Hot Stove in Grand Rapids

One of the most successful Winter Banquets that I read about is the one the West Michigan Whitecaps host. A few years ago they raised an insane amount of money for charity...The banquet taking place three months after a World Series apperance by the Tigers may have had a little to do with that...but...still...

Anyway, the 2009 banquet is looking pretty good right now.

Detroit Tigers fan favorite Curtis Granderson will be the guest speaker at the 15th annual Whitecaps Winter Baseball Banquet next month.

Granderson, 27, was a big hit with West Michigan Whitecaps fans during his three-game rehab stint last season, and Whitecaps officials expect the center fielder's appearance to create similar excitement at the banquet.

The banquet will be on January 21, 2009 and...

Proceeds: Go to the Whitecaps' Inner-City Youth Baseball
and Softball programs and the Detroit Tigers' Foundation.