Biggio captures 41st Hutch Award

In a few years, Craig Biggio is likely to join Johnny Bench in an exclusive club — the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y.

On Wednesday, Biggio joined Bench in an even more exclusive club, when he became the 41st recipient of the Hutch Award, presented annually to the major-league player who "exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication" of Seattle's Fred Hutchinson.

"Giving back to the community is something I truly love to do," Biggio said.

Bench, one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, celebrated the 25th anniversary of his own Hutch Award in 1981 by returning to serve as keynote speaker for the Hutch luncheon at Safeco Field.

Bench said winning the Hutch Award was one of the highlights of a career that included two World Series titles with the Big Red Machine and culminated with his Hall of Fame induction in 1989.

"You don't see it coming," he said. "You're just living your life. You can put up numbers and win awards in baseball, but the Hutch Award is saying, 'Hey, you exemplified something courageous in what Fred Hutchinson exemplified.' "

Biggio and Bench toured Children's Hospital and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center on Tuesday, and spent Wednesday morning with students at The Hutch School, which provides education for pediatric cancer patients and school-aged family members of patients receiving treatment.

Biggio, 40, told the youngsters that his work with the "Sunshine Kids," a support organization in Houston for children with cancer and their family, is a primary reason he has spent his entire 18-year career with the Astros.

"I love those kids," he said. "I've been playing this game a long time, and I honestly enjoy being around the kids more than playing the game. One big reason I've stayed in Houston for 20 years is those kids."

Bench urged The Hutch School kids to keep a positive attitude despite the adversity that they face.

The list of Hutch winners includes 10 Hall of Famers: Mickey Mantle (the inaugural honoree in 1965), Sandy Koufax (1966), Carl Yastrzemski (1967), Al Kaline (1969), Willie McCovey (1977), Willie Stargell (1978), Lou Brock (1979), George Brett (1980), Bench (1981) and Paul Molitor (1987). Bench's long-time teammate (and all-time hits king) Pete Rose, ineligible for the Hall of Fame, was the Hutch Award winner in 1968.

Biggio, with 2,795 hits, is headed down a Cooperstown path. Twenty-six players have achieved 3,000 hits, and all that are eligible are in the Hall of Fame.

Bench counts himself as a long-time Biggio admirer, and not just because Biggio started his career as a catcher.

"He's played the game with energy and integrity," Bench said. "He didn't abuse the game."

Larry Stone: 206-464-3146 or lstone@seattletimes.com