Pitch & Hit Club

12/18/2025

Get your tickets for the 78th annual Pitch & Hit Banquet. The banquet will be held on Sunday, January 18th at the Tinley Park Convention Center. Doors open at 3:30PM for autographs and the memorabilia auction. Dinner begins at 5PM.

Award winners include:
Andre Dawson - Loyal and Meritorious Award
Eddie King Jr. - Chicago Area College Player of the Year
Dick Allen (Dick Allen, Jr. Accepting) - Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame Award
Boog Sciambi - Harry Caray Sportscaster of the Year
Clarendon Hills Little League - Chicago Area Amateur Baseball Organization of the Year

This years banquet will be held on Sunday, January 18. Once again we will be returning to the Tinley Park Convention Center. It is located at 18451 Convention Center Drive in Tinley Park. Use the South entrance. Cocktails and autographs will begin at 3:30 p.m. The dinners starts at 5 p.m. Awards beg...

11/05/2025

Tickets are now available for the 78th annual Pitch & Hit Club Awards Banquet.

This years banquet will be held on Sunday, January 18. Once again we will be returning to the Tinley Park Convention Center. It is located at 18451 Convention Center Drive in Tinley Park. Use the South entrance. Cocktails and autographs will begin at 3:30 p.m. The dinners starts at 5 p.m. Awards begin at 5:30 p. m. This year tickets prices will be $90 for members. $105 for non-members. A table of ten is $850.00. To purchase tickets visit

This years banquet will be held on Sunday, January 18. Once again we will be returning to the Tinley Park Convention Center. It is located at 18451 Convention Center Drive in Tinley Park. Use the South entrance. Cocktails and autographs will begin at 3:30 p.m. The dinners starts at 5 p.m. Awards beg...

03/08/2025

Pictures from our 77th Annual Awards Banquet are now available at https://pitchandhitclub.com/banquet/archive/2025-pitch-amp-hit-club-77th-annual-awards-banquet/

01/21/2025

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to Bill Waliewski and the Pitch and Hit Club members that put on another stellar banquet honoring many new inductees. Bill and all the hard working active members did such a great job and many of us members from both far and near appreciate the work that goes into an event such as this. Our hats off to the Pitch and Hit Club - a great organization---keep it going in 2026 !!! Steve Spielman

01/05/2025

D.J. Gladney will be honored as the Chicago Area Minor League Player of the Year at the 77th Annual Pitch & Hit Club Awards Banquet. The banquet will be held on January 19, 2025 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park. Doors open at 3:30 PM for autographs and the memorabilia auction. Dinner begins at 5 PM.

Gladney, a native of Matteson, IL, played high school ball at Illiana Christian Academy. As a product of the White Sox ACE program, Gladney caught the attention of White Sox scout J.J. Lally at the Area Code Games in 2018. The White Sox selected Gladney in the 16th round of the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft. Last season, after being promoted to Birmingham in the Southern League, he had a breakout season. In 97 at-bats, he hit .278, with 6 home runs and 18 RBI. He also had a .819 OPS in helping the Barons to the Southern League Championship.

OTHER AWARD WINNERS

Lou Boudreau Hall of Fame - A.J. Pierzynski

Lou Boudreau Hall of Fame - Gene Honda

Chicago Area MLB Player of the Year - Michael Massey, Kansas City Royals

Harry Caray Sportscaster of the Year - Matt Spiegel, 670 The Score

High School Softball Player of the Year - Madison Vrastil, Andrew High School

Chicago Area College Player of the Year - Kendal Ewell, University of Illinois Chicago

Gordie Gillespie College Coach of the Year - Brian Michalak, University of St. Francis

High School Softball Coach of the Year - Tom Poulin, St. Charles North High School

Chicago Area Minor League Team of the Year, Kane County Cougars

Len DiForte Amateur Baseball Service Award, Black Baseball Media

President’s Award - Mike McCartney

BANQUET TICKETS

Tickets are available for purchase at all Club meetings. They are also available at https://pitchandhitclub.com/banquet/. Tickets are $85 (member price), $100 (non-member price) and $825 for a table of ten.

01/04/2025

Mike McCartney will be honored with the Presidents Award at the 77th Annual Pitch and Hit Club Awards Banquet. The banquet will be held January 19 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park. Doors open at 3:30PM for autographs and the memorabilia auction. Dinner begins at 5PM.

