Braves’ title hopes vanishing

Before the start of the fifth Professional Scouts Foundation dinner Saturday night at the Hyatt Century Plaza, magician Jason Latimer entertained at a VIP reception by performing the old “balls and cups” trick, with a twist.

The cups were glass, so those watching could see the foam balls disappear right before their eyes.

Among those witnessing the act was Bobby Cox, manager of the Atlanta Braves, who finished five games behind National League East champion Philadelphia last year.

“Can you make the Phillies disappear?” Cox asked Latimer.

Trivia time

Cox was an all-around athlete at what San Joaquin Valley high school in the 1950s?

No takers

Is Peyton Manning’s appeal beginning to fade?

Among hundreds of memorabilia items offered at a silent auction to benefit the scouts foundation was a Manning autographed jersey, with a required minimum bid of $1,000. An Eli Manning autographed jersey also had a minimum bid of $1,000.

No one bid on either one.

And no one made a minimum bid of $850 for an O.J. Simpson USC Rose Bowl jersey.

And then this

During a live auction at the dinner, a Babe Ruth collage that included an autographed bat and a canceled check went for $55,000.

Asked who made the bid, event organizer Dennis Gilbert, who on Sunday hosted an after-party at his Calabasas home, said: “I don’t know, but he’s coming to my house tomorrow.”

Deserving group

A number of scouts were honored at the lavish affair, including Eddie Bockman, who had eight players on the 25-man roster of the 1980 World Series champion Phillies; the Dodgers’ Ralph Avila, and 101-year-old Joe Lewis.

Roy Firestone, who entertained the gathering with musical renditions, said, “Scouts are the most unappreciated segment of baseball.”

Mr. Baseball

Bob Uecker was at the scouts dinner to introduce Commissioner Bud Selig and he delivered some of his patented one-liners.

“In 1962 I was named the minor league player of the year,” Uecker said. “Unfortunately, I’d been in the majors for two years.

“I signed with the Milwaukee Braves for a $3,000 bonus. My parents couldn’t avoid that, but they paid it anyway.

“I remember one time I’m batting against the Dodgers in Milwaukee. They lead, 2-1, it’s the bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, two out and the pitcher has a full count on me. I look over to the Dodger dugout and they’re all in street clothes.

“The highlight of my career? In 1967 with St. Louis, I walked with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run in an intersquad game in spring training.”

Direct hit

The co-hosts of the dinner were television personality Mary Hart and actor-comedian Tim Allen.

On a number of occasions, Allen’s antics drew groans from the audience.

Said Tom Lasorda, when it was his turn at the podium: “Mary, who is that guy with you, anyway?”

Trivia answer

Selma High.

And finally

The Lakers’ Kwame Brown has been taking criticism from all directions these days, and Dwight Perry in Sunday’s Seattle Times took his shot.

Noting that Brown got the most votes -- 17% -- when Sports Illustrated asked 242 players which players get the least out of the most talent, Perry wrote:

“In other words, the player most likely to be coveted by the New York Knicks.”

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larry.stewart@latimes.com