Meet Denny McLain Aug. 27
Each season, the Rochester Red Wings offer their fans the opportunity to get a free autograph from former Major League Baseball and NFL stars, as part of our promotions schedule. Over the past few years, Wings fans have enjoyed appearances by Baseball Hall of Famers Paul Molitor, Rich "Goose" Gossage, Bert Blyleven and Dennis Eckersley, and former big league stars including Jim Rice, Fred Lynn, Dave Stewart, Steve Garvey, Doc Gooden, Darryl Strawberry and many more.
To ensure that as many fans as possible have the chance to meet our special guests and get an autograph, fans are reminded that
- there is a limit of one autograph per fan.
- there will be a posted time frame for the autograph sessions (listed below)
- time does not permit fans to ask to pose for individual photos with our guests
- there may be a restriction on what type of items will be signed (listed below), and personal inscriptions are at the sole discretion of our guest
- the autograph session will take place regardless of the weather, and regardless of whether the game is delayed or played. The gates will open at the scheduled time regardless of the weather conditions.
All autograph sessions will take place in front of the Red Wings Hall of Fame, first base concourse between Mama Mittsy's Pizza Kitchen and Pop 'N' Hots (unless otherwise specified below). Fans are welcome to bring one item of their own to be signed; baseballs and photos will be available for purchase in the autograph area.
Here's the 2015 lineup:
Lenny Dykstra Thurs. June 18, presented by The Greater Rochester Area Honda Dealers
Gates open at 6 p.m. Autograph session from 6-6:45 p.m., 7:05-8:00 p.m.
Lenny Dykstra was a star outfielder for both the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies, appearing in a World Series with each team. Dykstra hit key post-season home runs for the Mets in their 1986 World Championship run, including a walk-off homer to beat Houston in Game 3 of the NLCS. He was traded to the Phillies in 1989, was an All-Star in 1990, and in 1993 led the league in runs, hits, walks and at-bats - finishing second to Barry Bonds in MVP voting. Nicknamed "Nails" for his tough, aggressive style of play, Dykstra batted .348 and hit four World Series homers for the Phillies against Toronto in 1993. He has a .321 career average in 32 post-season games. Dykstra's son Cutter currently plays for the Syracuse Chiefs, and son Luke was drafted by Atlanta in 2014.
Lenny Dykstra career stats at Baseball-Reference.com
Click here to order tickets for June 18.
Ellis Burks Tues. June 30, presented by High Falls Advisors, LLC
Gates open at 6 p.m. Autograph session from 6-6:45 p.m., 7:05-8:00 p.m.
As a 22 year-old rookie in 1987, Ellis Burks became the third player in Red Sox history to compile a 20-20 season, and his .272 BA, 20 homers, 94 runs, 57 RBI and 27 stolen bases were good enough for recognition on the Baseball Digest and Topps "All-Rookie" teams. The 1983 1st round selection was a two-time All-Star (1990, 1996), won two Silver Slugger Awards (1990, 1996) and one Gold Glove Award (1990), and finished third in the 1996 NL MVP voting behind Ken Caminiti and Mike Piazza. A member of the Blake Street Bombers, Burks helped anchor a Colorado Rockies lineup that led the National League in home runs from 1995-97. After receiving a World Series ring with the Red Sox in 2004, Burks was a career .291 hitter with 352 home runs, 1206 RBI, 1253 runs, 2107 hits, 402 doubles, 63 triples, and 181 stolen bases in 2000 games.
Ellis Burks career stats at Baseball-Reference.com
Click here to order tickets for June 30.
Rollie Fingers Wed. July 22, presented by Canandaigua National Bank & Trust
Gates open at 6 p.m. Autographs session from 6-6:40 p.m., 7:05-8:00 p.m.
Restrictions: Mr. Fingers will not be able to sign bats or jerseys, and will not be able to add "HOF" or "HOF 92" as an inscription
Rollie Fingers had quite possibly the most famous mustache in baseball. But fans didn't come to the ballpark to see just that. They came to see him close out games with his sinking fastball night after night. The 1981 American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner spent 17 years in the big leagues with the Athletics, Padres and Brewers. During nine seasons with the A's, Fingers led the league in games twice and finished in the top ten in the league in saves seven times. Fingers won three World Series titles while with Oakland from 1972-74, and was the MVP of the 1974 Series, earning a win and two saves in four games. Fingers won or saved eight of the A's 12 World Series victories during their three-year run atop the baseball world. Fingers finished his career with 114 wins, a record 341 saves, 1,299 strikeouts, a 2.90 ERA and 1,701 innings pitched in 944 games. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992.
Rollie Fingers career stats at Baseball-Reference.com
Click here to order tickets for July 22.
Ken Griffey, Sr. Sun. August 16, presented by AT&T Mobility
Gates open at 12:30 p.m. Autograph session from 12:30-1:15 p.m., 1:35-2:30 p.m.
Ken Griffey, Sr. was a key part of Cincinnati's famed Big Red Machine, as an outfielder on the World Series winners against Boston in 1975 and repeating with a Series win against the Yankees in 1976. Griffey's .336 average in 1976 was second-best in the National League, and he was a three-time All-Star. He was member of the Yankees from 1982-86, then teamed with his son Ken Jr. for two seasons in Seattle. As part of a father/son outfield with the Mariners, Ken Sr. and Jr. hit back-to-back home runs on September 14, 1990 in Anaheim. Griffey was elected to the Reds Hall of Fame in 2004, and is currently a minor league instructor for Cincinnati.
Ken Griffey, Sr. career stats at Baseball-Reference.com
Click here to order tickets for August 16.
Denny McLain - Thursday, Aug. 27 (re-scheduled from July 7) presented by I-Evolve Technology Services
Gates open at 6 p.m. Autographs session from 6-6:40 p.m., 7:05-8:00 p.m.
Photos, jerseys, baseballs and books will be available for sale. Personalized inscriptions will be available.
It's pretty safe to say: no pitcher will ever do what Denny McLain did. In 1968, McLain won 31 games, with 28 complete games and a 1.98 ERA while leading the Tigers to a World Series win. McLain won both the American League Most Valuable Player award and the Cy Young Award that season; no pitcher has won 30 games since. The following season, McLain won 24 games and another Cy Young Award, giving him 55 wins and two Cy Young's over two seasons. He appeared on the cover of "Time" magazine, and as an accomplished musician appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show, in headlining performances in Las Vegas, and released two albums of his music. The colorful and controversial McLain has written two books detailing the ups and downs of his life on and off the field. He has lost 165 pounds after having bariatric surgery in 2013, a move he credits with helping to save his life.
Denny McLain career stats at Baseball-Reference.com
To order tickets for any upcoming home game call 423-WING (9464) and order with a credit card, visit the Frontier Field Ticket Office during regular hours, or order on-line. Click here for Ticket Office hours, prices, seating chart and more information on ordering tickets.
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