Cal here Aug. 7

BASEBALL HALL OF FAMER CAL RIPKEN, JR. TO APPEAR IN ROCHESTER AUGUST 7
Former Red Wing to be guest of honor at Rochester Riverside Convention Center charity luncheon and officially be inducted to International League Hall of Fame during pre-game ceremony at Frontier Field

Baseball Hall of Famer and former Red Wing Cal Ripken, Jr. will appear in Rochester on Tuesday, August 7 to be inducted to the International League Hall of Fame. The ceremony will take place prior to the 7:05 p.m. Wings vs. Empire State Yankees game; the gates will open early at 5:30 p.m. on August 7.

Ripken will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony on the field at 6:45 p.m. Gates to Frontier Field open a half hour earlier than normal at 5:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats promptly at 6:45 for the start of the ceremony. The induction ceremony will include Mayor Thomas Richards, Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks, International League President Randy Mobley, Rochester's Mr. Baseball Joe Altobelli, a special-guest Western New York sports figure, and video messages from Ripken's former teammates and managers.

The day includes a charity luncheon to benefit the Hillside Family of Agencies and Unity Health System at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, as well as a special ceremony prior to the Red Wings game with the Empire State Yankees at Frontier Field.

Ripken, Jr., who is a member of the 2011 class of the IL Hall of Fame, played for the Red Wings in 1981. He went on to enjoy a 21-year major league career with the Baltimore Orioles and establish the major league record for most consecutive games played with 2,632.

The Red Wings have partnered with Hillside Family of Agencies, Unity Health System, and ESL Federal Credit Union to make this day in Rochester possible.

“Bringing Cal back to the Rochester community in a combined effort with our partners at Unity, ESL and the Red Wings is a triumphant occasion to say the least,” said Tom Hildebrandt, President of Crestwood and Hillside Children’s Foundations.

“In addition to honoring one of baseball’s all-time greats, we hope to raise some funds to support our missions and further inform the community of the good things we do for people of the Rochester area.”

“I can’t thank Hillside, Unity, and ESL enough for coming together to make this celebration of Cal possible for the great baseball fans of Rochester,” Mason said. “Cal is a legend in this community and it’s only fitting that his official induction ceremony will take place here.”

“While officially a member of the 2011 class, I am thrilled that the League and Red Wings will now have the opportunity to formally welcome Cal into the International League Hall of Fame,” said International League President Randy Mobley. “He was only in the League for that 1981 season, but as the League’s Rookie of the Year with 25 home runs and 75 RBI it was indeed a Hall of Fame season. The long list of International League Hall of Famers with ties to Rochester is a reflection of the glorious history of this franchise. One of the greatest Red Wings ever, Cal’s recognition makes this group all the more impressive.”

Tickets for the Hall of Fame Luncheon are on sale at the Frontier Field box office or by calling the Red Wings office at(585) 454-1001 and pressing zero. Tickets can also be purchased through Hillside and Unity; for more information on the luncheon, including sponsorship opportunities and contact information, please click here for a pdf file.

Click here to see the official luncheon TV spot on our Facebook page.

Tickets for the August 7 Red Wings game are on sale now at the Frontier Field box office, online at RedWingsBaseball.com, or by calling (585) 423-WING (9464). The gates will open early at 5:30 p.m. on August 7.

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The Rochester Red Wings are in their 10th season as the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The Red Wings are operated by Rochester Community Baseball, Inc. and have been a community-owned pro baseball franchise since 1957. Rochester’s pro baseball history dates to 1885. For ticket information, call the box office at (585) 423-WING (9464) or visit the Tickets section of RedWingsBaseball.com.

The Red Wings and Frontier Field have been selected to host the New York Yankees’ Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre club for 37 games in 2012 while PNC Field in Moosic, PA, undergoes major renovations. Wings fans will benefit from eight additional Red Wings vs. Yankees games at Frontier Field, plus 29 more games featuring top Yankees prospects against other International League clubs.