Tony Oliva Set to Return to Charlotte on May 16th
February 14, 2017 - International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
UPTOWN CHARLOTTE, NC-- Tony Oliva, an eight-time American League All-Star and former Charlotte Hornets standout, will meet fans and sign autographs at BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte on Tuesday, May 16th as part of the 2017 Harris Teeter & Gain Celeb Series. Throughout the 2017 season, fans can expect celebrities and legendary baseball players at BB&T Ballpark presented by Harris Teeter & Gain.
Gates will open at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16th and all fans will have an opportunity to meet Oliva before the Knights host the Durham Bulls (Triple-A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays) in a 7:05 p.m. game. In addition, "Hispanic Heritage" will be celebrated and fans can expect special themed events throughout the evening.
Originally signed by the Minnesota Twins in 1961, Oliva made his Charlotte baseball debut in 1962 with the Hornets. That season, the Cuban native hit an impressive .350 with 17 home runs and 93 RBIs in 127 games. Later that year, Oliva made his major league debut with the Twins and went on to play 15 seasons in the majors (1962-1976). Over the course of his career, he won the 1964 American League Rookie of the Year Award, three American League batting titles (1964, 1965, and 1971), and a Rawlings Gold Glove Award (1966). Nicknamed "Tony-O", he was an American League All-Star in each of his first eight seasons.
For his efforts with the Charlotte Hornets, Oliva was among the inaugural class of inductees into the Charlotte Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. A true legend of the game, he later had his #6 jersey retired by the Twins in 1991 and was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2000. As part of his May 16th appearance in Uptown Charlotte, Oliva, 78, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch in a pre-game ceremony as the Knights honor 125 years of baseball history in Charlotte (1892 to present).
The Charlotte Knights open the 2017 season -- their 30th as the Knights -- at BB&T Ballpark on Thursday, April 6th. Season tickets, as well as partial season ticket plans for the 2017 season, are on sale now and can be purchased in person at the BB&T Ballpark Ticket Office, online at CharlotteKnights.com, or by phone at 704-274-8282. Additional celebrities in the Harris Teeter & Gain Celeb Series will be announced later this week. Single-game tickets will go on sale at a later date. Tradition Never Ends!
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