January 31, 2011 - Vessel

“Vessel”, a four story aluminum, steel and glass sculpture by Ed Carpenter sits outside of the the Robert M. Arnold building on the campus of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.  The use of light, the size and the delicate nature of the structure are said to represent the optomistic spirit of the institution, whose mission is “the elimination of cancer and related diseases as causes of human suffering and death.”

The Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center is a nonprofit, independent research instititution located in Seattle.  It has three Nobel prize recipients scientists on staff.  Some of the Center’s scientists are also medical doctors who treat patients through the neighboring facility of the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance in collaboration with the University of Washington and Seattle Children’s Hospital.

The Center was founded in 1956 by Dr. William Hutchinson whose brother, Fred, had been a professional baseball player and manager.  Fred’s major league pitching record was  95-71 with Detroit over the span of 11 seasons, including parts of two seasons in which he served as player manager.  Nearly four seasons were lost due to WWII.  Fred’s career record as a major league manager, in all or parts of 12 seasons, was 830-827 (.501) with nine tie games.  In January 1964 his cancer diagnosis was made public.  He made it most of the way through the season, but had to turn the reins of the Cincinnati club over to his first base coach in August of that season.  He died November 12, 1964 at the age of 45.

The Hutch Award, create in 1965, is given annually to an active Major League Baseball player who best exemplifies the fighting spirit and competitive desire of Fred Hutchinson.  Previous winners have included Mickey Mantle, Al Kaline, Tommy John, Paul Molitor, Jamie Moyer and in 2010 Tim Hudson.