RUSSELLVILLE — Calling all baseball fans, you do not want to miss out on your opportunity to meet future MLB Hall of Fame manager, Terry Francona, as he will be the keynote speaker for the 2024 Arkansas Tech Baseball First-Pitch Banquet on Saturday, January 18.
The banquet will start at 6 p.m. with dinner (provided with purchase of a ticket) as well as a silent auction. Francona will speak afterwards followed by a moderated fan Q&A. The event will take place inside the Multi-Sport Complex, which is attached to the left field wall of the Wonder Boys' home field, Baswell Field.
"We are extremely excited to have Tito be the keynote speaker for our first-ever Wonder Boys Baseball First-Pitch Banquet," said ATU head baseball coach Dave Dawson. "These events have grown in popularity across the country over the years, and to have a name as big and recognizable as Francona for ours is incredible and an amazing opportunity for baseball fans in the State of Arkansas and beyond."
Recently named the manager of the Cincinnati Reds for the 2025 season, Francona is a two-time World Series manager, both with the Boston Red Sox, and has been a manager at the big-league level for 23 years with stints with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Cleveland Indians (currently referred to as the Guardians).
In 2004, Francona led the historic Red Sox to an improbable seven-game series win in the American League Championship Series over their bitter rival, New York Yankees, after falling behind 3-0 and facing elimination for four-straight games. Not long after that, Francona and his Red Sox ended the 86-year curse of the Bambino by sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series for Boston's first World Series title since 1918.
General admission single-seat tickets are available for the event at $100/ticket. There will also be a select number of VIP single-seat and VIP table tickets available as well. VIP tickets will get fans a special private meet-and-greet with Francona upstairs at Old Bank on Friday, January 17 at 6:30 p.m.
VIP tables are available for $1,000 a table and seat up to six guests. VIP single-seat tickets are $200. VIP tickets will also allow for priority seating options close to the stage on Saturday.
For more information, contact Dave Dawson, Head Baseball Coach, Arkansas Tech
Ddawson3@atu.edu
