January 10, 2012
LOS ANGELES ANGELS ACE JERED WEAVER TO BE HONORED AS 2012 SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR BY ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SPORTS FOUNDATION AT JANUARY BANQUET
(Costa Mesa, CA) - -- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim starting pitcher Jered Weaver
will be honored as the 2012 Sportsman of the Year when the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation (OCYSF) roasts him at a special banquet on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa beginning at 6:00 pm.
Weaver is entering his seventh year with the Angels. He is coming off a career best 18-8 season with a 2.41 ERA. He ranked among the American League leaders in multiple categories including ERA (2nd), wins (3rd), complete games (4th with four), shutouts, (5th with two), and innings pitched (5th with 235.2). Opposing batters compiled a cumulative .212 average against him all season long, which also ranked fifth among all American League pitchers. In his first six years with the American League team, Weaver has totaled 82 career victories and just 47 losses.
"Jered Weaver is a special athlete and we are excited to honor him as the 2012 Sportsman of the Year," said Mark Hardtke, President of the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation (OCYSF). "He has proven himself as a leader both on and off the field. His willingness to help us raise money for needed programs in Orange County will make this event memorable."
Weaver began the 2011 season with a bang. The pitcher went 6-0 with a 0.99 ERA in his first six starts, including two complete games and one shutout en route to becoming just the fourth pitcher to go 6-0 before May. He was named the American League Pitcher of the month and his first half efforts were rewarded as he started the American League All Star game. Weaver capped the 2011 campaign as the runner up for the 2011 Cy Young Award, as voted by the Baseball Writers Association of America.
Weaver is the first Angels player honored by the Organization since former Angels Tim Salmon was roasted in 2006. Since 1971, the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation has enjoyed a proud tradition of celebrating the accomplishments of sports figures as a means of raising funds for boys and girls in the Orange County, CA community. Since its inception, the Foundation has donated well over a $1.6 million dollars to youth sports in the county. This includes scholarships to college bound scholar-athletes, field trips and improvements to local sports facilities.
Weaver becomes the OCYSF's 39th honoree to take the podium as the night's honoree. Past OCYSF honorees include local and national sports greats like Tom Lasorda, Jerry West, Pete Carroll, Bill Walsh and Peter Ueberroth.
Tickets for this year's banquet are now available. The cost for a table of 10 is $1,500, corporate tables of 10 are $3,000 and include a seat at a private lunch with Weaver while individual tickets are $150 each. For more information about this year's banquet or to purchase tickets, please go to www.ocysf.org or call 714-815-3885.
About the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation
Originally named the "Sports Celebrities," a group of local Orange County residents held a banquet held each year at the Saddleback Inn in Santa Ana to have fun and raise money for young people. The founders include Paul Clearly, Bruce Gelker, Bob Hoyt, Chuck Potter and Paul Salata and their first honoree was race car driver Dan Gurney. Later the group changed its name to the current moniker The Orange County Youth Sports Foundation. Today, more than 45 volunteers sit on the OCYSF board and help make an impact in the lives of young people in the community.
The Orange County Sportsman of the Year Award was established in 1971 by the Foundation to honor individuals who serve as an inspiration to youth and who are leaders in both their sport and their community. The Orange County Youth Sports Foundation would also like to recognize The First American Corporation and Westar Associates for their longtime support.
PAST SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD RECIPIENTS
2011 Rick Neuheisel -- Football
2010 Mark Sanchez -- Football
2008 Jim Nantz -- Broadcaster
2006 Tim Salmon -- Baseball
2005 Matt Leinart -- Football
2004 Pete Carroll -- Football
2003 Carson Palmer -- Football
2002 Bob Baffert - Horse Racing
2001 Mike Scioscia -- Baseball
2000 Bill Walsh -- Football
1999 Dick Enberg -- Sportscaster
1998 Jerry West -- Basketball
1997 Jackie Slater -- Football
1996 Terry Donahue -- Football
1995 25th Year Anniversary
1994 Bert Blyleven -- Baseball
1993 Jim Abbott -- Baseball
1992 John McKay -- Football
1991 Nolan Cromwell -- Football
1990 Augie Garrido -- Baseball
1989 Tom Lasorda -- Baseball
1988 John Hall -- Sportswriting
1987 John Robinson -- Football
1986 Tommy John -- Baseball
1985 Greg Louganis - Diving & Edwin Moses -- Track
1984 Peter Ueberroth -- Olympics
1983 Jack Youngblood -- Football
1982 Bill Mulligan -- Basketball
1981 Hal Sherbeck -- Football
1980 Gene Autry -- Baseball
1979 George Yardley -- Basketball
1978 Paul Salata - Bon Vivant, Football
1977 Donn Moomaw -- Football
1976 Sammy Lee - Olympic Diving
1975 Del Crandall -- Baseball
1974 Eddie West -- Sportswriting
1973 Clare Van Hoorbeke -- Football
1972 Rod Laver -- Tennis
1971 Dan Gurney - Auto Racing
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