VERO BEACH — Famed Major League Baseball player and sportscaster Jim “Kitty” Kaat pitched his story to approximately 140 guests at a benefit dinner at the Oak Harbor Clubhouse Saturday night, encouraging their support of the programs and services offered by the Salvation Army of Indian River County.
During the cocktail hour, guests swapped favored baseball memories with the genial Kaat while perusing a silent auction evocative of a miniature Hall of Fame. The baseball fans in attendance gazed in admiration at autographed bats, balls, jerseys and photos, all sponsored by the Major League Baseball Alumni Association.
“I recognize that one,” said Kaat, pointing to an autographed photo of Bruce Sutter. “That’s when we won the ’82 World Series. They’ve got a lot of cool stuff here.”
Former National League umpire Dutch Rennert, renowned for his animated and boisterous strike calls, remembered back to when he and Kaat first started out in the Pioneer League.
“I had him in Missoula, Montana when we were kids, 1958 or so; a lot of water under the dam since them. It was clear then that he was the best pitcher.”
Later Kaat would also fondly recall working with Dutch Rennert saying, “Those days we had a nice warm relationship with umpires.”
At the start of the dinner, Salvation Army Major Sam Van Denberg, who transferred to Vero Beach last July from Roanoke, VA, smiled and said, “Last year at this time it was snowing where I was; I’m happy to be here.”
Education director Elaine McNeal spoke passionately about several of their programs adding, “It becomes part of who you are.”
Now a young married woman, Allison Sanchez-Claudio shared that she was introduced to the Salvation Army at age 4 through its Character Building Youth programs, and has remained committed to its mission ever since.
“The Salvation Army was always there for us,” said Sanchez-Claudio. “It’s help from people who really care for us.”
“Major League Baseball is back in Vero Beach – at least for tonight it is,” said development director John Corapi, recounting Jim Kaat’s remarkable baseball career.
The famed left-handed pitcher played during the administrations of seven U.S. Presidents – Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan. A three-time All-Star, he won a record 16 consecutive Gold Glove Awards and won the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals, before entering into sports broadcasting where he received seven Emmy awards.
“All those things mean one thing – I’m old,” joked Kaat, now a Stuart resident, before entertaining with stories revolving around his 55-year career, playing in and reporting on professional baseball. “Sports figures like to talk sports.”
As he reminisced about pitching against friend and Vero Beach resident Sandy Koufax, Kaat said, “He was one of the best I’ve ever seen.”
Although he is now a striking 6-foot, 4-inches tall, Kaat maintained that he was quite small as a young boy.
“Nobody thought I would ever make it. I am one of the lucky ones. From the time I was around 8-years-old, I wanted to play Major League Baseball.”
He credited his principled work ethic to having had salt-of-the-earth parents and said that it pains him today to see over-achiever parents interfering with their children’s little league games.
Noting the difference between those parents and the steady, nurturing influence of his own parents, he added, “You never wanted to do anything to embarrass your parents, or to feel the wrath of your parents.”
Katz is involved in a number of charities, including the Salvation Army, and remarked that his late wife would always first determine how much of the money donated would actually benefit the charity.
“That’s one of the reasons we got involved with the Salvation Army. When it comes in, it goes back out where it’s needed.”
Prior to the dinner, anonymous donors had pledged and would match up to $30,000 in contributions received through that evening. Publix Supermarkets sponsored the cost of the dinner, ensuring that all contributions would directly benefit the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army, an evangelical part of the Universal Christian Church, provides a wide variety of ministries and programs including food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children.
