Hirayama to be honored by Grizzlies
Regarded as perhaps, "pound-for-pound the greatest athlete to ever come out of Fresno State," Fibber Hirayama has been a fixture in the Central Valley for nearly 80 years, and is already a member of the Fresno State Baseball Wall of Fame and the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.
As a 12-year old during World War II, Hirayama was moved with his family to an internment camp in Arizona, where he continued to play baseball and football. After returning to the Valley at the conclusion of the war, he was offered a football scholarship to Fresno State University, but wound up making his mark on the baseball diamond instead. His incredible speed on the base paths led to two records that stood for more than 40 years: 76 stolen bases in a season and five stolen bases in one game.
After graduation, Hirayama was signed by the St. Louis Browns, one of the first Japanese American to be signed to a professional baseball contract, and ultimately played 10 professional seasons in Japan for the Hiroshima Carp. Following his playing career, Hirayama scouted for the Carp and the California Angels. He was a Clovis Unified School District teacher and administrator for 30 years, and is currently the head of the Japanese Baseball Development Program in the Dominican Republic.
The Al Radka Award, celebrating an individual who has made a contribution to the community through the game of baseball, will be presented for the seventh time at this year's Hot Stove Banquet. Radka started the Fresno Hot Stove over 50 years ago, and the award was created as a testament to his vision. The last two winners of the award were legendary Fresno State baseball coach, Bob Bennett, in 2008, and former Major Leaguer and Grizzlies Community Ambassador, Gus Zernial, in 2007.
The Fresno Grizzlies Hot Stove Banquet will be held on Thursday, Feb. 5 at the Holiday Inn Downtown Fresno. Tickets for the event benefiting the Fresno Grizzlies Community Fund are $60 for adults, $15 for children, and $550 to reserve a table of 10. For ticket information, please call Danielle Witt at 559-320-2547.