Amazing prizes are up for grabs for fans of the Phillies at MLB’s Winter Meetings auction benefiting Stand Up For Cancer.
MLB’s Winter Meetings are currently taking place in Nashville, and over the past few days, teams hoping to add a prized free agent have been negotiating with agents. But fans now have the chance to win some pretty awesome prizes of their own, thanks to MLB’s Winter Meetings Charity Auction for Stand Up To Cancer
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In addition to offering exclusive game-day experiences, the Philadelphia Phillies auction items include some amazing chances to mingle with baseball royalty, like a dinner for eight in the Executive Dining Room at Citizens Bank Park with 2008 World Series champion Cole Hamels.
In addition, the successful bidder will receive two parking passes and eight tickets in the Hall of Fame Club Premium Seating Area for a game on June 19, 2024. It might be best to split the $2,125 current bid among eight people for this lunch.
Ever wanted to take the Phillie Phanatic for a drive around the ballpark and shoot hot dogs sky high? A bid exceeding $1,300 will make that wish come true. The photo op alone makes this second auction item worthwhile. Four field-level game tickets will also be awarded to the winner.
A meet-and-greet with hometown hero and generational superstar Mike Trout, a full day with Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, a little on-air time in the Tampa Bay Rays broadcast booth, and a variety of other on- and off-field experiences across the league are all up for bid in the Winter Meetings Charity Auction.
According to MLB.com, MLB and its teams are holding an online Winter Meetings Charity Auction for the tenth year, with the proceeds going to Stand Up To Cancer. The official press release states that this year’s event is being held “… in honor of Catalina Villegas, the MLB Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Billy Bean, the Senior Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and former Major League outfielder, both of whom are undergoing treatment for cancer diagnoses.”
MLB’s Vice President of Social Responsibility, April Brown, stated at the announcement on Monday, “We are the founding donor of Stand Up To Cancer.” Indeed, ten years prior, in Nashville, they were the recipients of our earnings. Thus, it makes perfect sense that this year Once more, our auction beneficiary is Stand Up To Cancer.”
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The 15th Mike Coolbaugh Award winner is Bobby Cuellar of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Special Assistant to Player Development, and the 15th Sheldon “Chief” Bender Award winner is Lee McDaniel, Director of Minor League Operations for the Philadelphia Phillies. These announcements were made by Minor League Baseball.
Every year, the Mike Coolbaugh Award is given to a person who demonstrates exceptional baseball work ethic, game knowledge, and ability to coach young players on the field. Minor League Baseball established the award in 2008 in memory of the late Coolbaugh, a 17-year Minor League veteran who was beginning his first season as a coach at the time of his death. With the Milwaukee Brewers (39 games in 2001) and St. Louis Cardinals (five games in 2002), Coolbaugh made appearances in 44 Major League games.
A recipient of the Sheldon “Chief” Bender Award is a distinguished service member who has made a significant contribution to player development. Bender, a seasoned front-office executive and consultant who worked for the Cincinnati Reds for 39 years, is honored with this award.
Mike Coolbaugh Award winner Bobby Cuellar
In 1974, Bobby Cuellar started his professional baseball career after being selected by the Texas Rangers in the 29th round out of the University of Texas. The right-hander played nine seasons in the major leagues, his only promotion to the majors coming with Texas in 1977.
After his playing career ended in 1982, Cuellar entered the coaching field right away and spent the next 40 seasons mentoring young pitchers and players in a lengthy and illustrious career.
He has experience coaching and managing in seven different leagues and every classification in Minor League Baseball, from Rookie ball to Triple-A. His time spent in the Minor Leagues included stints with the Minnesota Twins (2002–05, 2008–12), the Los Angeles Dodgers (2015–23), and the Seattle Mariners (1983–94).
Cuellar also worked as a pitching coach in Major League Baseball for nine years, holding positions with the Mariners (1995–1996), Montreal Expos (1997–2000), Rangers (2001), Pittsburgh Pirates (2006–07), Twins (2013–14), and Rangers (2001–2002).
Cuellar is regarded as a teacher at heart and is well-known for his ability to guide young players and help Latin players adjust to life in the United States. He has a remarkable ability to unite people from diverse cultures and understands the significant influence coaches can have on players’ lives and careers.
Cuellar remarked, “I am incredibly honored to receive this great honor and to be recognized for something I absolutely love to do.” “My wife, Nora, and my family are to be thanked, and I sincerely appreciate all of the players, coaches, mentors, and everyone else who have contributed so much to my journey in this game.”
Cuellar, 71, lives in Alice, Texas, with his 45-year wife, Nora. Their three adult children are Bobby Ray, Emma, and Tiffany. There are five grandchildren for the Cuellars.
2008 Mike Coolbaugh Award winners were the Texas Rangers’ Bobby Jones.
Charlie Montoyo of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2009
2010: Gulf Coast League Pirates’ Woody Huyke
2011: Omaha Storm Chasers’ Mike Jirschele
Johnny Goryl of the Cleveland Indians in 2012
Mike Guerrero of the Nashville Sounds in 2013
Tom Wiedenbauer of the Cleveland Indians in 2014
2015: Los Angeles Dodgers’ John Shoemaker
2016: Washington Nationals’ Donald “Spin” Williams
Dennis Holmberg of the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017
2018: St. Louis Cardinals’ Steve Turco
2019: Boston Red Sox’s Glenn “Goose” Gregson
2021: Philadelphia Phillies’ Roly de Armas
2022: Milwaukee Brewers’ Rick Sweet
Bobby Cuellar of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023
The Sheldon “Chief” Bender Award goes to Lee McDaniel.
In 1990, Lee McDaniel signed on as an intern for the Rookie-level Martinsville Phillies, marking the start of a 34-year career in Minor League Baseball.
In 1993, McDaniel rejoined the Phillies as the general manager of Martinsville, following two seasons (1991–1992) as the assistant general manager of the Asheville Tourists. After spending three seasons in Martinsville, McDaniel joined the High-A Clearwater Phillies as assistant general manager before the 1996 campaign, and he was promoted to general manager in 1997.
In 2000, McDaniel left his position as director of Clearwater after three years in charge and joined the Player Development staff. He was appointed Assistant Director of Minor League Operations for the Phillies and remained in that capacity until the 2011 season, when he was elevated to Director of Minor League Operations.
In his capacity as the Phillies’ Director of Minor League Operations, McDaniel is in charge of managing the budget for Baseball Operations, all business dealings with the team’s Minor League affiliates, and the Clearwater player development complex. The Phillies’ extended spring training, minor league spring training, offseason camps, and Florida Complex League season are all coordinated by him.
The Richie Ashburn & David Montgomery Special Achievement Award is given annually to a member of the Phillies organization who best embodies the qualities of the award’s namesakes. McDaniel also arranges all travel for Phillies Minor League players and coaches throughout the season.
The 58-year-old McDaniel graduated from Virginia Tech in 1988 with a degree in finance and Ohio University in 1993 with a master’s degree in sports administration. He’s got a place in Odessa, Florida.
The Sheldon “Chief” Bender Award winner for this year, McDaniel, said, “I am deeply honored and humbled to be mentioned with him and the previous winners, several of whom are dear friends, is a tremendous honor.” “I’m eternally grateful for this selection because I had the good fortune to meet “Chief” at various baseball functions early in my career and I held the highest respect and admiration for him. I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked for the Philadelphia Phillies for such a long time. I share this award with my amazing coworkers, the many outstanding leaders of the Phillies both past and present, and most importantly, my wife Lisa, my daughter Riley, and my son Jason, without whom this would not be possible.
