DeLand, Fla. ? DeLand native and Atlanta Braves star infielder Chipper Jones will be throwing out the first pitch at Melching Field Friday night prior to Stetson's season-opener against Boston College.
Friday's game is the first of a four-game series with Boston College from the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Hatters will take on the Eagles Friday night at 6:30, Saturday at 1:00 p.m. and again at 6:30 p.m. and then a final game on Sunday 1:00 p.m.
Chipper Jones led the Atlanta Braves to a World Series title in his rookie year of 1995 and has not slowed down since. In 1999 he was named the National League's Most Valuable Player. Last year, in his 14th full season with the Braves, Jones won the Major League Batting Title with a .364 average. Also last year, he joined the 400 home run club in a win over the Marlins on June 5th. He holds the club record for career home runs with 408. The 6-time All-Star is considered one of major league baseball's best all-around hitters, and one of the best switch hitters in the history of the game. In fact, he is the only switch hitter in Major League Baseball history to have a .300+ career batting average and 400 home runs.
Off the field Chipper is a member of Stetson's Trustee Athletic Committee and hosts the department's single largest fundraising event each year... the Chipper Jones Celebrity Golf Invitational. Over the years Chipper's Family Foundation has made significant contributions to Stetson University athletics - with an emphasis on Melching Field construction and improvements, Patricia Wilson Field construction, the Championship Recognition Fund, and our individual athletics programs. Locally, Chipper has also been the major donor in the development of the DeLand Little League and Pierson Little League Complexes, both of which bear his name.
Tickets for all Stetson home baseball games are available in advance online at www.gohatters.com or they can be purchased at the gate. Great seats are still available for fans seeking season tickets. For ticket packages and information please call the Stetson University Ticket Office at (386) 822-8110 or email at Hattertickets@stetson.edu.
