Bulls to Hold First IL Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Friday

The International League will hold the first International League Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on Friday, April 18th as the Bulls induct Hobart “Rabbit” Whitman. International League President Randy Mobley will be in attendance for the induction ceremony and will present Whitman’s great grandson, Mr. Hal Messick, with the newly commissioned trophy, “The Curtain Call”.

“We are really excited to be the first city to host an IL Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in over 40 years,” Durham Bulls General Manager Mike Birling said, “This will be a great experience for the fans to be a part of league history.”

Hobart “Rabbit” Whitman was a career Minor Leaguer who spent 11 of his 14 seasons in the IL. He played in seven different IL cities. Despite his impressive averages (peaking at .356 in 1924), he never led the League in hitting. The 5’9″, 160-pound outfielder from Tobaccoville, NC may have been the most difficult man to strikeout in League history. Two separate years he struck out only three times – 1925 (514 at-bats) and 1928 (575 at-bats), and two times he fanned only five times in a season – 1927 (561 at-bats) and 1932 (628 at-bats).

Ticket’s for Friday’s game between the Bulls and visiting Columbus Clippers are available at www.durhambulls.com or by phone at (919) 956-BULL.

Thanks to DBBC’s Matt DeMargel for this capcom story & graphic.