MATT OLSON TO HEADLINE 2023 FIRST PITCH CLASSIC
11/14/2022 10:41:00 AM | Baseball
The two-time Gold Glove winner will be the featured speaker
MACON, Ga. – Mercer head baseball coach Craig Gibson announced Monday that two-time Gold Glove winner and Atlanta Braves first baseman, Matt Olson will serve as the keynote speaker for the 2023 First Pitch Classic on Wednesday, January 18, 2023 at Hawkins Arena.
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The annual First Pitch Classic event is in its 14th year and will kick off the 2023 season, as well as benefit the Mercer baseball program. An autograph session will open the night at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. There will also be a cash bar throughout the night.
Matt Olson grew up in Georgia where he attended Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia. Olson was a first-round pick of the Oakland Athletics in the 2012 MLB Draft. Olson won the Gold Glove Award in back-to-back years in 2018 and 2019 and was named to the AL All-Star team during the 2021 season. This past season in his first year with the Braves, Olson led the team with 103 RBI's and finished second on the team with 34 home runs.
Olson is one of many high-profile guests to headline the First Pitch Classic, including Mercer alum Kyle Lewis, Ozzie Smith, Gordon Beckham, Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens, Jeff Francoeur, Chipper Jones, Dale Murphy, Pete Rose, John Smoltz, Darryl Strawberry, Mark Teixeira and Charlie Culberson.
Cost
For reservations, sponsorships, raffle tickets or more information please contact Johnathan Langley at firstpitchclassic@mercer.edu or (478)301-2738.
Follow the BearsÂ
For complete coverage of Mercer Baseball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBaseball (Twitter), /MercerBaseball (Facebook) and @Mercer.Baseball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.Â
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The annual First Pitch Classic event is in its 14th year and will kick off the 2023 season, as well as benefit the Mercer baseball program. An autograph session will open the night at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. There will also be a cash bar throughout the night.
Matt Olson grew up in Georgia where he attended Parkview High School in Lilburn, Georgia. Olson was a first-round pick of the Oakland Athletics in the 2012 MLB Draft. Olson won the Gold Glove Award in back-to-back years in 2018 and 2019 and was named to the AL All-Star team during the 2021 season. This past season in his first year with the Braves, Olson led the team with 103 RBI's and finished second on the team with 34 home runs.
Olson is one of many high-profile guests to headline the First Pitch Classic, including Mercer alum Kyle Lewis, Ozzie Smith, Gordon Beckham, Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens, Jeff Francoeur, Chipper Jones, Dale Murphy, Pete Rose, John Smoltz, Darryl Strawberry, Mark Teixeira and Charlie Culberson.
Cost
- $100 for 1 ticket
- $1,000 per table (10 seats)
- Includes entrance to event and dinnerÂ
- Gold Sponsor (Limited Quantity) - $5,000 includes: table on first row, prominent advertisement at the event; 10 drink tickets, one suite at a mutually agreed upon Mercer baseball home game
- Silver Sponsor (Limited Quantity) - $3,000 includes: table on second row, advertisement at the event, 10 drink tickets, and four Mercer baseball season tickets
- $100 per autographed item
- Only 100 autographs will be sold
- $200 per raffle ticket
- Only 300 tickets will be sold
- Two winners: One winner for $10,000 and one winner for $5,000
- A silent auction will be held leading up to the event.  More details to follow.Â
For reservations, sponsorships, raffle tickets or more information please contact Johnathan Langley at firstpitchclassic@mercer.edu or (478)301-2738.
Follow the BearsÂ
For complete coverage of Mercer Baseball, please follow the Bears on social media at @MercerBaseball (Twitter), /MercerBaseball (Facebook) and @Mercer.Baseball (Instagram) or visit the official home of Mercer Athletics at MercerBears.com.Â
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