First Pitch Dinner flyer
Campbell University Baseball is pleased to announce its 4th Annual First Pitch Dinner to be held on February 4, 2012 at 7 p.m. in the McCall Gym at the John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center. The event is highlighted by special guest, and former Major League Baseball player Gordon Windhorn, and the keynote speaker for the evening, college baseball Hall of Fame coach, Keith Madison. In addition, the night will include a dinner and an introduction of the 2012 Fighting Camel baseball team and staff.
Campbell Baseball is pleased to have two outstanding speakers for this special evening, both sharing the love of faith and baseball. Special guest Gordon (Gordie) Windhorn broke into the big leagues after an extensive minor league career in 1959 as an outfielder for the New York Yankees. He went on to play three seasons with the Yankees, LA Dodgers, Kansas City Athletics, and LA Angels. After his MLB career, Mr. Windhorn continued his career with six seasons in Japan playing for the Hankyu Braves until 1969. During his time with the Yankees, he became lifelong friends with Yankee legend Bobby Richardson, later taking the stage with him in Japan at a Billy Graham Crusade. Gordie is well loved and respected in the Danville, Va. area and is extremely active in his church and community alike.
The keynote speaker for the evening has had a profound influence on many players and coaches in both college and professional baseball, having mentored countless pupils in both baseball and faith, including Campbell head baseball coach Greg Goff. Keith Madison was the head baseball coach at the University of Kentucky for 25 years, taking over the program in 1979 (at the age of 26) and retiring after the 2003 season. Coach Goff served as his pitching coach for his last four years at Kentucky.
In his 25-year head coaching career, Keith Madison posted 737 wins, over 250 wins in the Southeastern Conference. He took the program to the NCAA regional in 1988 for the first time in 38 years, and had a return trip in 1993. In his time at UK, Coach Madison saw over 80 of his players either get drafted or sign professional contracts, had over 40 All-SEC selections as well as nine All-America honorees. More impressive is the 90 players he mentored to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. In 1995, Madison was selected as a Vice-President for the American Baseball Coaches Association, and in 2000 he was named President of the ABCA, where he continues to serve to this day. In 1999 he served as the pitching coach for the USA Baseball National Team.
Coach Madison is a three-time Hall of Fame honoree. He has been named to the Kentucky High School Baseball Hall of Fame, the University of Kentucky Athletics Hall of Fame and the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame. After retiring from the University of Kentucky, Madison has been heavily involved in SCORE International, providing the gospel message on short-term mission trips to the Dominican Republic. Madison has made numerous trips to the Dominican and since 2004 has visited over 15 states, bringing the combination of baseball and faith to thousands of men, women and children.
The 4th Annual First Pitch Dinner is open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend this special evening of baseball, faith, and fellowship. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by contacting Justin Haire at hairej@campbell.edu or by calling 910-893-1338.
