Hall of Famers, hometown heroes and more highlight the 24th annual Night of Memories
EVANSVILLE — Hall of Famers, a two-time Cy Young winner and some hometown heroes are gathering at the University of Evansville's Carson Center for the 24th annual Night of Memories.
The featured guests for Saturday’s event are Tony Perez, Ted Simmons, Bret Saberhagen and Al Hrabosky, as well as hometown favorites Don Mattingly, Jerad Eickhoff, Colson Montgomery and Cameron Decker. Joining Night of Memories for the first time are Perez, Simmons and Saberhagen.
"We're very excited to have these guys join us this year," Tri-State Hot Stove League president Ryan Berger said. "Just getting the opportunity to meet Hall of Famers here in Evansville is an opportunity any baseball fan would want."
Established in 1993, the Hot Stove League is a non-profit organization that provides financial support for local youth athletic programs and youth-based organizations. The Night of Memories is the main fundraising event for the Hot Stove League. Over $2 million has been distributed to youth and not-for-profit organizations and local athletic programs.
Berger's favorite part about Night of Memories is seeing children's faces light up when they get an autograph from their favorite players. With Mattingly's prolific career in the majors and Decker and Montgomery currently representing Southwestern Indiana with pride in the minors, Berger stresses the importance of having local standouts.
"They can instill in the youth that it is possible to achieve the dreams that you want," Berger said. "And if that dream is playing all the way into the major leagues, it's proof here in Evansville that we have the athletes and we have the ability. Everybody has the ability to play the game that they love."
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Autograph prices
First amount is for balls and flats (pictures/cards). Second is for premium items - bats, helmets, jerseys, hats and pictures 16x20 or larger.
Don Mattingly - $65/$100
Tony Perez - $50/$80 (Perez also has a limit of only two autographs per attendee with no inscriptions allowed. Inscriptions are $25 and limited to one per item.)
Ted Simmons - $50/$80
Bret Saberhagen - $40/$50
Colson Montgomery - $35/$50
Al Hrabosky - $20
Cameron Decker - one free autograph with admission ticket, additional autographs are $10
The live and silent auctions are also a main highlight of Night of Memories
There are over 175 items up for grabs between the two auctions. The silent auction is powered by Handbid, and users of the app can either bid from their seat at the Night of Memories or keep up with the action from the comfort of their own home.
One of the biggest items for auction are tickets to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. There will also be a baseball glove autographed by Yadier Molina, autographed bats by Scott Rolen and the late Brooks Robinson, game-worn cleats signed by Rolen and a picture from the game where he wore the cleats, full-size and mini football helmets and more.
"There's something for almost every fan in almost every sport," Berger said.
The chat and auction will take place in the Carson Center at the Meeks Family Fieldhouse. Admission is $25 per person, and attendees for the autograph session can also get into the chat and auction on the same ticket.
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NIGHT OF MEMORIES
Where: Carson Center/Meeks Family Fieldhouse, University of Evansville
When: Saturday — Autographs from 3:30-5:30 p.m., doors for main event open at 5 p.m. for guests 21 and over.
Tickets: $25, can be purchased online at hotstoveleague.org, children 12 and under get in the autograph session free but must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Courier & Press sports reporter Treasure Washington can be reached via her email, treasure.washington@courierpress.com, and on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Twashington490.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: What to know about the 24th annual Night of Memories
