Banquet

Due to unforseen circumstances, Joe West will not be able to speak at our upcoming banquet.

Come join us at the 64th Annual Banquet on January 15, 2026. The price is $85 per ticket. Due to Joe West’s absence, after December 29, the price is $95.

Doug Glanville, Von Hayes and Bob Dernier are the keynote speakers at this year’s banquet.

Below is some information about Doug’s career.

• Played in the major leagues from 1996 to 2004 with the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers
• Consultant with Baseball Factory, a high-school player development program, and writes guest columns for The New York Times and ESPN.com on baseball and sports.
• Baseball Color Analyst for ESPN
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doug_Glanville
• https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/glanvdo01.shtml

Below is some information about Von’s career.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hayesvo01.shtmlBelow is some information about Joe’s career.

Played in the major leagues from 1981 to 1992 with the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies and California Angels and an All-Star in 1989

Nicknamed “Five-for-One” for the trade from the Indians to the Phillies coined by Pete Rose

The first player to hit 2 home runs in the first inning of a single game

Former minor league manager after his playing career ended

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Hayes#:~:text=Von%20Francis%20Hayes%20(born%20August,a%20minor%20league%20baseball%20manager.

Below is some information about Bob’s career.

• Played centerfield for the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs from 1980 to 1989
• Gold Glove winner in 1984
• Played the 1980 season in Reading
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Dernier
• https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/dernibo01.shtml

Banquet Itinerary

https://readinghotstoversbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/banquet-ticket-form.docx

Below is the registration form to purchase your tickets and to sign up to be a member of the Reading Hot Stovers and take advantage of the membership benefits or renew your dues:

https://readinghotstoversbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/banquet-ticket-form-membership-1.docx

Buy your tickets online by clicking the link below:

https://form.jotform.com/213026404909148

Check payment and mailed Click on the link below:

https://readinghotstoversbaseball.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/banquet-ticket-form.docx

2025 Scholarship Winners

Alex Trevena, Conrad Weiser, Kent State, Reading Hot Stovers Scholarship

Ethan Weiler, Muhlenberg, Wiedner University

Cole Lavin, Wilson, Charles Flannery American Legion Scholarship

2025 Individual and Team Award Winners

Berks County PIAA Baseball Coach of the Year Chris Hole Governor Mifflin

Berks County PIAA Softball Coach of the Year Jim Campbell, Wyomissing

2024 Banquet

63rd Annual Banquet January 16, 2025

Thank you to all who attended the banquet and congratulations to the scholarship and team award winners.

A special thank you to all of the scholarship sponsors because your generosity helps makes all of this possible to support Berks County High School baseball and softball.

And, last but not least, a special thank you, as always, to our Master of Ceremonies, auctioneer and supporter, Steve Degler

If you were unable to attend the banquet or want to reexperience it, you can watch it on our you tube channel by clicking the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOP0l_ms5V3k3Jj-Y6QfXWhni5bwGzpX4

Banquet speakers:

Buck Showalter

• Former MLB manager for the Yankees, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Orioles and most recently the Mets
• Former television analyst for ESPN and the YES Network
• Click on the link below to learn more about Buck and his career achievements.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Showalter

Veronica Alvarez

• 4 time player as a catcher on the U.S. National Women’s Baseball team
• Current manager of the U.S. Women’s National Baseball Team
• Serves as a spring training coach of the Oakland Athletics
• Played softball at Villanova University
• A member of the U.S. National Women’s Baseball team that won gold at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto and was on multiple World Cup teams
• Click on the link below to learn more about Veronica and her achievements.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veronica_Alvarez

https://www.teamusa.com/profiles/veronica-alvarez-907776

Gary Matthews Sr.

• Nicknamed ” Sarge “, played 16 seasons in the major leagues for the San Francisco Giants, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Seattle Mariners
• Color commentator for the Phillies broadcasts
• Father of former major league player Gary Matthews Jr
• Click on the link below to learn more about Gary and his achievements.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Matthews

Past Banquet Speakers:

Click to access reading-hot-stovers-banquet-past-speakers.pdf

• Watch our YouTube channel and enjoy past speakers and banquets.

https://www.youtube.com/@readinghotstovers2731

2024 Scholarship Winners

Dana Messner       Oley Valley HS Wilkes University Reading Hot Stovers Gablesville Athletic Assoc. Scholarship

Shane Rosenberry    Muhlenberg HS     Wilmington University Reading Hot Stovers Bert Moore Scholarship

Ashley Nace          Brandywine HS      Susquehanna University Reading Hot Stovers Scholarship

Cameron Burr   Muhlenburg HS Kutztown University     Reading Hot Stovers Randy Gumpert Scholarship

Samantha Furst      Kutztown HS   Kutztown University      Reading Hot Stovers Legacy Fund Scholarship

Margaret Steber Wyomissing HS Albright College Reading Hot Stovers Jake Ryan Scholarship

Clint Fernandez Wilson HS University of Valley Forge Reading Hot Stovers Charles Flannery Scholarship

2024 Award Winners

Berks County PIAA Baseball Coach of the Year Bill Underwood Wilson High School

Berks County PIAA Softball Coach of the Year Zena Lutz Hamburg High School

Governor Mifflin PIAA Class 5A Baseball State Champion , Coach Chris Hole

2024 Banquet Picture Gallery