Hirschbeck, Auction Items Add to YSU Baseball First Pitch Breakfast

by YSU

Thursday, Jan 16, 2014 7:10 am

Major League Baseball umpire and Mahoning Valley native John Hirschbeck has been added to the list of speakers at the Youngstown State Baseball program's First Pitch Breakfast.

Hirschbeck, who has been an MLB umpire for nearly 30 years, joins Cleveland Indians President Mark Shapiro and seven-time MLB All Star Al Oliver as speakers at the Feb. 1 event at McMenamy's Restaurant and Banquet Center in Niles.

Hirschbeck was the crew chief for the 2013 World Series, and his impressive resume includes umpiring three All-Star games, nine Division Series, four American League Championship Series and four World Series. Among his list of memorable games, he was the home plate umpire for Roy Halladay's no-hitter in the 2010 National League Division Series, when Barry Bonds hit his record 756th career home run and when Mariana Rivera set the all-time saves record.

In addition to the attractive list of speakers, the First Pitch Breakfast will feature a long list of auction items that will appeal to fans and collectors. The live auction will feature four box seats and batting practice passes for a Cleveland Indians game, two tickets to a Pittsburgh Pirates SkyBlast event and autographed jerseys from Nolan Ryan, George Brett and Alex Gordon. Among the silent auction items are YSU memorabilia and apparel, YSU items from Baird Brothers Fine hardwoods, a YSU fire pit and autographed items from Brett, Gordon, Reggie Jackson, Billy Butler, Eric Hosmer, Alfonso Soriano, Buck O'Neil, Clint Hurdle and Wally Bell.

Doors for the fundraiser will open at 8:30 a.m., a buffet breakfast will start at 8:45 a.m., and the program will follow at 9 a.m. Each ticket, which serves as admission to the event as well as a raffle entry, is $15. For more information or to buy tickets, contact YSU associate head coach Kevin Smallcomb at kdsmallcomb@ysu.edu or (970) 978-0504.

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