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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia baseball program will hold the eighth annual Step Up to the Plate event Friday, Jan. 22, at 6:30 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena. The keynote speaker for the evening will be Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.

Tickets for Step Up To The Plate go on sale at 9 a.m. Wednesday (Nov. 11) and can be ordered in person at the UVa Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall, by phone at 1-800-542-UVA1 or online at VirginiaSports.com (Click here to order online). Tables may be reserved by calling 800-626-8723. Proceeds from the event will go to the Virginia Baseball program.

Ticket prices are $70 for adults and $35 for children 12 and under and Virginia Baseball alumni. Sponsored tables for the event are $2,500 and include a reserved table for a party of eight, eight general admission baseball season tickets and admission to the pre-event reception. The pre-event reception for table sponsors will begin at 5:30 p.m. There also is a group or team special rate with the purchase of 20 or more tickets – $50 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under.

The night kicks off with an autograph session with the 2010 Virginia baseball team and silent auction at 6:30 p.m. A buffet barbecue dinner will begin at 7:30 p.m. Following dinner, Winfield will speak to the event audience, and a live auction will close the night. The silent and live auctions will include autographed memorabilia from Virginia and the professional ranks, as well as game tickets and much more.

Over his 22-year career, Winfield played for six teams: the San Diego Padres, New York Yankees, California Angels, Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians. A first-ballot nominee to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001, Winfield also is a member of the College Baseball Hall of Fame and played at the University of Minnesota.

A 12-time All-Star, Winfield hit .283 in his career with 3,110 hits, including 465 home runs, and drove in 1,833 runs. He was a seven-time Gold Glove Award winner and a six-time Silver Slugger Award recipient. Winfield won a World Championship in 1992 with the Toronto Blue Jays. He currently is Executive Vice President/Senior Advisor with the San Diego Padres and an analyst for the ESPN program Baseball Tonight.

Before pursuing a career in professional baseball, Winfield was such an accomplished athlete that he was drafted by the NFL (Vikings), NBA (Hawks) and ABA (Stars), in addition to the Padres.

Step Up to the Plate has proven to be a special evening during its seven-year history, with each event featuring a notable speaker, including current St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa (2003), Baltimore Orioles Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. (2004), Hall of Famer and former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda (2005), Hall of Famer and former Orioles third baseman Brooks Robinson (2006), Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg of the Chicago Cubs (2007), current Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona (2008) and current Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel (2009).

2010 Virginia Baseball Step Up to the Plate
Featured Speaker:
Dave Winfield
Date: Friday, January 22, 2010, 6:30 p.m.
Location: John Paul Jones Arena
Adult Tickets: $70
Youth Tickets (12 & under): $35
Virginia Baseball Alumni: $35
Sponsored Tables*: $2,500
*Includes: eight tickets to pre-event reception with Dave Winfield and other special baseball guests; eight reserved table tickets to Step Up to the Plate; eight general admission 2010 Virginia baseball season tickets

Event Timeline:
5:30-6:30 p.m.

Pre-event reception for table sponsors
6:30 p.m.
Doors open, silent auction begins and autograph session with 2010 Virginia Baseball Team
7:30 p.m.
Buffet barbecue dinner begins followed by Dave Winfield speech and live auction

For Tickets: call the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800-542-UVA1; for tables call: 1-800-626-8723

Virginia Baseball poster, schedule card, magnet and t-shirt for all in attendance

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