BASEBALL: SHOWING SOME LOVE FOR SCOUTS.

Byline: TONY JACKSON Staff Writer

It was a little more than threeyears ago when former sports agent Dennis Gilbert, now a partner in a high-end Beverly Hills insurance firm and a special assistant for the Chicago White Sox, mentioned to Tommy Lasorda that Gilbert and three other baseball officials were starting a foundation to assist scouts who had lost their jobs, their health insurance and, in a few cases, their lives.

Minutes later, Lasorda became the organization's first outside donor, writing Gilbert a check for $5,000.

``I was a scout myself at one time, and I know what it's like,'' Lasorda said. ``I know there are times when these guys get laid off or fired, and maybe they have bad health, and now there was a way that we could help them. That was my way of giving my money and my energy.''

Today, Lasorda is part of a 16-member board of directors for the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation, which will hold its fourth annual fund-raising dinner and auction Saturday at the Beverly Hilton.

It is the marquee event for the non-profit PBSF, and a limited number of tickets are still available to the public.

To purchase tickets or make a personal or corporate cash donation or a memorabilia donation, call [phone]. Tickets are $300, $500 or $1,000.

All proceeds are used by the PBSF to assist unemployed scouts in need or their families. The PBSF has helped scouts pay health insurance premiums and uninsured medical costs and has even helped the families of some deceased scouts pay funeral and burial costs.

``This (dinner) is the ultimate experience for a baseball fan because everybody in that room is somebody,'' said Lisa Jackson, another member of the PBSF and the organization's event producer. ``Because there is such a limited amount of room for the public, (the celebrities) all pose for photos and sign autographs. It's such a nice, casual atmosphere, and you don't have anybody sneaking in the back door.''

The PBSF was founded by Gilbert, fellow White Sox executives Roland Hemond and Dave Yoakum and longtime New York Mets scout Harry Minor, who is based in Long Beach.

Hemond approached Gilbert with the idea in December 2003, and Gilbert provided the finances to put on the first dinner in January 2004.

The response was overwhelming.

``I never dreamed that first dinner would be as big as it was,'' said Gilbert, who makes a personal donation of $50,000 to the foundation every year.

Since then, it has gotten even bigger.

Scouts are among the game's most valued resources -- and most underappreciated. Their salaries are modest, and their job security is often tenuous.

``Scouts are the unsung heroes of our game,'' Lasorda said. ``They should have a Hall of Fame for scouts. If they can have a Hall of Fame (wing) for broadcasters and writers, they should have one for scouts. They're the backbone of baseball.''

This year, baseball commissioner Bud Selig will attend the dinner for the first time and will receive an executive leadership award named in his honor.

Other honorees include Cal Ripken Jr., who will receive the Player Lifetime Achievement Award. The Brett family of ElSegundo, which includes former major leaguers such as Hall of Famer George Brett and his brother, the late Ken Brett, will receive the Ray Boone Family Award.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia will receive the Tommy Lasorda Manager's Award.

Hall of Famer Willie Mays and four surviving members of the Birmingham Black Barons will receive the Willie Mays Award for outstanding achievement in baseball history. Minor and Bill Kearns will receive the George Genovese Lifetime Achievement Award for scouting excellence.

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