The “Steroid Era” has tarnished the integrity of the game of baseball since the mid 1990s up until today, making it appear that “bulking up” in unconventional, often illegal ways, is the most important way to become a better athlete.

However, according to Year of Service Co-Chair Kathryn J .Adams, this should not and is necessarily not the case for up-and-coming athletes.

“…There is much more to being and becoming an athlete than just building muscle,” she stated in an email.

“Playing sports builds and requires character. Individuals don’t win championships—teams do.”

To help complement the importance of building character, whether as an athlete or in a professional business atmosphere, Moorpark’s Year of Service committee will be holding an event entitled “It’s How You Play the Game: Current and Former Professional Player Baseball Players on Team Spirit and Success Both on and off the Field.”

Moorpark College has been hosting the annual “Year of” theme since 2006, which started with “Year of Religion.” The committee was created to help students become more active members of their campus community, becoming more informed scholars.

Jon Gray, the other Co-Chair of Year of Service, hopes students gain the value of serving your community.

“The point of the event is to encourage students to realize that service is an essential part of a good citizen’s life and that it is healthy for the intellect, for the body, and for the community,” Gray said in an email.

“People in every walk of life serve their communities and too often athletes are not recognized for their contributions.”

The panel of players that will be attending the event include: Michael Young, a former third baseman for the Texas Rangers and Major League All-Star, who is currently the President of Marketing and Chief Revenue Officer for the Los Angeles Dodgers; Torey Lovullo, former pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, and currently manager for Triple-A affiliate Pawtucket Red Socks of the Boston Red Sox organization; Tim Leary, former pitcher for theNew York Mets, Yankees, and Dodgers; Bob Kazmirski, former minor league pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, and who is currently a LA County Sheriff’s Deputy;Nick Theodorou, former Dodgers infielder and currently Associate Director Major Gifts for the UCLA Athletic Department; and Mike Magnante, for Athletics pitcher who currently teaches Mathmatics at Agoura High School.

Adams believes that many of these former professional athletes can offer students an exercise on team building, and describe what they learned on the field to things they have done off the field since.

“Perhaps that ability to work as a team, which is honed in sports, is why each of the athletes in our panel have in some way or another taken on work that gives back to the community,” she said.

The event will be on Wednesday, Feb. 3 from 6-7 p.m. in the Moorpark College forum. The event is free and open to the public and free parking in Lot F will be available for people attending.

Adams is expecting a relatively large crowd for the event.

“We have opened the event to the community and so we hope that the audience will include high school students and residents of the surrounding areas,” she said.

For any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Kathryn J. Adams at (805) 378-1400 X1696, or simply by email at [email protected].