Local baseball fans will have an opportunity to meet former Major League Baseball player and current Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play announcer Buck Martinez on Saturday.
Martinez will arrive in the Fraser Valley to participate in a University of the Fraser Valley baseball practice, autograph session, and a gala fundraiser for the Cascades baseball team.
The gala will be hosted by Rob Fai, broadcaster for the Vancouver Canadians.
UFV baseball originally scheduled the team’s fundraising event with former MLB player Gregg Zaun, but he was removed from the event by UFV after allegations of inappropriate behaviour surfaced and Rogers terminated his contract in November.
Martinez will attend the UFV practice at The Yard Baseball Training Centre and Academy in Chilliwack at noon and an autograph session with Martinez will take place from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
The “Night with Buck” event at the Abbotsford Quality Hotel and Conference Centre then runs from 6 to 9 p.m. The event also includes a live and silent auction, and an update on the Cascades team for 2018.
Martinez played over 1,000 games in the big leagues and was the manager for the Blue Jays from 2001 to 2002, and for Team USA in the inaugural World Baseball Classic.