Jun 21, 2012
[June 19, 2012] OMAHA, Neb. – Major League Baseball (MLB) legend and 1985 Heisman Trophy Winner Bo Jackson will join some of college baseball’s top sluggers at the third annual TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby. Jackson will serve as the honorary hitting coach for Derby participants. The event will be held Tuesday, July 3, 2012, at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha (Neb.), and CBS will air a national telecast Saturday, July 7, at 2 p.m. EDT.
Jackson was a standout in both college baseball and football while attending Auburn University in the1980s. Among his many accomplishments, he was named to both the AP and UPI All SEC team for football in 1982, 1983 and 1985; and he was named MVP of the 1984 Sugar Bowl, the 1984 Liberty Bowl
and the 1986 Cotton Bowl. In 1985 Jackson was named the winner of both the Heisman Trophy and the Walter Camp Outstanding Player award.
In 1986 Jackson was the #1 pick in the National Football League (NFL) Draft and a 4th Round selection in the MLB Draft. Over the course of his professional career covering the two sports he played football for the Los Angeles Raiders and baseball for the Kansas City Royals, the Chicago White Sox and the
California Angels. He was the 1989 MLB All Star Game MVP and a 1990 NFL Pro-Bowl Selection – the first player in American history to be named an All Star in two professional sports.
Since retiring from professional sports in 1995, Jackson has been active in a number of business pursuits and in the community. He currently devotes his time and efforts to the following charitable organizations: Bo Jackson’s Give Me a Chance Foundation; St. Jude Children’s Research Hospitals; Silver and Black Foundation; Chicago Off the Street Club; Children’s Miracle Network; Alabama Sheriff’s Boys & Girls Ranch, Make a Wish Foundation; and the U.S. Department of Education.
“I am honored to be selected as a legend for the 2012 TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby,” said Bo Jackson. “College athletics have been a big part of my life. I will always cherish my time playing baseball and football at Auburn University. I look forward to making the trip to Omaha to watch these young sluggers compete for the College Home Run Derby crown.”
Tickets on Sale Now
Tickets for the 2012 TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby are $8 for children, $12 for adults, or $35 for a ‘Family Four-Pack.’ Tickets may be purchased in-person from the CenturyLink Center arena box offices, by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, or online at www.collegehomerunderby.com. Handling fees will apply to those tickets purchased over the phone or online, but not to those purchased in-person.
More information, including participating players, will be released in the coming weeks. Follow the TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby on Facebook and Twitter for the latest event updates and information.
For media credentials, please contact Nick Owen at 312-644-5231 or nowen@intersportnet.com.