Virtual Night of Champions to be presented Thursday

LUBBOCK, Texas – Past classes of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame have been inducted in ceremonies that have been presented live and in person, and viewed online. Now, the first class to be presented through virtual induction is set for this week.

The newest class of the legends of college baseball will be honored – virtually – on Thursday (Aug. 27) during the annual College Baseball Night of Champions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s event will be presented online and can be viewed at www.collegebaseballhall.org, the National College Baseball Hall of Fame’s website, starting at 5 p.m. EDT.

“We are proud to bring this event to fruition and to recognize the accomplishments of these men," said Mike Gustafson, president and CEO of the National College Baseball Hall of Fame. “The decision to conduct the event virtually this year was an easy one given the concerns involved with large gatherings. While we would have loved to host an in-person event like previous years, we know this will still be an amazing night for these men, their families and college baseball fans across the country.”

The 2020 class consists of 12 inductees, including two coaches in Miami and Georgia Tech skipper Jim Morris and Cal Poly Pomona and Pepperdine’s John Scolinos. Nine former players also will be inducted, including Georgia Tech’s Jason Varitek, Minnesota’s Paul Molitor, Seton Hall’s Rick Cerone, Texas’ Jim Gideon, Southern University’s Pete Barnes, Arizona State’s Gary Gentry, Tuskegee’s Roy Lee Jackson, Panola and Texas Tech’s Doug Ault and Montclair State’s John Deutsch.

“As the event came together this year, we were reminded of why we honor these greats of college baseball,” Gustafson said. “It was great to hear the excitement in their voices and to see the happiness their induction has brought to their families, friends, coaches and college programs.”

Also honored during the virtual Night of Champions will be Randy Christal, who will receive the National Collegiate Umpire Award, and Judge Thelton Henderson, who will receive the George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award.

About the College Baseball Foundation/Hall of Fame

The College Baseball Foundation and National College Baseball Hall of Fame, based in Lubbock, Texas, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to recognizing and preserving the history of college baseball. In addition to the annual induction of the Hall of Fame class, the organization presents numerous awards to current college baseball players, coaches and umpires during its annual Night of Champions event. The organization was founded in 2004 and the first Hall of Fame class was inducted in 2006.

For more information visit www.collegebaseballhall.org.