Jan. 20, 2012

WASHINGTON - Georgetown University Head Baseball Coach Pete Wilk announced today that former Major League Baseball Player and Hall of Fame member Dave Winfield will serve as the keynote speaker for the Eighth Annual First Pitch Dinner, being held on campus.

The First Pitch Dinner will be held on Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Leo J. O'Donovan Dining Hall on the Hilltop. Cocktails and silent auction begin at 6:30 p.m., with dinner and events beginning at 7 p.m.

"We're thrilled to have one of baseball's greats joining us for what is always a special evening," Wilk said. "It has been a great way to start our season and is one of the most memorable nights of the year. Having a Hall of Famer like Dave Winfield here will be a treat for everyone. We've been really fortunate to have some tremendous keynote speakers."

Winfield will be another in a tremendous line of featured guests at the First Pitch Dinner, starting with former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona (2005), former NBC news correspondent, the late Tim Russert (2006), Hall of Famer Johnny Bench (2007), Major League umpire Bruce Froemming (2008), ESPN baseball analyst Tim Kurkjian (2009), 1980 United States Olympic hockey goalie Jim Craig (2010) and Major League pitcher Jamie Moyer (2011).

Winfield's career is a unique chapter of American sports history. Hailed as one of the greatest athletes ever to play professional sports, he is one of only seven players in the history of Major League Baseball to reach over 3,000 hits and over 450 home runs. The 12-time All-Star is among the all-time leaders in hits, home runs and RBI. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2001 -- his first year of eligibility.

He began his career as a Williams Scholar at the University of Minnesota, where he played Big Ten basketball and baseball. An All-American in baseball, he was voted MVP of the 1973 College World Series as a pitcher, was a No. 1 draft pick and never spent a day in the minor leagues. Even today, he remains the only athlete ever to be drafted in by four professional sport leagues: basketball (NBA Atlanta Hawks, ABA Utah Stars), football (NFL Minnesota Vikings) and baseball (MLB San Diego Padres).

His professional career took off in 1973 with the San Diego Padres, followed by eight All-Star seasons with the New York Yankees. In 1990, he joined the California Angels, followed by a magical year with the Toronto Blue Jays where he drove in the winning run of the 1992 World Series. Winfield returned to his native Minnesota and reached the 3,000th hit milestone with the Twins. He ended his 22-year career after the 1995 season with the American League Champion Cleveland Indians.

For more information on the First Pitch Dinner, please contact Meagan Barry in the Hoyas Unlimited office via e-mail at mkb42@georgetown.edu, or in the office at 202-687-7159.