2015 Bobblehead Giveaways Announced
The Tennessee Smokies have begun unveiling their promotional schedule for the upcoming 2015 season, announcing three exciting bobblehead giveaways many fans will be looking to get their hands on. The lineup will feature legendary University of Tennessee Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt, as well as consensus Minor League Player of the Year and 2014 Smokies third baseman Kris Bryant, along with fellow 2014 Smokies and Chicago Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler.
One of the most distinguished coaches in college basketball history, Summitt served as head coach of the Lady Vols from 1974 through 2012, and has won more games than any other men's or women's college basketball coach, racking up 1,098 total victories. In addition, the Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient secured eight national championships on Rocky Top, including three straight titles between 1996-98, and back-to-back championships between 2007-08, while the court at Thompson-Boling Arena also bears her name.
During her tenure, Summitt was also named NCAA Coach of the Year on seven different occasions, while the Lady Vols won 16 Southeastern Conference championships, in addition to their seven NCAA titles. Her incredible list of honors also includes being honored as the Naismith Coach of the Century and being inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, in addition to leading the U.S. Women's Olympic Basketball squad to a Gold Medal during the 1984 Summer Olympics, and being named Sports Illustrated's Sportswoman of the Year in 2011.
The bobblehead featuring Summitt's likeness will be handed out to the first 1,000 fans in attendance at a Smokies home game during the 2015 season that will be announced at a later time, with the Smokies donning special themed jerseys that will be auctioned off that evening. Proceeds from that jersey auction will benefit The Pat Summitt Foundation, which was established in November 2011 by Pat Summitt.
In addition to Summitt, the Smokies will also be handing out two other bobbleheads during the 2015 campaign, which will feature the likenesses of top Chicago Cubs prospects and 2014 Smokies players Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler.
Bryant set the Southern League on fire in the first half of his 2014 campaign with the Smokies, pacing the circuit in many offensive categories while compiling a .355 batting average (88-248), adding 22 homers and 58 RBI. in 68 games After receiving a promotion to Triple-A Iowa and finishing the year with a Minor League leading 43 longballs, the 23-year-old slugger was recognized by many media outlets as the top Minor League player of the year, receiving honors from the likes of ESPN, USA TODAY and Baseball America.
Soler began 2014 alongside Bryant with the Smokies, and is considered one one of the top outfield prospects in baseball going into the 2015 season. Though the outfielder played in only 22 contests with the Smokies due to injuries, Soler's tape-measure home runs electrified Smokies fans while tallying a .415 average (27-65), with six roundtrippers and 22 RBI. After the Cubs promoted Soler to Triple-A Iowa in July, the outfielder would receive a call-up to the Big Leagues on August 27, memorably homering in his very first Major League at bat off Cincinnati Reds starter Mat Latos at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.
Dates for these giveaways will be announced on a later date. In addition, the Smokies will continue to roll out the rest of their 2015 promotional calendar in the near future as the countdown continues to the club's Opening Night on Thursday, April 16.
The Smokies are slated to begin the 2015 campaign on the road against the Mississippi Braves, the Double-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, on Thursday, April 9, before returning to Tennessee to start their 2015 home slate on Wednesday, April 15 versus the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, with a special 11:30 a.m. first pitch time at Smokies Stadium. The team will then celebrate Opening Night the next evening, with that game scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. start time.
Season ticket and multi-game voucher plans are currently available and can be purchased online by clicking here, or by calling the Smokies Ticket Office at (865) 286-2300.
ABOUT THE PAT SUMMITT FOUNDATION
The Pat Summitt Foundation, a fund of East Tennessee Foundation, was established in November 2011. Dedicated to winning the fight against Alzheimer's disease, its mission as a grant-making foundation is to advance research for prevention and a cure; to provide hope, care and critical support for patients, caregivers and families; and to educate the public on the impacts of Alzheimer's disease and the urgent need for a cure. Pat Summitt, her family and friends have chosen East Tennessee Foundation to receive and manage contributions to Pat's fund, and to facilitate their grantmaking in support of the mission. To learn more about or to donate to The Pat Summitt Foundation, please visit www.patsummitt.org.
ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SMOKIES
The Tennessee Smokies are the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. Members of the ten-team Southern League, Smokies baseball has been entertaining families and fans of America's national pastime in the East Tennessee region for over 100 years. To learn more about the Tennessee Smokies, visit www.smokiesbaseball.com.