Thursday, December 10, 2009

Head coach Tracy Woodson and the Valparaiso University baseball program has announced that former major leaguer and current MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac will be the featured speaker at the third annual Valparaiso University Baseball Bash held on Saturday, January 30 at Aberdeen Manor. 

Plesac, who enjoyed an 18-year major league pitching career from 1986 to 2003, was a first-round draft pick of the Milwaukee Brewers in 1983.  He was a three-time American League All-Star as well as the Milwaukee Brewers all-time leader in saves.  He enjoyed playing stints for the Milwaukee Brewers, Toronto Blue Jays, Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Philadelphia Phillies.

Plesac worked as the Chicago Cubs pregame and postgame analyst until the end of the 2008 season before becoming a MLB Network analyst in January 2009.  Plesac has local ties to the area as he attended Crown PointHigh School before playing baseball at North Carolina State University for three years where he was a teammate of Coach Tracy Woodson. 

The third annual Valparaiso University Baseball Bash will be held at Aberdeen Manor located at 216 Ballantrae in Valparaiso, Ind.   In addition to a featured address by Plesac, this will be the public’s first look at the 2010 Valparaiso University baseball team and include a sit-down dinner, a silent auction as well as a live auction.  The doors will open to the public at 5:00 p.m. for a social hour with dinner being served at 6:00 p.m.

Woodson is excited about this year’s event.  “Not only is this a great opportunity to meet and listen to a former major leaguer in Dan Plesac, but it is a fun event with a chance to meet our players and coaches and enjoy a Valpo baseball family night where we want people from the community, baseball fans, and those associated with the university to attend, he said.  “This is the third year of having a superb featured speaker and Dan, being as funny as he is, will have some great stories.  I think the evening will be one to remember.”  

The cost for the event will be $50 per person with a Valpo student rate of $25, and a table of eight guests costing $400. For further information, please contact Valpo baseball at (219)464-5239.