Brenly, Cedar Rapids team up
The annual Hot Stove tradition, which dates back to 1997, is an opportunity for fans of the game to get together and talk baseball. It also provides a great opportunity to raise money to support the Kernels Foundation.
The Kernels are pleased to welcome Bob Brenly, former Major League player, manager and broadcaster, who will be the guest speaker at the banquet.
Bob Brenly was born in Coshocton, Ohio and is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball. The burly right-hander was signed by the San Francisco Giants as a third baseman out of Ohio University (where he tied Mike Schmidt's single-season HR record), then switched to catcher in 1979, his fourth pro season. He played for the Cedar Rapids Giants in 1977, hitting .271 with 22 homers and 73 RBIs in 136 games.
Brenly won the Giants' starting catching job in 1984, hitting .291 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs. He would never hit better than .267 again but he remained a consistent power threat. In Game Four of the 1987 NLCS he homered off the Cardinals' Danny Cox. He was released by the Giants in 1988. The Blue Jays signed him but released him in mid-1989. Popular in San Francisco, he was signed for their stretch drive, and after his retirement became a Giants coach.
After several seasons in the broadcast booth, Brenly was hired to replace Buck Showalter as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks in October 2000, winning a World Series with the Diamondbacks in 2001. He is currently the color commentator for Chicago Cubs baseball on WGN and Comcast SportsNet. His son, Michael, is a catcher in the Cubs organization and played with Peoria in the MWL during the 2009 season.
The 15th Annual Hot Stove Banquet will include silent and live auctions featuring sports memorabilia and local items as well as the induction of the Class of 2011 into the Cedar Rapids Baseball Hall of Fame.
Proceeds from the event will help The Kernels Foundation accomplish its vision of ensuring that all youth in Eastern Iowa have the opportunity to experience athletic and recreational activities. For the last four summers The Kernels Foundation has been the sponsor of the baseball program at Jane Boyd Community House, a non-profit agency serving children and families. In addition to continuing its support of Jane Boyd, the foundation has shifted its focus since the June 2008 flood to support organizations with youth programs get back on their feet. These include the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids, the Cedar Rapids YMCA, Taylor Elementary, the Jones Park Baseball Diamond Project and most recently, the Cedar Rapids School Foundation.
Tickets for the banquet are on-sale now, and are $37.50 in advance and $45 at the door with corporate tables seating 10 people available for $350. Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.kernels.com, at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium during regular business hours 9 AM to 5 PM, or by phone at 363-3887.