Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – On behalf of the Virginia Tech baseball program, head coach John Szefc is proud to invite all to celebrate the Hokies during the program's 15th annual Baseball Night in Blacksburg, as scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Student-Athlete Performance Center adjacent to Cassell Coliseum. Among its esteemed list of VIPs, the 2023 event will be headlined by special guest and keynote speaker Chipper Jones – eight-time MLB All-Star, 1995 World Series champion and 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee.
A 19-year veteran of the Atlanta Braves, Jones was the offensive compliment to the franchise's prolific pitching staff that championed the National League East during 11 consecutive years between 1995 and 2005. Selected No. 1 overall by the Braves during the 1990 MLB Draft, the star third baseman debuted briefly in 1993 before making his first impact season in 1995, finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting while co-leading Atlanta to its defining World Series crown.
From 1996 to 2001, Jones made five All-Star appearances during a six-season stretch, highlighted by him earning 1999 National League Most Valuable Player honors (.319 batting average, 45 home runs, 110 RBIs). Owner of a .303 career batting average, he garnered two Silver Slugger awards in 1999 and 2000, winning the 2008 NL batting title during his age-36 season (.364 average).
Going out with back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2011 and 2012, Jones was enshrined in the Braves Hall of Fame in 2013, the same year his No. 10 jersey was retired by the club. In 2018, he was a first-ballot inductee to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
Billed as the formal kickoff to Tech's spring season, Baseball Night in Blacksburg provides an intimate setting where guests can meet with VIPs and interact with current Hokies before the start of the 2023 campaign. As part of this year's contingent of VIPs, Tech is proud to welcome back many from its active class of MLB and Minor League Baseball professionals, including representation from its 2022 MLB signees.
Those in attendance are invited to take part in a cocktail hour between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. prior to sharing in a catered dinner, during which remarks will be made by head coach John Szefc and special guest Chipper Jones. Tech memorabilia will be available both for purchase and at auction throughout the evening until the event's close at 9 p.m.
Information regarding tickets to Baseball Night in Blacksburg, registration and additional banquet details will be made available at a later date.
All Baseball Night in Blacksburg proceeds will go to support the Virginia Tech baseball team, especially its continual enhancements to English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park and its accompanying facilities. Past banquets have supported the installation of artificial turf and expanded dugouts, among other general ballpark overhauls and additions.
Chipper Jones will become the Hokies' latest high-profile special guest, joining the class of notable speakers Cal Ripken Jr. (2008), Mike Williams (2010), Billy Wagner (2011), Bobby Valentine (2012), Chuck Hartman (2014), Tim Kurkjian (2018), Ken Rosenthal (2020), Jeff Passan (2022) and others.
Fans and friends of the program are encouraged to stay tuned to hokiesports.com this winter to learn about further event details as they become available.