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On February 18 the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame 25th annual induction dinner will be held at Tropicana Field at 6:00 PM. The dinner will be hosted by Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer.
Tickets are available for $125 through the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame website.
The induction class is headlined by the Major League Baseball all-time hit leader Pete Rose and former Tiger outfielder Willie Horton. Rose is best known for collecting 4,256 hits in his 24 year career. Rose put up a career line of .303/.375/.409 and 121 wRC+. Horton spent 14 years playing for the Detroit Tigers batting .273/.332/.457 and 119 wRC+ for his career.
The late Jose Fernandez will join the Pitching Wall of Great Achievement. In his short career he was a two time all-star, and won the 2013 National League Rookie of the Year Award. Fernandez struck out an obscene 31.2% of batters in his career and posted a 2.58 ERA and 2.44 FIP.
Second Baseman Octavio “Cookie” Rojas and scout Tom Giordano will be awarded the Ted Williams Lifetime Achievement Award. Rojas was a five time all-star and is a member of the Hispanic Heritage Hall of Fame. Giordano is a senior scout that is celebrating his 70th year in the sport and is credited with drafting Cal Ripken Jr.
Included with the dinner will be an autograph session that includes the Pete Rose and Hall of Famers Tony Perez and Al Kaline. Current Rays Chris Archer, Kevin Kiermaier, Jake Odorizzi, Luke Maile, Willy Adames, and Kevin Cash are among those scheduled to appear.
Proceeds from the event support the Chris Archer’s Archway Foundation and the Ted Williams Foundation. The Archway Foundation’s goals are to reach out and help children in local communities. The foundation has teamed up with the YMCA, Boy and Girls Club, Big Brother Big Sisters, and the Police Athletic League. The Ted Williams Foundation’s endowment runs the Ted Williams Museum and Hitters Hall of Fame located at Tropicana Field. In addition to the museum they provide educational scholarships, youth baseball programs, and provide assistance to other charitable organizations.