Bobby Basham, a Franklin County native and current member of the Chicago Cubs front office, will be the speaker at the 27th annual Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame banquet on January 25th, 2018.
Basham just completed his sixth season working in the front office for the Chicago Cubs organization, which included their 2016 World Championship season, the first for the Cubs in 108 years. He currently holds the title of Assistant Director of Minor League Operations and has held roles in Advance Scouting and Major League Strategy.
Bobby grew up in Franklin County and graduated from Franklin County High School in 1998. He was named both the 1998 Timesland baseball player of the year and the Ray Bellamy award winner for going 8-0 with a 0.77 ERA for the Roanoke Valley District champs. During his junior season he was a key contributor on one the greatest baseball teams in Eagles history — the 1997 Northwest Region championship squad that went 22-2.
After Franklin County, Bobby played three seasons at the University of Richmond, highlighted by a 1999 Regional appearance and playing in the Cape Cod Baseball league. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the 7th round of the MLB draft in 2001.
Bobby played seven seasons in the Minor Leagues with the Reds and the San Diego Padres and was part of three championship teams. At the height of his career he was rated the 69th best prospect in baseball, the second best prospect in the Cincinnati Reds Organization, and the eighth best prospect in the Arizona Fall League. He holds the Midwest League record for consecutive shutouts with three and was traded for current Cubs Special Assistant, David Ross, in 2006. His second major arm surgery led to his retirement from playing after the 2007 season.
Bobby holds a B.S. from the University of Richmond (‘02) and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management (’10). He lives in Chicago with his wife Leslie and their two children, Audrey and Trey.
Tickets for the banquet can be purchased through members of the Hall of Fame Board of Directors or by calling President Charlie Hammersley at 540-556-0377 or Vice President Gary Walthall at 540-427-1977.
The Salem-Roanoke Baseball Hall of Fame was founded in 1991 and honors players and contributors from the counties of Alleghany, Roanoke, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin and Montgomery and the independent cities located within the boundaries of those counties. The Hall of Fame building is located on the grounds of the James E. Taliaferro Complex, next to the Salem Red Sox administrative office behind the third base seating area of Salem Memorial Ballpark.