Bellevue Community College will welcome one of professional baseball’s most recognizable faces when it hosts its annual preseason dinner at 6 p.m. Jan. 23.

Legendary baseball manager Tommy Lasorda will impart his knowledge from almost 60 years in professional baseball. Lasorda, who won two World Championships, four National League pennants and eight division titles as the Los Angeles Dodgers manager, will be the keynote speaker at the dinner in what is believed to be his first speaking engagement in the Seattle area.

“We are ecstatic about having such a prominent figure in baseball here in the Northwest,” said Bellevue Community College baseball coach Mark Yoshino. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have someone of this magnitude come out to help put our baseball program in the spotlight even more.”

This year’s team features Bothell High graduate Ian McKay, a 6-foot, 190-pound freshman outfielder who throws and bats right handed. The three-year Cougar letter winner hit .481 last year with four home runs and 30 RBIs. He was team captain and first-team All-Kingco.

Tickets for the dinner cost $75 and can be purchased by calling (425)564-2356. Lasorda will be available for autographs and pictures both before and after the dinner.