COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball is happy to announce that former Major League Baseball standout Willie Mays Aikens will serve as the keynote speaker at the 2017 Mizzou Baseball First Pitch Banquet, slated for Feb. 4 at 7 p.m. inside the Holiday Inn Executive Center. Those wishing to attend can purchase tickets here or by e-mailing Mizzou Director of Baseball Operations Evan Pratte at pratteE@missouri.edu.
The 13th Annual First Pitch Celebration will include appetizers, beverages for young and old, introductions of past and present players, a 2017 season outlook from first-year head coach Steve Bieser and a silent auction featuring prestigious professional and collegiate items. This year's speaker Aikens played eight seasons in the bigs and hit at least 20 homers in three of his eight seasons, including a career-best 23 with the Royals in 1983. His 21 homers as a rookie in 1979 were the most among rookies in the MLB that year. His career 129 OPS+ is the fourth-highest in Royals history.
Details on the dinner are below.
When: Saturday, February 4
Doors will open at 7:00 p.m.
Festivities will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Holiday Inn Executive Center
2000 I-70 Drive Southwest
Columbia, MO 65203
Tickets: Admission to First Pitch Celebration - $20
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