At this time last year, Mike McCartney was one of two remaining board members of the LaGrange Babe Ruth league (LGBR). Several board members had retired after a decade or more years of service to the league. The field rental agreement with the local park district was up for renegotiation and there were rumblings that a master plan might eliminate the fields LGBR had used for decades. Simply put, there was a good chance 150 kids would not have a local and affordable option to play baseball in the summer of 2024 and beyond.

Even though time was not on his side, Mike quickly assembled a new board of directors, rebuilt the league website, commissioned a new LGBR logo, negotiated a new field rental agreement with the local park district, oversaw the registration process and player draft of two divisions and served as the commissioner for both the Junior and Senior Leagues. He also assisted in coaching his son’s team when he was available.

For 13 – 19 players, community baseball was almost extinct in LaGrange and it surrounding communities. Due to Mike’s selfless efforts, LaGrange Babe Ruth baseball will continue to provide playing opportunities for hundreds of players in the years to come.

OTHER AWARD WINNERS

Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame - A. J. Pierzynski

Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame - Gene Honda

Chicago Area MLB Player of the Year - Michael Massey - KC Royals

Harry Carry Sportscaster of the Year - Matt Spiegel - 670 The Score

High School Softball Player of the Year - Madison Vrastil - Andrew High School

Chicago Area College Player of the Year - Kendal Ewell - UIC

Gordie Gillespie College Coach of the Year - Brian Michalak - University of St. Francis

High School Softball Coach of the Year - Tom Poulin - St. Charles North High School

Chicago Area Minor League Team of the Year - Kane County Cougars

Len DiForte Amateur Baseball Service Award - Black Baseball Media

BANQUET TICKETS

They will be available at all meetings. They are also available at https://pitchandhitclub.com/banquet/. Tickets are $85 member price, $100 non-member and $825 for a table of ten.

01/03/2025

Black Baseball Media will be honored with the Len DiForte Amateur Baseball Service Award at the 77th Annual Pitch and Hit Club Awards Banquet. The banquet will be held January 19 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park. Doors open at 3:30PM for autographs and the memorabilia auction. Dinner begins at 5PM.

Earnest Horton aka "Coach E OF Guru" has been a staple in the inner city of Chicago Community. Coach E is the CEO and Co-Founder of Black Baseball Media. He has 13 plus years of coaching baseball in Chicago and the Chicagoland area. His passion for the game of baseball inspired him to give back to underserved youth in Chicago. Coach E was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago. He attended Hyde Park Career Academy in Chicago's Woodlawn community. Coach E earned a baseball scholarship to attend the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He was a three-year starter for UAPB. He earned a Bachelor's Degree in Science with a concentration in Physical Education. In 2013, Coach E earned his Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from DePaul University. Currently Coach E is entering his 14th year as a Physical Education and Health teacher at Sullivan High School.

OTHER AWARD WINNERS

Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame - A. J. Pierzynski

Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame - Gene Honda

Chicago Area MLB Player of the Year - Michael Massey - KC Royals

Harry Carry Sportscaster of the Year - Matt Spiegel - 670 The Score

High School Softball Player of the Year - Madison Vrastil - Andrew High School

Chicago Area College Player of the Year - Kendal Ewell - UIC

Gordie Gillespie College Coach of the Year - Brian Michalak - University of St. Francis

High School Softball Coach of the Year - Tom Poulin - St. Charles North High School

Chicago Area Minor League Team of the Year - Kane County Cougars

BANQUET TICKETS

They will be available at all meetings. They are also available at https://pitchandhitclub.com/banquet/. Tickets are $85 member price, $100 non-member and $825 for a table of ten.

12/20/2024

The Kane County Cougars will be honored as the "Chicago Area Minor League Team of the Year" at the 77th Annual Pitch and Hit Club Awards Banquet. The banquet will be held January 19 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive, Tinley Park. Doors open at 3:30PM for autographs and the memorabilia auction. Dinner begins at 5PM.

