Tourists to Host Ray Hathaway Night on Saturday, August 20
August 18, 2011 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Asheville Tourists News Release
The Asheville Tourists will honor former manager and 2011 South Atlantic League Hall of Fame inductee Ray Hathaway on Saturday, August 20, before the Tourists host the Rome Braves at McCormick Field, beginning at 6:05 p.m.
A long-time resident of Weaverville, Hathaway was the manager of the 1961 Asheville Tourists, champions of the South Atlantic League with an 87-50 record. The former pitcher had a cup of coffee in the major leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1945 and at age 94 is the 11th oldest major leaguer. He took over the Tourists' dugout helm for the first time in 1951 in the Tri-State League before returning for the 1953 and 1954 campaigns. The Tourists won the Tri-State League regular-season title in 1954. Hathaway rejoined the Tourists in 1961 and remained with the club in 1962 and 1963 before switching places with Gastonia skipper Bob Clear midway through the 1964 slate.
Hathaway owned the Tourists' franchise record for managerial victories for more than four decades with 518 wins before current Asheville manager Joe Mikulik re-established the mark. Over the course of his 25-year managerial career in the minor leagues, Hathaway won 1,441 games.
The Tourists are honoring Hathaway on Saturday for his election to the SAL Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony was held at the SAL All-Star Luncheon on June 21, in Salisbury, Maryland, home of the Delmarva Shorebirds.
"Ray Hathaway represents royalty for the Asheville Tourists," said Brian DeWine, president of the Tourists. "We were extremely pleased the South Atlantic League decided to induct him into the Hall of Fame this year, and on Saturday we will honor the man whose name was synonymous with Tourists baseball and McCormick Field throughout much of the 1950s and 1960s. We believe this will prove to be one of the biggest nights of the 2011 season."
The Tourists open a four-game series against Rome on Thursday night. Game time for Thirsty Thursday and Friday's contest is 7:05 p.m. Saturday's game will begin at 6:05 p.m., while Sunday's start time is slated for 2:05 p.m. For more information, contact the Tourists' front office at (828) 258-0428.
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