Arkansas State will host its annual Grand Slam Banquet on Jan. 30, 2026, at the Red Wolf Convention Center, featuring former Major League Baseball manager and player Michael Hargrove and his wife, Sharon Hargrove, as keynote speakers.
Head coach Mike Silva said the program is “incredibly honored” to welcome the Hargroves to A-State, noting both their baseball experience and personal character.
Hargrove played 12 seasons in the majors and posted a .290 career batting average. The 1975 All-Star spent five seasons with the Texas Rangers, followed by a stint with the San Diego Padres and seven seasons in Cleveland. He totaled 1,614 hits, 80 home runs and 686 RBIs before moving into coaching.
He managed the Cleveland Indians for nine seasons, leading the team to five straight AL Central titles and World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997. He later managed the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners. Hargrove is a member of the Guardians’ Hall of Fame, the Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame, the NAIA Hall of Fame and the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Hall of Fame.
Presented by Kalmer Solutions, the banquet serves as A-State Baseball’s premier fundraising event, including a VIP reception with the Hargroves, a silent auction and opportunities for fans to meet Red Wolves coaches and players.
Individual tickets are $100. Tables of eight are available for $1,500, and tables of 10 are $2,500, with the option at the top level to request seating with a coach or player. Sponsorship packages range from $1,500 to $5,000.
Information is available by contacting Maggie Turner at 870-972-2906.
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