The Kane County Cougars are located in Geneva, Illinois and are a member of the American Association of Professional Baseball. The Cougars have been at the forefront of family-friendly entertainment since 1991. A total of 195 former Cougars have reached the Major Leagues including MLB All-Star's Miguel Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Josh Beckett, Adrian Gonzalez and Wilson Contreras. Since joining the American Association in 2021, the Cougars have consistently led the AA and all MLB Partner League teams in attendance. In 2024, the Cougars won their first championship since 2014. The Cougars franchise was established in 1888 in Decatur, Illinois as the Decatur Commodores. In 1974, the team moved to Wausau, Wisconsin and played as the Wausau Mets (1974-78) and Wausau Timbers (1979-90). The franchise has won 10 championships since its inception.

OTHER AWARD WINNERS

Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame - A. J. Pierzynski
Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame - Gene Honda
Chicago Area MLB Player of the Year - Michael Massey - KC Royals
Harry Carry Sportscaster of the Year - Matt Spiegel - 670 The Score
High School Softball Player of the Year - Madison Vrastil - Andrew High School
Chicago Area College Player of the Year - Kendal Ewell - UIC
Gordie Gillespie College Coach of the Year - Brian Michalak - University of St. Francis
High School Softball Coach of the Year - Tom Poulin - St. Charles North High School

BANQUET TICKETS

They will be available at all meetings. They are also available at https://pitchandhitclub.com/banquet/ Tickets are $85 member price, $100 non-member and $825 for a table of ten.

12/18/2024

Tom Poulin, head softball coach at St. Charles North High School since 2011, will be honored as the "High School Softball Coach of the Year " at the 77th Annual Pitch & Hit Club Awards Banquet. The banquet will be held January 19 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive Tinley Park. Doors open at 3:30PM. Dinner begins at 5PM.

In his first season at the helm in 2011, he was selected as the Illinois Coaches Softball Coach of the Year after leading his team to a 2nd Place finish in the state. In 2016 and 2018 he was also named the ICA Coach of the year. In 2022 the softball team won the first state championship in school history. The North Stars repeated as state champs this past season in 2024.

His softball coaching record is currently 293-104. The North Stars have won 10 conference titles, 14 Regionals, 7 Sectionals, 3 Super Sectionals and 2 state titles.

In addition to softball, Poulin is now in his 19th season as the head boys basketball coach. His career basketball coaching record is 286-236. He was also honored as the Illinois Basketball Coaches Coach of the Year in 2009 and 2020.

OTHER AWARD WINNERS

Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame - A. J. Pierzynski
Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame - Gene Honda
Chicago Area MLB Player of the Year - Michael Massey - KC Royals
Harry Carry Sportscaster of the Year - Matt Spiegel - 670 The Score
High School Softball Player of the Year - Madison Vrastil - Andrew High School
Chicago Area College Player of the Year - Kendal Ewell - UIC
Gordie Gillespie College Coach of the Year - Brian Michalak - University of St. Francis

BANQUET TICKETS

They will be available at all meetings. They are also available at https://pitchandhitclub.com/banquet/. Tickets are $85 member price, $100 non-member and $825 for a table of ten.

12/16/2024

Brian Michalak, head baseball coach at the University of St. Francis, will be honored as the “Gordie Gillespie College Coach of the Year” at the 77th Annual Pitch & Hit Club Awards Banquet. The banquet will be held January 19 at the Tinley Park Convention Center, 18451 Convention Center Drive Tinley Park. Doors open at 3:30PM. Dinner begins at 5PM.

Michalak’s roots go back to St. Francis where he played for Gillespie in the 1980’s. In 1983 the Saints finished 2nd in the NAIA College World Series.

Michalak began his coaching career at Lewis University. He was head baseball coach at North Central College from 2007-11. He has been the head coach at St. Francis since 2012.
University of St. Francis Fighting Saints

OTHER AWARD WINNERS

Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame – A. J. Pierzynski
Lou Boudreau Hall-of-Fame – Gene Honda
Chicago Area MLB Player of the Year – Michael Massey – KC Royals
Harry Carry Sportscaster of the Year – Matt Spiegel – 670 The Score
High School Softball Player of the Year – Madison Vrastil – Andrew High School
Chicago Area College Player of the Year – Kendal Ewell – UIC

BANQUET TICKETS

They will be available at all meetings. They are also available at https://pitchandhitclub.com/banquet/. Tickets are $85 member price, $100 non-member and $825 for a table of ten.