SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Missouri State head baseball coach Keith Guttin has announced the third annual “Bears First Pitch and Reunion Night” scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 29, to kick off the 2011 season. The event will take place at the Bill Rowe Indoor Training Facility at Hammons Field from 5:00-8:30 p.m.
The 2011 Bears will be there to sign autographs and give out schedules. Current and former Bear major leaguers Brad Ziegler, Scott Bailes, Jason Hart, Bart Evans, Ross Detwiler and possibly others will be in attendance for autographs and a short program directed by Art Hains. Missouri State’s 1978 NCAA Division II College World Series team will also be recognized.
There will be a special live auction item, a silent auction of sporting and non-sporting memorabilia along with other giveaways. A menu of ballpark food along with soft drinks will be provided.
Tickets are $20 dollars each and must be purchased in advance. The 2010 event sold out. The deadline for ticket sales is January 24.
A portion of the proceeds from the event will go to help the Miracle Field at Dan Kinney Park, a baseball field specifically designed for children with disabilities.
Youth baseball teams interested can receive a group discount. For youth team information call the MSU baseball office at 417-836-4497, 417-836-4496 or 417-836-6196 or email KeithGuttin@MissouriState.edu. Payment by check or cash only. Tickets will be mailed or picked up the night of the event. Checks should be made payable to Bears First Pitch.
Ticket orders can be mailed to Bears First Pitch, 211 E. Walnut, Springfield, MO 65806. Please include your mailing address if you want tickets mailed, or indicate if you will pick them up at the door that night. For additional ticket information, call 417-869-4848.
Silent auction items (As of Jan. 28):
Two Cole Hamels signed baseballs
Tim Salmon signed bat
Ryan Howard signed baseball
Ross Detwiler signed jersey
Ivan Rodriguez signed bobblehead
Torii Hunter signed baseball
Two Bob Forsch signed baseballs (commemorating World Series and no-hitters)
Ryan Zimmermann signed baseball
Buster Posey signed photo
Mike Scioscia signed baseball
Matt Palmer signed baseball
Hideki Matsui signed jersey
Brad Ziegler signed batting practice top
Brad Ziegler signed glove
Brad Ziegler signed baseball
Kurt Suzuki signed baseball
Dallas Braden signed baseball dated with May 2010 perfect game
Trevor Cahill (2010 all-star) signed baseball
Felix Hernandez signed baseball
Ichiro Suzuki signed baseball
Roger Clemens signed baseball
Two St. Louis Blues tickets for March 12, 2010
Josh Johnson signed baseball
Clay Harbor signed football
Four St. Louis Cardinals tickets with hotel package
Davey Johnson signed baseball
Reggie Smith signed baseball
Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez signed baseball
Jose Canseco signed baseball
Team USA Majestic batting practice jacket
Two all-session tickets for MVC Men's Basketball Tournament in MSU seating area
Robin Ventura signed baseball
Harmon Killebrew signed baseball
Shaun Marcum signed baseball
Derek Jeter signed baseball
Shaun Marcum signed Bluejays jersey
Jon Lester signed baseball
Two 2009 All-Star commemorative bottles of beer
Nike MLB 2009 All-Star cap
2009 All-Star game carry bag
2009 All-Star game lapel pin
2009 All-Star game baseball
One night stay at Comfort Inn Springfield jacuzzi suite
Dave Winfield signed baseball
Adrian Gonzalez signed bat
Two Tony Gwynn signed baseballs
Two $25 gift certificates to Ebbets Field
Two free oil changes from Thompson Motors
Two half-hour lessons at Balls-N-Strikes
Two half-hour cage rentals at Balls-N-Strikes
Opportunity to throw out first pitch at Springfield Cardinals game with Redbird Roost tickets
Four signed St. Louis Cardinal Hall of Fame pictures (Bruce Sutter, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Red Schoendienst
Mark Buehrle signed baseball
St. Louis Cardinal game package:
• Four seats in Redbird Club, Section 254, Row 2 for Saturday, May 7th vs. Milwaukee Brewers
• Dinner at Shannon’s Steakhouse ($100 Gift Certificate)
• Two Rooms at Ballpark Hilton (1 block from Busch Stadium)
St. Louis Blues game package
• Dinner for four at Pappy’s Smokehouse ($100 Gift Certificate)
• Four tickets to Blues vs. Edmonton Oilers
• One period in Broadcast Booth with Kelly Chase and Chris Kerber
• Two rooms at Holiday Inn Convention Center
Best of St. Louis package
• $100 Gift Card to Pujols Westport Grill (Best Sports Bar in St. Louis)
• $50 Gift Card to Café Napoli in Clayton
• $100 Gift Card to Napoli 2 in Town & Country (Best Fine Dining in St. Louis)
• Four $10 Gift Certificates to The Trainwreck at Westport (Best Saloon & Restaurant in St. Louis)
• Two $50 Gift Cards to Pirrone’s Pizzeria (Best Pizza in St. Louis)
• $25 Gift Card to Ice Kitchen (Best Vodka Bar & Tappas in St. Louis)
Live auction items (As of Jan. 21):
SportService suite at St. Louis Cardinals game for 25 (food and drink included)
