Lowell Announced as Baseball Banquet Speaker
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Former World Series MVP and four-time Major League Baseball All-Star Mike Lowell will be the keynote speaker at the 2014 First Pitch Baseball Banquet, head coach Jim Morris announced.
Lowell, who graduated from nearby Coral Gables Senior High with a perfect 4.0 GPA, was selected by the New York Yankees in the 20th round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft after a stellar four-year college career. He went on to win three World Series championships – one with the New York Yankees in 1998, another with the Florida Marlins in 2003, and his final one with the Boston Red Sox in 2007 – and was named to the All-Star Game four times over the course of his career.
Lowell also won several prestigious individual awards as a third baseman, including a Silver Slugger in 2003 and the Gold Glove in 2005, over his 13 years as a professional baseball player.
“I’m very honored that Mike considered speaking. He is a great representative of our city and of Major League Baseball,” Morris said. “He has reached every imaginable goal you can have as a baseball player and as a student, and he’s also a great guy. I’m very excited.”
The former defensive standout was diagnosed with testicular cancer in February of 1999 and underwent surgery in spring training prior to his first season with the Marlins. Remarkably, Lowell made his return to the lineup by late May. For his courageous fight and comeback, he was honored with the 1999 Tony Conigliaro Award, recognizing the MLB player who best overcomes an obstacle and adversity through attributes of spirit and determination.
Currently serving as an analyst for MLB Network, Lowell lives in Miami with his wife, Bertha, and two children, Alexis and Anthony.
The 2014 First Pitch Baseball Banquet will be held at the Mariott Miami Dadeland (9090 S Dadeland Boulevard, Miami, FL 33156) on Feb. 6 at 6 p.m.
