Bellhops, a Chattanooga-based tech-enabled moving company, has added former Atlanta Brave great, Ryan Klesko, to the inaugural Homers for Heroes roster. Though he won’t be competing in the home run derby, Mr. Klesko will be taking batting practice and attendees will be able meet him and get his autograph from 2-5 p.m. at AT&T Field.
Homers for Heroes is slated to be an annual charity home run derby—this year, featuring teams from 16 local businesses—which supports a new local hero every year. The 2016 hero is Nathan Sexton, a local man fighting Stage 4 glioblastoma (brain cancer).
“We’re beyond excited that Ryan Klesko will be helping us launch this new family-friendly fundraising initiative,” said Event Organizer and Bellhops President Cameron Doody, “He’s a champion at the highest level, and we hope he’ll help us get folks in the stands to raise funds for another champ, our friend Nate Sexton.”
Homers for Heroes is this Saturday from noon-5 p.m. at AT&T Field. To learn more about the event and buy tickets, visit Homers4Heroes.com. Tickets can also be purchased at Lookout.com. Tickets are $5 each if ordered in advance, or $10 at the event.
About Ryan Klesko -- Ryan Klesko played 16 years in the Major Leagues, the first 8 of those with the Atlanta Braves. In 1994 he hit 17 home runs in just 92 games to finish third in the National League Rookie of the Year voting. From 1995 through 1999 he averaged 24 home runs per year for the Braves including a career best 34 home runs in 1996 and a career best batting average of .310 in 1995. That year, Ryan helped lead the Braves to their lone World Series victory, batting .313 with three home runs against the Cleveland Indians. Those home runs made him the first player in World Series history to homer in three consecutive games. During his career with the Braves, Ryan hit 10 post season home runs.
Ryan was chosen as a National League All Star in 2001, as a member of the San Diego Padres, batting .286 with 30 home runs and 113 RBI. The following year, also for the Padres, he batted .300 with 29 home runs and 95 RBI.
For his career, Ryan batted .279 with 278 home runs and 987 RBI. He had a career on base percentage of .370 and a slugging percentage of .500. His .525 slugging percentage as a member of the Atlanta Braves places him third in team history, behind only Hank Aaron and Chipper Jones (and ahead of Hall of Famer Eddie Matthews).