VALPARAISO | There were enough former Major League Baseball players and managers meandering around Valparaiso University's Athletics-Recreation Center on Monday to field half a team. (Read a related article.)

Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda came from California to speaker at the VU baseball team's inaugural Baseball Bash, which included a fundraising dinner and silent auction. The gesture meant a lot to second-year VU baseball coach Tracy Woodson, who played for Lasorda's Los Angeles Dodgers from 1987 to 1989.

"For him to come here and do this for us, it's a big deal for our program," Woodson said.

It wasn't the first trip to VU for Lasorda, who has spoken to VU's baseball and men's basketball teams.

"I've got great affection for this university," said Lasorda, whose former team trainer was a VU graduate.

While Lasorda was the headliner, the guest list also included former Chicago Cubs second baseman and current Valparaiso High School baseball coach Mickey Morandini; VU graduate, former Cubs infielder and Pittsburgh Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon, who resides in Chesterton and serves as the Detroit Tigers third base coach; Crown Point graduate, former Cubs reliever and current Comcast SportsNet sports anchor Dan Plesac; and Gary native and former Chicago White Sox outfielder Ron Kittle.

"I want to do this every year," Woodson said. "I want to have a different guy come in every year. I want to make it exciting for people."