1998 Volume 121 No 1–4 - Phi Delta Theta Scroll Archive

"We athletes have the opening to do good and lead the wayf'
Molitor is the 44th recipient of the memorial to the legendary
New York Yankees "Iron Horse" Hall of Famer.
Paul's response to being voted the award was what one
might expect from a man of his reputation.
"To be recognized with anything bearing Lou Gehrig's
name would be significant. He's the ultimate role model,"
Molitor put it.
"It is always nice to be recognized with an award that
comes firomoff-field contributions. We athletes have the
opening to do good and lead the way.
"It shouldn't be to draw attention to ourselves, but to be
able to feel that we are able to help others."
Helping kids
The many off-field
activities in Molitor's resume
are directed at helping
children.
He has helped sponsor
the "Ignitor Team" ticket
program in the Twin Cities
of MinneapoUs and St.
Paul. This has enabled him
to bring thousands of kids,
seniors and needy persons
to the ballpark.
He is actively involved
with the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer which
has involved treatment of many youngsters.
Through the Countdown 3000 Baseball Auction, he raised
$40,000 for the Minnesota Make-A-Wish Foundation and
Camp Heartiand, a camp providing recreation and care for
youngsters with AIDS and HIV. He and his wife, Linda, are
co-chairpersons for Camp Heartland and have made personal
contributions of $250,000 to the project.
He was spokesman for the Twins "Stop the Violence Day"
in the Metrodome.
He is the past winner of Athletes for Young "Good Guy"
Award and the American League Joe Cronin Achievement
Award and the Hutch Award for overcoming adversity.
3,000 hits
MoUtor's on-field activities are very much in the Lou
Gehrig mold.
He crossed the 3,000 hit plateau with a triple September
16,1996 at Kansas City against Pitcher Jose Rosado. In the
post-game interviews he said he regretted that it didn't come
in the Metrodome with the Twins fans able to see it.
That 3,000th hit is generally regarded as a future ticket to
the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown where 14 previous Gehrig
Award winners are enshrined.
He is currently 12th on the all-time hit Ust, headed by
Pete Rose, the 1969 Gehrig Award winner.
During his brilliant 1996 season when he came home as a
free agent, he hit .341 with 113 runs driven in and a leagueleading
225 hits. In the process he became only the second
major leaguer to have 600 at bats at age 40, another link to
Gehrig's durability.
Molitor went into the 1998 season with a career batting
average of .308, another boost to his Hall of Fame credentials.
Defensive versatility has marked that phase of his play.
Breaking in as a shortstop, the Brewers decided third base
was his normal position. But he's also played second and
first base, center
field and a designated
hitter.
Paul Molitor
at a glance
He has been a
seven-time All Star
•Passed 3,000 hits in 1996 and played in two
World Series with
•Seven-time All Star
the Milwaukee
Brewers, with whom
•Played in two World Series he spent most of
his career.
•12th on all-time hit list
He played in the
1982 World Series
with the Brewers
and the 1993 October classic with the Toronto Blue Jays. He
had a whopping .418 overall average (23 for 55) with 11
RBIs.
An all-around athlete at Cretin High School in St. Paul,
he earned all-state honors in baseball an basketball. He also
played soccer and went on to the University of Minnesota.
The Brewers made him their first round pick in the 1977
free agent draft, the third player overall. He spent only one
half a season in the minors before coming up in 1978 to stay.
"Paul MoUtor is precisely the sort of player the Gehrig
Award is designed to recognize," says Robert A. Biggs, executive
vice president of the Fraternity. "We're delighted to
have him join an impressive list of honorees."
Molitor will be presented the Lou Gehrig Award prior to a
home game in the Metrodome this season.
Lou Gehrig Memorial Award Committee: Ritter Collett,
Ohio '42, chairman; John Bansch, Montana '57; Bill
Bergesch, Washington '46; Robert M. Campbell, Tennessee
Tech '81; Ron Cey, Washington State '70; Jeff Condon, Ohio
'85; William F. Dean, Texas Tech '60; Thomas C. Eakin,
Denison '56; Philip Fuhrer, Ohio '70; Harry Kalas, Iowa '59;
Bill Moor, Indiana '71; Paul Runge, Arizona State '66; Robert
M. Wren, Ohio '43; Frank S. Wright, Florida '26.
http://www.phidelt-ghq.com THE SCROLL SPRING 1998 21