Due to Hurricane Sandy the South Riverdale Awards and Auction Night had to be moved from PS 24 to the College of Mount Saint Vincent Saturday night. Hundreds
of Little League baseball players from South Riverdale received awards for
their hard play, and got to meet a real hometown New York Met player Mike
Baxter. Baxter answered questions from the kids as their parents got to bid on some
great sports items.
You
may ask who is Mike Baxter,
and what is his claim to fame? Mike Baxter grew up in Whitestone
Queens a few miles away from the old Shea Stadium. It was his dream
to play baseball, and to play for the Mets. Baxter was drafted in
2005 by the San Diego Padres, but played in their minor league system
until he was called up on September 6, 2010. On July 22,
2011 Baxter was selected off waivers by the Mets. In 2010 and 2011
Baxter played in 31 games with 49 plate appearances for the Padres &
Mets, and was granted free agency by the Mets on December 12, 2011.
On December 16, 2011 Mike Baxter signed as a free agent with the Mets
In 2012
Baxter played in 89 games with 211 plate appearances, hit 3 home
runs, had 17 RBI's, and stole 5 bases. He played all three outfield
positions making 81 put outs in 85 chances with only one error. Mike
Baxter's claim to fame right now is that he made a diving catch to
preserve Met pitcher Yohan Santana's no hitter June 1, 2012 (the
first no hitter in Met history). In 2012 Met Pitcher Yohan Santana
was paid 25 million dollars to pitch for the Mets. Not every baseball
player makes millions of dollars to play, and Mike Baxter signed for
a salary of $484,000.00 to play for the Mets through at least 2017.
Baxter will be able to go to salary arbitration in 2014 should he
prove to become a regular player. While Baxter said he prefers center
field I don't see Baxter playing center field with Andre Torres the
current Met center fielder, and Angel Pagan the former Met center
fielder (who the Mets traded to San Francisco) now a free agent.
Mike Baxter in talking to the children in the audience stressed the iimportance of good team work and being a team player. After the auction was over Baxter stayed to talk some more and sign free autographs for those who also stayed. While he may not have been Derek Jeter or A-Rod, Mile Baxter looked as though he had as much excitement as those who were there to see him.
Registration
for the 2013 SRLL season is underway and will continue through March
of 2013. Last year there were almost 400 children (boys & girls),
in different age groups up to 16 years of age in different divisions
from T-ball to the senior league. The President of the South
Riverdale Little League is Mr. Mike Farber who said that the league
is also looking for more sponsors, as well as the many other
volunteer positions that are needed. Mr. Farber can be contacted at
srllmike7@gmail.com , and
you can visit the South Riverdale Little League at their website at
www.srll.org for more information
on the league.
Below are some photos that were taken at the event
South Riverdal Little League players pose with their awards and respective division.
More kids with their awards and respective divisions. Left - you see the girls Division.
Left - Even the elected officials were on hand. State Senator Jeff Klein & Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz.
Right - Mike Baxter speaking to the audience.
Baxter poses with Jack Buckley and Stavri Anopolus winners of special auction packages.
After the event Baxter stayed to sign for the kids.
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| Baxter even posed with SRLL President Mike Farber and Board member Ken Katrzman. |
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