Missouri State baseball will host its 10th annual First Pitch and Reunion Night on Saturday, Feb. 10, with former Major League reliever and current St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Al Hrabosky serving as the featured guest speaker to help the Bears kick off the 2018 season, head coach Keith Guttin announced Tuesday.
The event will take place at the Bill Rowe Training Facility at Hammons Field at 5 p.m., with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Abou Ben Adhem Shriners Travel Fund, which assists in the transportation of children to and from Shriners Hospitals.
Highlighting the evening’s events will be a program featuring Hrabosky, who spent time on the pitching staffs of both Show-Me State MLB clubs during his 13-year big league career. The 2018 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, silent and live auctions 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.
Tickets for the event are on sale now for $20 each and are available through the Missouri State Baseball office by calling (417) 836-4497 or emailing KeithGuttin@MissouriState.edu. Payment will be accepted by cash or check made payable to MSU Baseball.
Hrabosky compiled a 64-35 mound mark and a total of 97 saves for three different clubs during his big league career, including eight years with the Cardinals (1970-77). In 1975, the California native went 13-3 with a 1.66 ERA and 22 saves to earn National League Fireman of the Year honors from the Sporting News. He later pitched two seasons for Kansas City (1978-79), helping the Royals to the 1978 American League West title, before wrapping up his career with the Atlanta Braves (1980-82).
Since his retirement as a player, Hrabosky has been a fixture on the Cardinals’ television broadcast team, currently serving as color commentator for the club’s regular-season broadcasts on FSN Midwest.
Renewal information for current season-ticket holders has been mailed and include 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. Additionally, MSU is offering free season-long admission for up to two children (ages 12 and under) with the purchase of two 2018 season tickets. The Bears will also offer a ‘6-Pack Special’ for the first time this spring. Purchase six or more season tickets and receive a 25-percent discount, making the ticket price just $75 per season ticket.
Seating at Hammons Field will be slightly restructured this season, with the first 10 rows of the lower grandstand designated as reserved seating and rows 11-24 sold as general admission for all Missouri State home games.
Bears’ single-game tickets for the 2018 season, which will also 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.
All Bears baseball season-ticket holders – including new orders and renewals placed by Feb. 5 – will be entitled to the same number of complementary tickets to First Pitch and Reunion Night.
For additional season ticket information or to place your order in person, visit the Old Missouri Bank Ticket Window at JQH Arena during normal box office hours, call (417) 836-7678 or (888) 476-7849 (toll-free). Requests may also be placed online through MissouriStateBears.com, or by calling Duane Miller at (417) 836-8899.
