TEMPE, Ariz. -- Former Arizona State University center fielder Mike Kelly's No. 24 jersey will be honored on March 8 prior to the baseball team's 6:30 pm game against Tennessee at Packard Stadium.
Kelly will become the 17th Sun Devil to join the Wall of Fame on Packard Stadium's outfield fence that already includes Sun Devil Baseball greats Sal Bando, Floyd Bannister, Barry Bonds, Alvin Davis, Bob Horner and Reggie Jackson, among others. As part of the recognition, Kelly will be introduced on the field 15 minutes before the game and will also throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
"Mike is one of three Devils in program history to win the Golden Spikes Award, but is the only one not on our Wall of Fame," ASU coach Tim Esmay says. "This day is long overdue as he was not only one of the best-of-the-best to ever put on the Maroon and Gold, but he was also a first-class citizen off the field. The way he conducted himself is something we teach our current team every day, to live the Sun Devil Way, so it will really be an honor for me to watch his number take its rightful place in the outfield."
All 16 players currently represented on the outfield wall at Packard, as well as Kelly, will also be recognized in some capacity on the outfield wall at Phoenix Muni.
Wall of Fame honorees are determined by a combination of both collegiate and professional accomplishment, as well as the player's character and contributions as a teammate, and he must be at least 10 years removed from his ASU playing career.
Paul LoDuca, whose No. 16 was honored by ASU in 2005, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch at the series opener against Tennessee on March 7 at 6:30 pm MT.
Kelly and LoDuca headline the series-long celebration of 1990-99, which is the second of seven themed weekends this season at Packard Stadium as we Tip Our Cap to the historic ballpark.
