Daily Sun sports

The Beatrice Bruins baseball team staged its final campaign in 2009 as manager Bob Steinkamp decided to disband the program after 40 years with the team.

Former players, coaches and fans will have one final opportunity to salute the program in a Sunday, Dec. 13, banquet at the Beatrice Eagles Club.

“This is going to be a thank-you to a lot of people for helping,” Steinkamp said.

Steinkamp said he’s hoping to have 400 people at the event and expects to see players from as long as 20 to 30 years ago in attendance at the banquet.

“We’re calling it ‘The Final Celebration,’” Steinkamp said. “It’s 40 years of Beatrice Bruins baseball, but it’s not a time to be sad or anything like that. We want to finish this thing on a really positive note.”

Doors will open at 4 p.m. with an autograph signing with former Bruin and current New York Yankee Joba Chamberlain and former Bruin and former Major Leaguer Shane Halter starting at 5 p.m.

Chamberlain, right-handed pitcher, was drafted by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2006 Major League Baseball amateur draft. He was the 41st pick overall. He signed with the Yankees Sept. 2, 2006, and was promoted quickly through the Yankees’ minor league system. He made his major league debut Aug. 7, 2007, and has been a key member of the Yankees pitching staff, whether as a reliever or starter, since. He helped New York to the 2009 World Series championship in a relief role.

The Lincoln native and University of Nebraska-Lincoln product made his debut with the Beatrice Bruins during the 2004 regional tournament and spent the entire 2005 season with the team.

While playing for the Bruins, Chamberlain was named the outstanding Major League prospect by the Major League scouts in attendance at the 2005 NBC World Series in Wichita.

Halter, an infielder, was the Bruins shortstop in 1989. He helped the Bruins to a third-place finish in the NBC World Series that year and was named to the All-World Series team for the tournament.

A Texas native and product of Seminole (Okla.) Junior College and the University of Texas, he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the fifth round of the 1991 amateur draft. He signed with the Royals June 4, 1991, and made his major league debut with the club April 6, 1997. He played his final major league game Oct. 3, 2004.

During seven seasons in the Major Leagues, Halter played for the Royals in 1997 and 1998, the New York Mets in 1999, the Detroit Tigers in 2000-2003 and the Anaheim Angels in 2004.

“His really interesting claim to fame,” Steinkamp said, “is he was so versatile that he is one of five players in Major League Baseball history to play all nine positions in one game.”

Halter was the last player to accomplish the feat.

“It’s probably the most rare thing in baseball,” Steinkamp said. “There’s been 14 perfect games in Major League history, but there’s been five people who have played all nine positions.”

Following the Chamberlain and Halter autograph session, the meal will be served at 6:30 p.m. with a program to follow. Steaks for the banquet are being donated by former Bruin Shawn Buchanan, who owns All-American Meats based in Omaha. The Beatrice Eagles Club is providing the rest of the meal.

There will be a cash bar available before the meal and after the program.

Steinkamp said he’s asked a “diverse group” of people to make brief comments about their connection to the Bruins during the program. Halter will also speak and Chamberlain will take part in a question-and-answer session.

This is the fourth year Chamberlain has taken part in the Bruins banquet, Steinkamp said.

“Joba has been awesome,” Steinkamp said. “He’s been such a huge part of things every year.”

By being at the banquet and signing autographs, which go for $10, Chamberlain has helped raised a lot of money for the Bruins program during the past several years, Steinkamp said.

“He (Chamberlain) personally charges nothing,” Steinkamp said.

Nebraska baseball coach Mike Anderson will also be on the program.

During his part in the program, Steinkamp will recognize the 2009 Most Valuable Player and Most Valuable Pitcher for the Bruins.

Both award winners are from Arkansas-Little Rock as Beatrice graduate Tyson Parks will receive the Most Valuable Player honor, while Sean Potter will receive the Most Valuable Pitcher award.

Throughout the evening, bids will be take on a silent auction with a number of pieces of sports memorabilia and other items offered.

“We’re going to have a tremendous silent auction,” Steinkamp said. “It will be the best one we’ve ever had.”

As the Bruins program is finished, Steinkamp said all proceeds from this year’s banquet will go to the Christenson Field lighting fund.

“They need six more new light poles,” Steinkamp said. “That’s $45,000 to $50,000 of additional expense to get that job done.”

Steinkamp said his goal is to be able to turn over between $10,000 and $15,000 to the fund.

About 100 tickets remain available for the banquet, Steinkamp said.

The tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students through high school age.

To purchase tickets contact Steinkamp at 223-3081.