Madison, WI – March 9, 2009. The “Ignitor” is coming to Madison. Former Milwaukee Brewer great Paul Molitor has agreed to headline and participate in the Fourth-Annual Mallards/MLB 2009 Alumni Game to be held on August 21 at the “Duck Pond.” Molitor, who was inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004, played for the Brewers for 15 seasons (1978 to 1992) and was a 5-time All-Star selection during that span. Although the Brewers magical 1982 run at a franchise-first World Series title came a few outs short in a runner-up finish to the St. Louis Cardinals, Molitor didn’t dissapoint, batting .355 (11-for-31) that included a five-hit performance in game 1 of the seven-game series. In August of 1997 he was in the national media spotlight for his pursuit of Joe Dimaggio’s coveted 56-game hitting streak. Molitor’s run ended at 39 games but raised his batting average a staggering 47 points to .370 that included eight 3-hit performances.
He will be available for autographs when gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Molitor signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as a free agent in 1992 and helped lead the team to a World Series title the following year. After that final six-game series he was named MVP for batting .500 (12-for-24) and becoming the first individual to hit 2 doubles, 2 triples, and 2 home runs in a World Series.
Molitor concluded his career by playing for the Minnesota Twins for three seasons (1996-1998), where he acquired his 3,000th hit on September 6, 1996. He remains the only player in major league history to reach that milestone with a triple.
Molitor joins an impressive list of previous Alumni Game headliners including Harmon Killebrew (2006), Rollie Fingers (2007), and Ferguson Jenkins last year. Like Molitor, all three were first-ballot Major League Baseball Hall of Famers.
Mallards General Manager Vern Stenman believes Molitor’s appearance will help connect the event to a younger generation of baseball fans in southern Wisconsin.
“Molitor fits the mold of exactly the type of player and person we looked for in headlining this year’s event,” said Stenman.
“He’s a former Big Ten collegiate athlete (Minnesota); had an outstanding big league career; and continues to be a contributing member to many charitable organizations throughout the Midwest.”
Added Stenman, “Molitor was an active player not very long ago, so we’re very excited for the opportunity to provide fans in their 20’s and 30’s the chance to brush shoulders with a childhood idol.”
Tickets for the event will be priced the same as a Mallards regular season game and will be available when single-game tickets go on sale Saturday, May 2.
There will be a chance to meet and greet all participants and acquire autographs prior to the game. Other participants for this year’s event will be announced as they are confirmed.
