WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Baseball's season always begins in the month of February and the program's annual preseason celebration is also slated for the first day of February on a Saturday evening in the Ross-Ade Stadium Pavilion.
Saturday, Feb. 1 is the date of the event this year. Doors open at 6 p.m., with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. The program and honorees portion of the event follows dinner. Purdue Baseball's Alumnus of the Year and Community Service Award recipients are annually announced at the First Pitch Dinner. Player introductions and remarks from head coach Greg Goff are also featured.
The event program portion of the First Pitch Dinner will be streamed on the @PurdueSports YouTube, Facebook and X accounts. It will be available for both live and on-demand views.
The cost to attend $75 per person or $600 per table. There is also an option of sponsoring a student-athlete's meal. The table option includes seven tickets and a student-athlete meal. The cost is also $75 to sponsor a student-athlete. Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased HERE.
Dec. 18 Update: this year's featured speaker is alumnus and all-time saves record holder Nick Wittgren (2011-12). The two-time All-Big Ten honoree helped the Boilermakers post an 82-34 record, tying the team record for wins in 2011 (37) and resetting the benchmark in 2012 (45). He was one of seven Boilermakers drafted from the 2012 Big Ten Championship team. Wittgren made his big league debut for Miami in 2016, took the mound for Cleveland in the 2020 MLB Postseason, and has also pitched for St. Louis and Kansas City during his career.
The program's Alumnus of the Year award is bestowed upon a degree-holding Boilermaker that has demonstrated outstanding loyalty towards and continued interest in supporting Purdue Athletics and Purdue baseball. The Community Service Award honors qualities such as sustained involvement, compassion and selflessness.
The First Pitch Dinner has grown in size since being introduced prior to the 2019 season. In 2023, it moved from Holloway Gymnasium to the Shively Club suite level of the Ross-Ade Stadium Pavilion. Past featured guest speakers have included big leaguers Kevin Plawecki, Josh Lindblom, Clayton Richard and Ryan Thompson as well as former ABCA President/Kentucky head coach Keith Madison.
Wittgren pitched in 55 games across his two seasons at Purdue, registering 22 saves and more strikeouts (94) than hits allowed (82) in 92 innings. He closed out the 2012 Big Ten Tournament championship game win and made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament as Purdue served as a Regional host. The Lafayette native is the only Boilermaker to record multiple seasons with a double-figure save total. His 1.76 ERA in 2012 still ranks top 10 in team history (minimum 30 innings).
Wittgren was also in attendance at the 2019 First Pitch Dinner when Plawecki served as the featured speaker. They were teammates again with Cleveland in 2019.
The Boilermakers have also earmarked the weekend of Feb. 8-9 for their preseason fan fest inside the Mollenkopf Athletic Center. The popular free event features skill stations and other indoor activities for children as well as autograph opportunities.
Purdue Baseball's 7th Annual First Pitch Dinner
• Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m.
• Shively Club in the Ross-Ade Stadium Pavilion
• Free Parking in R Lot North of Ross-Ade
• Cost: $75 Per Guest
• Watch for Free on PurdueSports YouTube, Facebook & X accounts
Doors at 6 p.m., Dinner Begins at 6:30 p.m.
• Interact with & Dine Alongside Players & Coaches
• Buffet-Style Meal
• Cash Bar
• Alumnus of the Year & Community Service Awards Announced
• Featured Speaker: Nick Wittgren
• Coach Greg Goff Addresses the Crowd & Previews the Season
• Players & Staff Introductions
More Ticket Options
• Sponsor a Student-Athlete's Meal: $75
• Purchase a Full Table: $600 – includes 7 meals & 1 sponsored student-athlete meal
Saturday, Feb. 1 is the date of the event this year. Doors open at 6 p.m., with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. The program and honorees portion of the event follows dinner. Purdue Baseball's Alumnus of the Year and Community Service Award recipients are annually announced at the First Pitch Dinner. Player introductions and remarks from head coach Greg Goff are also featured.
The event program portion of the First Pitch Dinner will be streamed on the @PurdueSports YouTube, Facebook and X accounts. It will be available for both live and on-demand views.
The cost to attend $75 per person or $600 per table. There is also an option of sponsoring a student-athlete's meal. The table option includes seven tickets and a student-athlete meal. The cost is also $75 to sponsor a student-athlete. Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased HERE.
Dec. 18 Update: this year's featured speaker is alumnus and all-time saves record holder Nick Wittgren (2011-12). The two-time All-Big Ten honoree helped the Boilermakers post an 82-34 record, tying the team record for wins in 2011 (37) and resetting the benchmark in 2012 (45). He was one of seven Boilermakers drafted from the 2012 Big Ten Championship team. Wittgren made his big league debut for Miami in 2016, took the mound for Cleveland in the 2020 MLB Postseason, and has also pitched for St. Louis and Kansas City during his career.
The program's Alumnus of the Year award is bestowed upon a degree-holding Boilermaker that has demonstrated outstanding loyalty towards and continued interest in supporting Purdue Athletics and Purdue baseball. The Community Service Award honors qualities such as sustained involvement, compassion and selflessness.
The First Pitch Dinner has grown in size since being introduced prior to the 2019 season. In 2023, it moved from Holloway Gymnasium to the Shively Club suite level of the Ross-Ade Stadium Pavilion. Past featured guest speakers have included big leaguers Kevin Plawecki, Josh Lindblom, Clayton Richard and Ryan Thompson as well as former ABCA President/Kentucky head coach Keith Madison.
Wittgren pitched in 55 games across his two seasons at Purdue, registering 22 saves and more strikeouts (94) than hits allowed (82) in 92 innings. He closed out the 2012 Big Ten Tournament championship game win and made two appearances in the NCAA Tournament as Purdue served as a Regional host. The Lafayette native is the only Boilermaker to record multiple seasons with a double-figure save total. His 1.76 ERA in 2012 still ranks top 10 in team history (minimum 30 innings).
Wittgren was also in attendance at the 2019 First Pitch Dinner when Plawecki served as the featured speaker. They were teammates again with Cleveland in 2019.
The Boilermakers have also earmarked the weekend of Feb. 8-9 for their preseason fan fest inside the Mollenkopf Athletic Center. The popular free event features skill stations and other indoor activities for children as well as autograph opportunities.
Purdue Baseball's 7th Annual First Pitch Dinner
• Saturday, Feb. 1 at 6 p.m.
• Shively Club in the Ross-Ade Stadium Pavilion
• Free Parking in R Lot North of Ross-Ade
• Cost: $75 Per Guest
• Watch for Free on PurdueSports YouTube, Facebook & X accounts
Doors at 6 p.m., Dinner Begins at 6:30 p.m.
• Interact with & Dine Alongside Players & Coaches
• Buffet-Style Meal
• Cash Bar
• Alumnus of the Year & Community Service Awards Announced
• Featured Speaker: Nick Wittgren
• Coach Greg Goff Addresses the Crowd & Previews the Season
• Players & Staff Introductions
More Ticket Options
• Sponsor a Student-Athlete's Meal: $75
• Purchase a Full Table: $600 – includes 7 meals & 1 sponsored student-athlete meal