First Pitch Auction Items | 2016 MSU Baseball Ticket Information | Honor Flight of the Ozarks

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Missouri State baseball will host its eighth annual First Pitch and Reunion Night on Saturday, Feb. 13, with former Bear and current Philadelphia Phillies great Ryan Howard serving as the featured guest to help the Bears kick off the 2016 season, head coach Keith Guttin announced Tuesday. The event will take place at the Bill Rowe Training Facility at Hammons Field at 5:30 p.m., with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Honor Flight of the Ozarks.

Honor Flight of the Ozarks is one of 132 established hubs in the national Honor Flight Network, consisting of private, not-for-profit organizations created solely to honor America's Veterans for their many sacrifices. The organization is dedicated to the transport of our heroes to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at their memorials. Top priority is given to the senior veterans - World War II survivors, along with those other veterans who may be terminally ill.

Highlighting the evening's events will be a program featuring Howard, who will be inducted into the Missouri State University Athletics Hall of Fame the weekend of Feb. 12-13, as part of the organization's six-member 2016 class that also includes longtime MSU baseball assistant coach Brent Thomas. In addition to Howard's appearance, the 2016 Bears will be on hand to sign autographs and distribute schedule cards, and current and former Missouri State baseball alumni who have gone on to professional careers will also be in attendance. Additionally, a live auction featuring sporting and non-sporting memorabilia and other giveaways will be conducted. A menu of ballpark food and soft drinks will be provided for all in attendance.

Howard enjoyed a standout three-year career with the Bears, earning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-America honors in 1999. He finished his MSU playing days with 50 home runs, 183 runs batted in and a .335 hitting mark, ranking among the Bears' all-time top 10 in seven different offensive categories. A St. Louis native, he pounded 19 homers and drove home 66 runs as a freshman as the Bears reached the NCAA Fayetteville Regional finals, then blasted 18 homers with 63 RBIs while batting at a .375 clip as a sophomore when he was voted MSU's team MVP.

Since being selected by Philadelphia in the fifth round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft, Howard has left an indelible mark on the Phillies franchise as well. The first baseman has played 12 seasons with Philadelphia, earning National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2005 and the 2006 NL Most Valuable Player award, before helping the Phillies to their second World Series championship in 2008. A three-time NL All-Star selection, as well as the 2009 NLCS MVP, Howard finished in the top 10 in the senior circuit's MVP voting six times in his first eight seasons in the league.

Tickets for the event will go on sale Monday, Jan. 4 for $20 each. Orders can be mailed to Missouri State Baseball, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, MO 65897. Please include a mailing address for shipment or indicate your preference to pick up tickets at the door on the night of the event. Payment will be accepted by cash or check made payable to MSU Baseball. For additional information, or for youth baseball teams interested in attending First Pitch Night at a special group rate, contact the MSU baseball office at (417) 836-4497 or via e-mail through KeithGuttin@MissouriState.edu.

Additionally, season tickets for the Bears' 2016 campaign are on sale now through the MSU Athletics Box Office at JQH Arena, online through MissouriStateBears.com, or by calling Duane Miller at (417) 836-8899. Renewal information for current season-ticket holders has been mailed and includes packages for lower-level reserved chairback seats for $100 (general public), $50 for Missouri State faculty and staff and $20 for students. Eight-game mini-packages will also be offered for $32 per ticket. MSU is offering free season-long admission for up to two children (ages 12 and under) with the purchase of two 2016 season tickets.

Individuals who either place their order for a new ticket package or renew an existing plan by Feb. 8 will receive an equal number of complementary tickets to First Pitch Night.

Bears' single-game tickets for the 2016 season, which will go on-sale in February, remain priced at $5 for the general public, $2.50 for Missouri State faculty and staff, $2 for students and special rates are offered for groups of 20 or more. All children ages 12 and under not accompanied by a season-ticket holder will require a $2 ticket for admission. Students must show a valid and current BearPass Card along with a student ticket to gain entry to Hammons Field.