Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Bound for Cooperstown, Billy Wagner – 16-year MLB veteran, seven-time All-Star and revered left-hand closer who ranks eighth all-time in career saves (422) – was elected to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday as a member of the Class of 2025. Receiving the sport’s highest honor, Wagner will serve as the Virginia Tech baseball team’s featured guest and keynote speaker at the program’s 17th annual Baseball Night in Blacksburg, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 8, at The Inn at Virginia Tech.
Billed as the Hokies’ annual preseason banquet, Wagner’s VIP appearance at Baseball Night in Blacksburg will mark one of the first public engagements the southwestern Virginia native, now Hall of Fame pitcher, will make since Tuesday’s call to Cooperstown. To celebrate his election and this exclusive event, the Virginia Tech baseball program is re-releasing select tables at discounted rates with the following VIPs (click here to reserve today):
- Frank Beamer (six-seat table, $4,000) – Virginia Tech’s legendary head football coach, Beamer led the Hokies to 238 victories on the gridiron spanning his 29-year tenure in Blacksburg. Inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame (1997) and the College Football Hall of Fame (2018), among other prestigious honors, he elevated the Hokies’ football program into a national power, reaching 10 modern-day New Year’s Six bowl games. Beamer’s sideline mastery vaulted the Hokies onto the sport’s brightest stage at the 2000 BCS National Championship Game (Sugar Bowl).
- Brad Clontz (six-seat table, $1,250) – A 2011 Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Clontz compiled a 12-3 record, a 3.32 ERA and 115 strikeouts during his 1992 season with the Hokies before logging a six-year MLB career. Selected by Atlanta during the 1992 MLB Draft, the native of Stuart, Virginia, debuted for the Braves during their 1995 championship season to the tune of 59 appearances, an 8-1 record and four saves, returning to the World Series in 1996.
- Joe Mantiply (six-seat table, $1,250) – Mantiply co-led Virginia Tech to NCAA Regional appearances in 2010 and 2013 prior to representing the Hokies in the professional ranks, where he has played seven MLB seasons. Since joining Arizona in 2020, he represented the Diamondbacks at the 2022 MLB All-Star Game and co-led them to the 2023 National League pennant, earning the start to Game 4 of the 2023 World Series.
- Chad Pinder (six-seat table, $1,250) – One of the best bats on Virginia Tech’s 2013 NCAA Regional team, Pinder logged 10 seasons in the Oakland Athletics organization, including seven MLB campaigns. Recently named field manager of the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, the Chicago White Sox’ Single-A affiliate, he mashed 62 career home runs and 89 career doubles with the Athletics, shining during Oakland’s run to the 2020 American League Division Series.
- Christian Martin & Tanner Schobel (six-seat table, $1,250) – Martin batted .321 at Virginia Tech between the 2022 and 2024 seasons, producing 28 career doubles, five triples and 10 home runs; he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals during the 18th round of the 2024 MLB Draft. Schobel was a 2022 All-American shortstop who led the Hammerin’ Hokies that season in home runs (19) and RBIs (74); he was named a 2023 MiLB.com Minnesota Organization All-Star at second base and currently competes in Double-A with the Wichita Wind Surge.
As of Jan. 22, only a limited number of individual tickets (reserve now at $125 per guest) and non-VIP tables accommodating eight seats alongside two current Virginia Tech baseball team members (reserve now at $1,000 per table) remain available. To reserve any remaining tickets and/or tables, please click here.
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.
Wagner – who was the featured guest at Baseball Night in Blacksburg in 2011 – will move into a distinguished class of multi-year keynote VIPs at the Hokies’ preseason banquet. Notable past speakers include: Cal Ripken Jr. (2008), Mike Williams (2010), Bobby Valentine (2012), Chuck Hartman (2014), Tim Kurkjian (2018), Ken Rosenthal (2020), Jeff Passan (2022), Chipper Jones (2023), Roger Clemens (2024) and others.