Defending National Champion Baseball Team to Hold First Pitch Banquet

Oct. 27, 1999

Coral Gables, FL – ESPN host Roy Firestone will be the keynote speaker at the 2000 University of Miami “First Pitch” Banquet to be held Thursday, January 20 at the Biscayne Bay Marriott, 1633 Bayshore Drive in downtown Miami.

Firestone will be joined by Head Coach Jim Morris and the defending National Champion Hurricane baseball team in celebrating the opening of UM’s 55th season of collegiate action.

Firestone, a graduate of the University of Miami in 1974, is a six-time Emmy and seven-time CableACE winner as the host of ESPN’s Up Close Prime Time (1996-present) and Up Close daily interview show (1991-95). Firestone, who has been called the “best interviewer in the business” by Sports Illustrated, previously served as ESPN’s halftime commentator during the network’s 1988 NFL games and served as play-by-play commentator for NFL games in 1987.

While attending Miami, Firestone did two seasons of play-by-play and analysis of Hurricanes football for the WVUM student radio station. He also served as a sports reporter for local television stations WTVJ (1973-75) and WPLG (1975-77).

The Hurricanes, who defeated Florida State 6-5 for the 1999 National Championship, will be seeking their seventh straight trip to the College World Series in 2000. The ‘Canes open their season against Lynn on January 26 at Mark Light Stadium on the UM campus. The annual alumni game will be held on Friday, January 21.

For further information and reservations for the “First Pitch” banquet, please call the Hurricane Club at 305-284-6699.