If you are a fan of local baseball, then you can't miss out on this.
The 34th annual Wilson Hot Stove League banquet will be held Monday, Jan. 21, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Bill Ellis Convention Center.
Special guest for the event will be Josh Hamilton, who was recently traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Texas Rangers, is a former Raleigh Athens Drive High School star. Hamilton was the No. 1 pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.Hamilton will be receiving the Trot Nixon "Gamer" Award.
The 26-year-old Hamilton was one of baseball's best comeback stories last season, when he finally made it to the majors after years of alcohol and drug abuse nearly ended his career. He batted .292 in his first major league season with 19 homers and 47 RBIs in 298 at-bats.Other former major leaguers and guests will be announced later as their plans to attend are confirmed.
Tickets for the banquet, which includes a meal, are $20 each and can be obtained at Dick's Hot Dog Stand, EB Sports, the Wilson Tobs office or North Carolina Baseball Museum -- both located in Fleming Stadium.
All proceeds benefit the North Carolina Baseball Museum.
I had the pleasure of attending last year and I had a blast. I took the biggest Boston Red Sox fan in town (Wes Bradshaw - in terms of girth, but I am right behind him - in second) with me and he was blown away to meet Trot Nixon, even though Nixon became a Cleveland Indian just days before.
It was also the first time in a few years that I had been able to speak to in-person former N.C. Wesleyan and now UNC head baseball coach Mike Fox.
Get your tickets soon! There were nearly 1,000 people at last year's affair, which honored Goldsboro native and former Yankee manager Clyde King.
No comments:
Post a Comment