Photo by: Rey Del Rio/MSU Athletic Communications
Tickets On Sale For The 19th Annual MSU Baseball First Pitch Dinner
12/2/2024 2:51:00 PM | Baseball
Event will take place Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 at the Kellogg Center.
***PURCHASE FIRST PITCH DINNER TICKETS HERE!***
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball will hold its 19th Annual First Pitch Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. Tickets are on sale for the event, which will begin at 12 p.m. with a silent auction and player autographs. Lunch and a formal program will follow at 1 p.m.
This year's event will feature Lance Parrish and Dan Petry, two members of the 1984 Detroit Tigers World Series Champions, as the keynote speakers, while honoring Dr. Al Bolles and Mary Kay Bolles as Alumni of the Year.
Parrish was a catcher for the Tigers from 1977-86. He was known as "The Big Wheel" for his strength and cool demeanor. Parrish played in nearly 2,000 games, catching over 1,800 games, including making 1,715 starts behind the plate and caught 99 shutouts in his 19-year MLB career. After the Tigers, Parrish also played for the Philadelphia Phillies (1987-88), Los Angeles Angels (1989-92), Seattle Mariners (1992), Cleveland Guardians (1993), Pittsburgh Pirates (1994) and Toronto Blue Jays (1995). Parrish was an eight-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner and six-time Silver Slugger recipient. He later went on to also be on the Tigers television broadcasts in 2002, before returning to the diamond as an assistant coach in the Tigers farm system from 1998-2019.
Petry was a pitcher for the Tigers from 1979-87. He made 370 appearances with 300 starts, including 52 complete games, winning 125 games, registering one save, and firing 1,063 strikeouts in his 13-year big league career. Petry was named an All-Star in 1985. He also played for the Los Angeles Angels (1988-89), before a second stint with the Tigers (1990-91), Atlanta Braves (1991) and Boston Red Sox (1991). Along with helping the Tigers win the 1984 World Series, Petry also helped the Tigers win the 1987 American League Eastern Division, and also helped the Braves win the 1991 National League pennant. Petry currently serves as a studio analyst for the Detroit Tigers on what was formerly known as Bally Sports Detroit, now FanDuel Sports.
Dr. Al Bolles and Mary Kay Bolles are both proud Michigan State graduates, along with being leaders in the food science industry worldwide, and loyal supporters of Spartan baseball.Â
Dr. Al Bolles received his bachelor's degree in microbiology in 1980, and also earned his master's degrees in food science in 1983, along with his doctorate in food science from Michigan State in 1997. He was head of worldwide research and development for PepsiCo, after a tenure as senior vice president, Global Technology and Quality, and chief technical officer for Tropicana.
MaryKay Bolles earned her bachelor's degree in food science from MSU in 1983, going on to earn her master's in food science from Illinois in 1989. She was with PepsiCo. for eight years, including three years as Vice President/Director of Research & Development for Gatorade. MaryKay later became Vice President, Global Research & Development Beam Suntory Global Spirits, the spirits company that owns nearly 100 brands, including Jim Beam, Skinnygirl and Pinnacle Vodka, for nearly 10 years, before retiring in 2019.
The 2025 MSU Baseball First Pitch Dinner will feature a silent auction, door prizes, player autographs, a team poster and special tribute to the Annual Crosstown Showdown between the Spartans and Lansing Lugnuts.
Tickets for the 2025 First Pitch Dinner range in price from $40 per person for children and students (8th grade and under), $50 for college students (with student ID), $65 for Spartan baseball alumni and $75 each for adults. Sponsored tables of eight are also available.
For more information on the 2025 First Pitch Dinner, download the registration form HERE, or contact Tommy Merlo in the MSU baseball office at 517-355-4486 or email at TMerlo@ath.msu.edu.
Fans are encouraged to sign up for the 2025 First Pitch Dinner online at www.msuspartans.com/firstpitch.
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EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Michigan State baseball will hold its 19th Annual First Pitch Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025 at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. Tickets are on sale for the event, which will begin at 12 p.m. with a silent auction and player autographs. Lunch and a formal program will follow at 1 p.m.
This year's event will feature Lance Parrish and Dan Petry, two members of the 1984 Detroit Tigers World Series Champions, as the keynote speakers, while honoring Dr. Al Bolles and Mary Kay Bolles as Alumni of the Year.
Parrish was a catcher for the Tigers from 1977-86. He was known as "The Big Wheel" for his strength and cool demeanor. Parrish played in nearly 2,000 games, catching over 1,800 games, including making 1,715 starts behind the plate and caught 99 shutouts in his 19-year MLB career. After the Tigers, Parrish also played for the Philadelphia Phillies (1987-88), Los Angeles Angels (1989-92), Seattle Mariners (1992), Cleveland Guardians (1993), Pittsburgh Pirates (1994) and Toronto Blue Jays (1995). Parrish was an eight-time All-Star, three-time Gold Glove winner and six-time Silver Slugger recipient. He later went on to also be on the Tigers television broadcasts in 2002, before returning to the diamond as an assistant coach in the Tigers farm system from 1998-2019.
Petry was a pitcher for the Tigers from 1979-87. He made 370 appearances with 300 starts, including 52 complete games, winning 125 games, registering one save, and firing 1,063 strikeouts in his 13-year big league career. Petry was named an All-Star in 1985. He also played for the Los Angeles Angels (1988-89), before a second stint with the Tigers (1990-91), Atlanta Braves (1991) and Boston Red Sox (1991). Along with helping the Tigers win the 1984 World Series, Petry also helped the Tigers win the 1987 American League Eastern Division, and also helped the Braves win the 1991 National League pennant. Petry currently serves as a studio analyst for the Detroit Tigers on what was formerly known as Bally Sports Detroit, now FanDuel Sports.
Dr. Al Bolles and Mary Kay Bolles are both proud Michigan State graduates, along with being leaders in the food science industry worldwide, and loyal supporters of Spartan baseball.Â
Dr. Al Bolles received his bachelor's degree in microbiology in 1980, and also earned his master's degrees in food science in 1983, along with his doctorate in food science from Michigan State in 1997. He was head of worldwide research and development for PepsiCo, after a tenure as senior vice president, Global Technology and Quality, and chief technical officer for Tropicana.
MaryKay Bolles earned her bachelor's degree in food science from MSU in 1983, going on to earn her master's in food science from Illinois in 1989. She was with PepsiCo. for eight years, including three years as Vice President/Director of Research & Development for Gatorade. MaryKay later became Vice President, Global Research & Development Beam Suntory Global Spirits, the spirits company that owns nearly 100 brands, including Jim Beam, Skinnygirl and Pinnacle Vodka, for nearly 10 years, before retiring in 2019.
The 2025 MSU Baseball First Pitch Dinner will feature a silent auction, door prizes, player autographs, a team poster and special tribute to the Annual Crosstown Showdown between the Spartans and Lansing Lugnuts.
Tickets for the 2025 First Pitch Dinner range in price from $40 per person for children and students (8th grade and under), $50 for college students (with student ID), $65 for Spartan baseball alumni and $75 each for adults. Sponsored tables of eight are also available.
For more information on the 2025 First Pitch Dinner, download the registration form HERE, or contact Tommy Merlo in the MSU baseball office at 517-355-4486 or email at TMerlo@ath.msu.edu.
Fans are encouraged to sign up for the 2025 First Pitch Dinner online at www.msuspartans.com/firstpitch.
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