon Lester, Mark Teahen, Tim Hudson, and Billy Butler. For more information, visit www.fhcrc.org/hutchaward.