WILLMAR, MN- The Willmar Stingers of the Northwoods League are excited to announce that actor James Best, who played Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane on the television show “The Dukes of Hazzard” will make an appearance in Willmar, MN.

Best will be on hand to throw out the first pitch at the Stingers game, sign autographs, and take pictures with fans beginning at 6:05 p.m. on Saturday, July 31st. This is also “Summer Time St. Patty’s Night” presented by Miller Lite & the Loon 94.1 FM.  It’s all green…. Green uniforms, green hats, green bases and even green beer with the first 250 adults 21-years of age or older will receive a Stingers pint glass.  First pitch is 7:05 p.m.

Best made his first professional stage experience after WW II in a European tour of “My Sister Eileen”, but is best known for his role as the Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane in Hazzard County.  Best has landed roles as bad guys, cowards, and country bumpkins.  He has appeared in more than 600 television shows, including “The Twilight Zone”, “Gunsmoke”, “Andy Griffith Show”, “Rawhide”, “Wagon Train”, “The Rebel”, “Bonanza”, “Mod Squad”, “Perry Mason”, “The Fugitive”, to name a few.  All in all, Best has worked with some Hollywood legends including Jimmy Stewart, Humphrey Bogart, Norman Mailer, and Burt Reynolds.
 
Best has spent time as a teacher when he’s not on stage or in front of a camera.  He has served as artist-in-residence at the University of Mississippi where he taught and directed.  During his two years there, he taught Motion Picture technique and Drama; directed four plays, established the Mississippi Film Commission and was elected to the University’s Hall of Fame.

Single game tickets for this event and all home games are currently on-sale at the Stingers ticket office location at the ballpark from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Monday-Friday or by calling 320-222-2010.  For more information regarding this story or the 2010 inaugural season presented by Charter Communications, please call 320-222-2010.