Joey Metropoulos to be Inducted into Frontier League Hall of Fame
Published on May 23, 2016 under Frontier League (FL)
Southern Illinois Miners News Release
Marion, Ill. - The Southern Illinois Miners are proud to announce that 2009 Frontier League MVP Joey Metropoulos has been selected as one of the five former players to be inducted into the Frontier League Hall of Fame in 2016. He is the first member of the Miners to be so honored, and will be formally inducted in a ceremony on Wednesday, July 13th as part of the all-star game festivities in Florence later this summer.
The Miners' all-time leader in hits, doubles, home runs, extra-base hits, slugging percentage and RBIs while placing second in runs scored and walks, Metropoulos is widely regarded as the best hitter in Southern Illinois history. Coming to the team from the Toronto Blue Jays organization and playing for the Miners from 2007-10, the slugger was renowned for his all-around ability, punctuated by his prodigious home run power at the plate.
A postseason all-star in both 2008 and 2009, the only two-time honoree in team history, Metropoulos finished his Miners career with a .305 average in 279 games along with 70 home runs, 66 doubles, 208 RBIs, 303 total hits, 199 runs scored, a .395 on-base percentage and a .587 slugging percentage with 138 extra-base hits. He was the first (and still only) Southern Illinois player to win the Morgan Burkhart Award as the Frontier League's MVP, doing so in 2009 when he hit .317 with 22 doubles, 31 home runs, 82 RBIs and 76 runs scored. Metropoulos is also one of just five players in the history of the league with 30 or more homers in a single season.
Currently residing in his home state of California, Metropoulos was also the first player in team history to have his number (#31) retired, on July 5th, 2014. He will be inducted into the league's Hall of Fame alongside former players Richard Austin, Willie Edwards, Charlie Lisk and Max Schweitzer as well as former umpire Max McCleary.
"Without question, Joey is arguably one of the greatest power hitters in Frontier League history," Miners manager Mike Pinto said. "For four seasons I had a birds-eye view of the mammoth and game-changing home runs he hit. But beyond the power was the pure baseball player he was, no matter where he was asked to play. His professionalism was on display with every game, every at bat. He epitomized Miners Baseball not only on the field, but off the field with every fan he came into contact with. We are incredibly proud that he wore our uniform and I can't think of a player more deserving for the league's Hall of Fame. I am so incredibly happy for him."
The Southern Illinois Miners are the back-to-back Frontier League East Division Champions and the 2012 Frontier League Champions. They have been awarded the Frontier League Organization of the Year award three times since their inception, and also set a new Frontier League attendance record in 2007, their inaugural season. For ticket information, contact the Rent One Park box office at (618) 998-8499. For any additional information, visit our website at www.southernillinoisminers.com.
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