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Baseball
Smoltz Slated to Speak at 2019 Step Up to the Plate Event
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz will be a guest speaker at Virginia Baseball’s 2019 Step Up to the Plate event on Jan. 26, 2019 at John Paul Jones Arena.
Smoltz was an eight-time All-Star and the only pitcher in Major League Baseball history with 200 wins at 150 saves. The right-hander pitched 21 years in the big leagues and amassed 3,084 strikeouts while honing a career ERA of 3.33. Smoltz was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2015.
Highlighting his off the field efforts, he has been the recipient of the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award (2005), the Roberto Clemente Award (2005) and the Branch Rickey Award (2007).
Prior to call-up to the majors in July of 1988, Smoltz started 20 games for the Triple-A Richmond Braves, going 10-5 with a 2.79 ERA and 115 strikeouts in 135.1 innings pitched.
Tickets for Step Up to the Plate are on sale now and may be ordered in person at the UVA Athletics Ticket Office in Bryant Hall, by phone at 1-800-542-8821 or online at VirginiaSports.com. Sponsored tables may be reserved by calling the Virginia Athletics Foundation at 800-626-8723. Fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets early as the event is expected to sell out.
Ticket prices are $70 for adults, $35 for Virginia Baseball alumni, $10 for children 12 and under and current UVA students. Sponsored tables for the event are $2,500 and include a reserved table for a party of eight with a member of the baseball team, and admission to the pre-event reception.
Parking for the event is free in the John Paul Jones Arena and University Hall lots.
The Virginia baseball program will also induct seven new members into to the Virginia Baseball Hall of Fame at this year’s Step up to the Plate event.
Smoltz adds to a long list of decorated keynote speakers at Step Up to the Plate that includes: former St. Louis Cardinals manager and Hall of Famer Tony La Russa (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 Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona (2008), former Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel (2009), Hall of Fame outfielder Dave Winfield (2010), former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine (2011) and Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith (2017).
2019 Step Up to the Plate
Date: Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, 6 p.m.
Location: John Paul Jones Arena
Parking: John Paul Jones Arena and University Hall lots
Adult Tickets: $70
Virginia Baseball Alumni: $35
Youth Tickets (12 & under): $10 (includes a Virginia Baseball team autographed ball)
Current UVA students: $10
Sponsored Tables*: $2,500 (call VAF to reserve)
*Includes: eight tickets to pre-event reception, eight reserved table tickets to Step Up to the Plate and eight General Admission 2019 Virginia baseball season tickets (no trade opportunity for Reserved seats)