Seaver debut speaker in Cannery Hot Stove series

Ron Salisbury, owner of The Cannery restaurant in Newport Beach, knows Tom Seaver well, back from the days when the former Mets’ star pitcher was playing for USC.

In Los Angeles, Seaver would go for the food at El Cholo, another restaurant owned by Salisbury and his family. Salisbury and Seaver hit it off, becoming friends.

But Tuesday at The Cannery, the night is not so much about their friendship, but rather for the fifth annual Hot Stove League Series. Seaver is scheduled to speak to a group of as many as 50 people to give some baseball fans a rare and up-close experience. But he’s also there in the name of charity.

The people who attend the dinners pay $700 for the four-part series. The money raised goes to Angels Baseball Foundation, which matches the amount raised and donates it to help with baseball fields and equipment for inner-city children, Salisbury said.

Salisbury grew up in L.A. and he wants to help out. He hopes the dinners can provide some aid. He also wants to enhance his restaurant, which has a room dedicated to baseball. The room features autographs of Ty Cobb, Jackie Robinson and nostalgic photos of Babe Ruth.

Throughout the restaurant there are wine bottles, each encased in a glass box, that have been signed by former Major League players. One has been signed by Arte Moreno, the Angels owner who came to speak during last year’s Hot Stove League Series.

During that night, Moreno asked to be introduced to each person in the room, Salisbury said.

“I thought that was cool,” Salisbury said.

On a different night another friend of Salisbury’s came. It was Nolan Ryan, who also first met Salisbury at the El Cholo in L.A. when he was eating with Seaver.

“Tom brought me over to the table,” Salisbury said. “And, said, ‘I want you to meet this kid. I bring him along to shine my shoes.’ And, here’s a 19-year-old Nolan Ryan slumped down in the booth. He was skinny. Nolan then came to the Angels and we have a restaurant in La Habra and he remembered El Cholo from L.A. I ran into him and we struck a friendship. His kids came to work for me in the summer. My kids worked for him at his ranch.”

Through the Hot Stove League at The Cannery, Salisbury also became friends with baseball superagent Scott Boras. Salisbury also met legend Buck O’Neil, a big highlight for Salisbury. He won’t sell or get rid of his car that he’s owned for 11 years because O’Neil sat in the passenger seat. The two talked for an hour after Salisbury picked up O’Neil from the airport and then for another hour when he dropped him off again.

Yet for Salisbury, the dinners seem more of a hobby for him. He wants his customers to receive a memorable experience. He’s planning for it to start on Tuesday when Seaver comes. Then, Dec. 2, another former star player, Tommy Davis, is scheduled to speak. Angels General Manager Tony Reagins is slated for Jan. 13 and The Cannery is publicizing the guest for Feb. 3 as a surprise presenter guaranteed to be a home run.

“We raise money for charity,” Salisbury said. “But we also give a lot of people the opportunity to have an experience they normally wouldn’t have.”

For reservations call Andrea Lopez at (949) 673-0777 or e-mail her at [email protected].

— Steve Virgen