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Missouri State baseball is proud to present Step Up to the Plate, a special holiday event presented by Reinhart Foodservice, featuring John Rooney, the radio voice of the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, Dec. 15, at the Shrine Mosque in Springfield.
Bears supporters and baseball fans alike will have the chance to be a part of the holiday dinner program, which will feature Rooney and an anticipated group of 14 former Missouri State standouts who have gone on to success as Major Leaguers, including current big leaguers Buddy Baumann and Luke Voit. A silent auction will be held, and the featured guests in attendance will be available to meet the public and sign autographs.
Rooney just completed his 12th season of broadcasting Cardinals games, serving as the primary play-by-play man for St. Louis’s 2006 and 2011 World Series championship clubs. A Richmond, Mo. native, he joined the Cardinals broadcasting team after serving on the Chicago White Sox radio and television broadcast crews for 18 years. A 2004 Missouri Sports Hall of Fame inductee, he also called the action for the White Sox first world championship season in 88 years in 2005.
With a broadcasting career spanning nearly four decades, Rooney also worked on broadcasts of University of Missouri football and basketball games on radio and TV for 20 seasons. Additionally, he has extensive national broadcast experience with Major League Baseball radio assignments that have included the MLB Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Games and World Series.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Missouri State baseball program. Tickets for the event are available now for $50 on an individual basis, or tables of eight for $350, through Missouri State baseball. Cash or check (payable to the Missouri State Foundation) orders can be placed via phone at (417) 836-4497, or email (KeithGuttin@MissouriState.edu). Credit card purchases should be directed through Denise Kettering at (417) 836-4507.
