BLACKSBURG – With the excitement of welcoming National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Chipper Jones to campus as its headlining VIP, the Virginia Tech baseball program has opened registration for its 15th annual Baseball Night in Blacksburg, as scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Student-Athlete Performance Center adjacent to Cassell Coliseum.
A formal event, guests – dressing at minimum in business casual attire – are invited to partake in a VIP meet-and-greet cocktail hour beginning at 5 p.m., featuring an open bar (available to all patrons of age). Ticketed attendees are welcome to converse in an intimate setting with special guest Chipper Jones and members of Tech's current class of MLB and Minor League Baseball professionals.
At the conclusion of the VIP cocktail hour, guests will transition to a catered dinner beginning at 6 p.m., featuring a cash bar. Evan Hughes, master of ceremonies, will welcome head coach John Szfec to make season-opening remarks and invite keynote speaker Chipper Jones to address the 2023 Hokies, their families, patrons and supporters in a Q&A format.
Throughout the evening, Tech memorabilia will be available both for purchase and at auction until the event's close at 9 p.m.
Tickets to the VIP cocktail hour preceding Baseball Night in Blacksburg are available for purchase at $50 while guests may purchase dinner tickets at $100. Separate purchases are required for admittance to both portions of the evening.
Reserved banquet tables (accommodating two VIP cocktail hour tickets and six dinner tickets alongside two current Tech baseball members) are also available for purchase at $1,000 on a first-come, first-served basis.
All Baseball Night in Blacksburg proceeds will go to support the Virginia Tech baseball team, especially its continual enhancements to English Field at Atlantic Union Bank Park and its accompanying facilities. Past banquets have supported the installation of artificial turf and expanded dugouts, among other general ballpark overhauls and additions.
Chipper Jones will become the Hokies' latest high-profile special guest, joining the class of notable speakers Cal Ripken Jr. (2008), Mike Williams (2010), Billy Wagner (2011), Bobby Valentine (2012), Chuck Hartman (2014), Tim Kurkjian (2018), Ken Rosenthal (2020), Jeff Passan (2022) and others.
To register for Virginia Tech's 15th annual Baseball Night in Blacksburg, please click here. Those with questions may direct them to director of baseball operations, Cam Davis, by email at camd25@vt.edu.
CHIPPER JONES
A 19-year veteran of the Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones is an eight-time MLB All-Star, 1995 World Series champion and 2018 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee.
Jones was the offensive compliment to Atlanta's prolific pitching staff that championed the National League East during 11 consecutive years between 1995 and 2005. Selected No. 1 overall by the Braves during the 1990 MLB Draft, the star third baseman debuted briefly in 1993 before making his first impact season in 1995, finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting while co-leading Atlanta to its defining World Series crown.
From 1996 to 2001, Jones made five All-Star appearances during a six-season stretch, highlighted by him earning 1999 NL Most Valuable Player honors (.319 batting average, 45 home runs, 110 RBIs). Owner of a .303 career batting average, he garnered two Silver Slugger awards in 1999 and 2000, winning the 2008 NL batting title during his age-36 season (.364 average).
Going out with back-to-back All-Star appearances in 2011 and 2012, Jones was enshrined in the Braves Hall of Fame in 2013, the same year his No. 10 jersey was retired by the club. In 2018, he was a first-ballot inductee to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
