DURHAM, N.C. (NCCUEaglePride.com) – The “First Pitch” Dinner and Silent Auction that was formed in conjunction with North Carolina Central University’s baseball program and the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association has named both former World Series winning manager Jack McKeon and former MLB player Scott Pose as keynote speakers for the event.  The event takes place on Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel and Convention Center in Durham, N.C., from 6-9:00 p.m. to kick off the baseball season.
 
“This is a great event that allows us an opportunity to recognize the hard work put in by our student-athletes, as well as celebrate the start of another exciting season of NCCU baseball,” said NCCU head coach Jim Koerner.
 
From 1973-2011, McKeon made his mark in the major leagues as a manager most notably for the Florida Marlins who won the World Series in 2003, but the South Amboy, New Jersey native managed the Kansas City Royals (1973-1975), Oakland Athletics (1977-1978), San Diego Padres (1988-1990), and the Cincinnati Reds (1997-2000).  McKeon became the second oldest manager in major league history behind only Connie Mack to win the World Series.
 
The two-time National League Manager of the Year finished with a record of 1,051-990 throughout his career and led the Marlins to three of their six winning seasons in franchise history.
 
Pose played from 1993-2000 in the majors with three different organizations, but he has the distinction of being an original member of the Florida Marlins inaugural season in 1993 while he also spent time with the New York Yankees in 1997 and the Kansas City Royals from 1999-2000.
 
Pose had a career batting average of .240 and recorded 75 hits and 21 runs batted in that included a career-high .285 batting average with the Royals in 1999.  He also spent 12 seasons in the minor leagues, putting up impressive numbers with a .294 average at-the-plate with 1,194 hits, 58 triples, 132 doubles, eight home runs, and 383 RBIs.
 
 The Davenport, Iowa native also portrayed “Matt Crane” in the 1999 film “For Love of the Game” starring Kevin Costner.  Currently, Pose is the color analyst for the Durham Bulls radio network.
 
For the second year in-a-row, Tony Riggsbee will serve as the master of ceremonies of the event as the local radio legend is currently the public address announcer for a number of teams in collegiate and professional baseball, including the Durham Bulls, NC State, the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals during Spring Training, and the Scottsdale Scorpions in the Arizona Fall League. 
 
Fans can enjoy the event for just $50 for a single adult ticket, $25 for a child under the age of 12, or a sponsorship package for $750 that includes nine tickets sitting with either of the keynote speakers, sponsorship recognition during the event, nine signed baseballs, NCCU baseball apparel package, and ten free raffle tickets.
 
There’s also a table package for $450 dollars that includes 10 tickets.
 
Light hors d’oeuvres will be served from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., which will be followed by the main course.
 
Also on hand during the night’s events will be a silent auction where fans can bid on signed baseball memorabilia.  In addition, there will be a raffle that fans can partake in.
 
Proceeds for this event will benefit the NCCU baseball program.
 
For those interested in attending the “First Pitch” dinner, contact head baseball coach Jim Koerner at 919-530-6723 or e-mail him at jkoerner@nccu.edu.
 
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