Baseball legend will headline event honoring Prospect League All-Stars
June 29, 2012 - Prospect League (Prospect)
Springfield Sliders News Release
(Springfield, IL) The man who broke Ty Cobb's long-standing single season stolen base record and paved the way for players like Lou Brock, Vince Coleman and Rickey Henderson will be the featured speaker at the luncheon honoring the 2012 Prospect League All-Stars in Springfield on July 11. The All-Star luncheon precedes the Prospect League annual All-Star Game at Robin Roberts Stadium, presented by Primo Designs.
Maury Wills, who became the first man ever to steal 100 bases in a single season when he broke Ty Cobb's record of 96 by stealing 104 bases in 1962, will be in Springfield as the featured speaker at the 2012 Prospect League All-Star Luncheon at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel on Wednesday, June 11. The luncheon is open to the public with advance reservations and will feature not only Wills, but all of the participants in the All-Star Game which will be held that evening at Robin Roberts Stadium.
Wills is widely acknowledged by baseball experts as the man who revived the art of the stolen base and changed the game during baseball's "golden era". It is a little-known fact that Cobb's single season stolen base record stood longer than Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs in a season.
Although 1962 may have been Wills' seminal year, winning the National League MVP award (beating out Willie Mays by seven points), and the 1962 Hickok Belt (presented to the "World's Greatest Athlete"), he had a stellar 14-year MLB career. He was arguably the best shortstop and undoubtedly the greatest base stealer of his era. Wills was selected to the National League All-Star team seven times in his career, won two gold gloves and was MVP of the 1962 All-Star Game. He played in four World Series with the Dodgers and owns 3 World Championship rings.
The luncheon, which is open to the public, (with advance reservations) will be held at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel at noon on July 11. All players selected to the 2012 Prospect League All-Star Team will be recognized at the event.
Maury Wills will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the All-Star Game and will be available for autographs during the game.
Tickets for the All-Star Game are $7 and luncheon tickets are $35. Luncheon tickets will include a baseball autographed and personalized by Maury Wills along with a photo opportunity. Both game and luncheon tickets will go on sale on Monday, July 2 at 10 AM at the Sliders' team office at Robin Roberts Stadium and can be reserved by phone by calling (217) 679-3511 after 10 AM on July 2.
The Springfield Sliders are members of the Prospect League, playing at historic Robin Roberts Stadium. The Sliders are members of the Western Division along with the Danville (IL) Dans, DuBois County (IN) Bombers, Hannibal (MO) Cavemen, Quincy (IL) Gems, and Terre Haute (IN) Rex.
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