Banquet celebrates Baseball

After 30 years, Penn baseball coach Bob Seddon decided it was time for a party. And at the Penn Tower Hotel on Saturday, Seddon and assistant coach Bill Wagner celebrated their 30 years of coaching Penn baseball together. The banquet also featured the unveiling of Seddon and Wagner's All-Decade Teams -- made up of the best players from the 1970s, '80s and '90s, and the All 30-Year Team -- the 35 best players during the coaches' long tenure. The evening began with an invocation by Rev. Stanley Johnson, a retired Penn chaplain, an introduction by Penn Athletic Director Steve Bilsky and an appearance by the Glee Club. Then Philadelphia Phillies General Manager Ed Wade addressed the crowd of past and present Penn baseball players and their families. After speaking about his role with the Phillies and giving advice to the current Penn baseball team, Wade spoke of Seddon's and Wagner's dedication to the game of baseball. "All of you know everything about them," Wade said. "But the fact of the matter is that outside of this room, outside of the University of Pennsylvania community, they probably work a lot in anonymity. "They're willing to do that because of their love of the game and their love for the University of Pennsylvania." After Wade's speech, Seddon and Wagner honored their All-Decade Teams, sharing stories and statistics about each player. Phillies organist Paul Richardson provided background music for the evening's festivities. Afterward, Seddon and Wagner introduced the 24 members of the 35 All 30-Year honorees who were present. The evening also featured a silent auction of sports memorabilia to raise money to help the construction of the new baseball stadium at Murphy Field. The relationship between Seddon and Wagner began in 1969, when Seddon -- then Penn's baseball and soccer coach -- recruited a player who played for Wagner. Seddon recommended Wagner for the vacant lightweight football coaching spot -- a position Wagner still holds -- and took him on as a baseball assistant coach. Wagner said part of the reason their partnership has lasted so long is the amount of responsibility Seddon gives him. "With the game on the line, he gave me an opportunity to make decisions," Wagner said. "Out of loyalty and trust and respect for each other, it developed a relationship that lasted for 30 good years." Drew Corradini, a member of the All 30-Year Team who played outfield for the Quakers from 1996 to 1998, said patience was the key for Seddon's and Wagner's longevity. "They get a lot of different personalities in here and they have a good way of dealing with everything," Corradini said. "They have big hearts, they're loving. They take boys and turn them into men."

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