South Riverdale Little League Awards & Auction Night

    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.

Baxter even posed with SRLL President Mike Farber and Board member Ken Katrzman.