Dec. 1, 2005
ATLANTA – Major League All-Star shortstop and former Georgia Tech All-America Nomar Garciaparra will be the featured speaker at Georgia Tech’s annual Baseball Benefit Dinner on Saturday, Jan. 21. As part of the dinner, Garciaparra will have his Georgia Tech jersey honored.
A five-time American League All-Star (1997, 1999, 2000, 2002 and 2003), Garciaparra made his Major League debut with the Boston Red Sox in 1996. He was traded to the Chicago Cubs midway through the 2004 season, and is currently a free agent. Garciaparra was named the 1997 American League Rookie of the Year and won batting titles in 1999 and 2000.
Garciaparra was a two-time first-team All-America and Academic All-America at Georgia Tech in 1993 and 1994, and hit .427 with 16 home runs, 73 RBI and 33 stolen bases in helping lead Tech to the championship game of the College World Series in 1994.
“If you look at the history of Georgia Tech baseball and the great players that have played here, I think that Nomar Garciaparra is right near the top of that list,” said Georgia Tech head coach Danny Hall. “He was an All-American and an Academic All-American. He has been a great player in professional baseball.
“We want to bring him back and honor him in a fitting way by honoring his jersey. We’re excited to get him back with the family of Georgia Tech baseball.”
Garciaparra will join former Tech stars Kevin Brown and Randy Carroll as the three players in school history who have had their jerseys honored. Tech All-America catcher Jason Varitek and former head coach Jim Luck have had their jerseys retired.
Garciaparra continues a tradition of well-known baseball figures to speak at the dinner. Major league stars John Smoltz and Jason Varitek, managers Tommy Lasorda, Joe Torre, Jimy Williams, and Sparky Anderson, general managers John Schuerholz and Cam Bonifay, as well as popular ESPN analyst Peter Gammons have been featured in the past.
The annual dinner and auction, with proceeds to benefit the Georgia Tech baseball program, is being held at the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center and will begin at 6:30 p.m. The cost is $75 per person and $700 for a table of 10. The evening includes silent and live auctions, as well as the introduction of Georgia Tech’s nationally ranked baseball team.
If you would like more information or to RSVP, please call (404) 894-5410 or send a check (payable to GTAA) to: GTAA, Attn: Ethan Shapiro, 150 Bobby Dodd Way NW, Atlanta, GA 30332-0455. If you are mailing a check, please include the number of people attending, your address and your daytime telephone number. Please RSVP by Friday, January 13.
