Story Links Purchase Online Ticket Order Form Two-time World Series Champion and five-time Major League Baseball All-Star George Foster will be the featured speaker at the 2025 Youngstown State Baseball First Pitch Breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield, Ohio. “We are extremely excited to announce George Foster as our guest speaker […]
Two-time World Series Champion and five-time Major League Baseball All-Star George Foster will be the featured speaker at the 2025 Youngstown State Baseball First Pitch Breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 25, at Waypoint 4180 in Canfield, Ohio.
“We are extremely excited to announce George Foster as our guest speaker for the annual YSU Baseball First Pitch Breakfast,” said YSU head coach Trevor Charpie. “George was an incredible player, and it will be an incredible opportunity to hear his insight about the game and stories from his playing days. This is a great way for the community to meet our coaches and players and send them off into the 2025 season on a high note. We look forward to seeing all our great fans and supporters, and we thank you for your support of YSU Baseball.”
The event will also provide fans the opportunity to meet the 2025 Penguins baseball squad, enjoy a breakfast buffet and bid in live and silent auctions on an impressive lineup of Major League Baseball memorabilia, unique experiences and YSU baseball gear. A breakfast ticket will also provide entrance into a door prize drawing, which will be for two different door prizes. The first prize will be an autographed helmet signed by the 2025 YSU baseball team. The second prize will be four 2025 season tickets for Youngstown State baseball home games.
General admission tickets are $50 apiece. Premium Reserved tables are also available for $600 and include eight breakfast/raffle tickets and premium seating at the First Pitch Breakfast. Fans also have the opportunity to join special guest George Foster and the YSU baseball staff for an exclusive dinner on Friday, Jan. 24, at 5:30 p.m. at Michael Alberini’s in Boardman for an additional $200 per guest. Please note there are limited tickets available for Friday’s dinner.
For the breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 25, doors and buffet will open at 8 a.m. with the program commencing at 9 a.m.
Foster played in the MLB as an outfielder from 1969 through 1986 for four teams, most notably with the Cincinnati Reds. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 as an integral member of the famed “Big Red Machine”. A five-time All-Star, Foster was one of the most productive right-handed hitters of his era, leading the National League in home runs in 1977 and 1978, and in RBIs in 1976, 1977, and 1978. He won the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award in 1977 and a Silver Slugger Award in 1981. In 2003, Foster was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame.
Foster turned in one of the all-time great seasons in 1977 on his way to winning the National League’s Most Valuable Player Award. He became the first player since Willie Mays in 1965 to hit 50 home runs in a season. The 50-home run mark would not be reached again until Cecil Fielder hit 51 home runs in 1990. Foster was just the 10th player in major league history to reach the mark, and the first Cincinnati Reds player. Foster’s 149 RBIs also led the MLB as he finished fourth in the National League in batting, missing the Triple Crown by .018 behind Dave Parker. He also led the National League in slugging percentage (.631), runs scored (124) and total bases (388).
Foster also played for the San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and the Chicago White Sox during his accomplished MLB career. In 1,977 games over 18 seasons, he compiled a .274 batting average with 986 runs scored, 307 doubles, 47 triples, 348 home runs, 1,239 RBIs, 666 walks, a .338 on-base percentage and a .480 slugging percentage. He posted a .984 fielding percentage at all three outfield positions. Foster spends time instructing youth in baseball techniques, and he also works as a motivational speaker. He operates a non-profit organization that supports children of military families and who live in inner city neighborhoods. The Tuscaloosa, Ala., native was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
Tickets can be purchased online or by returning the Ticket Order Form provided above. Fans can also contact Youngstown State Assistant Coach Will Maddox at wpmaddox@ysu.edu
Waypoint 4180 is located at 4180 Westford Place in Canfield.
