Justin Verlander jersey, plaque to be donated to Virginia Historical Society

The Virginia Historical Society (VHS) will host a Virginia baseball memorabilia collection drive on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014 from noon to 1:00 p.m. Special guests Kathy and Richard Verlander, parents of All-Star pitcher Justin Verlander, will jump start the drive with a notable contribution to the VHS collection: a game-worn 2009 All-Star Jersey signed by Justin Verlander and a 2011 no-hitter commemorative plaque, framed and numbered by Highland Mint.

The public is invited to bring Virginia baseball memorabilia and artifacts to the VHS. During the event, Lee Shepard, vice president for collections and Sallie and William B. Thalhimer III senior archivist, will review items with potential donors to determine their appropriateness for the VHS collection.

The collection drive will begin at noon prior to a free screening of the film Mickey. The film is being shown as part of the VCU Southern Film Festival, of which the VHS is a sponsor for the second year in a row. Mickey will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. Written by best-selling author John Grisham and filmed on location in Virginia, this touching family film, starring Harry Connick, Jr., is about parenting, ethics, and Little League Baseball. A post-film discussion will follow with the Verlanders and Dawn Blacksten, location manager for Mickey.

Pre-film festivities begin at noon on February 8th, and include baseball activities with Nutzy, the Richmond Flying Squirrels mascot, and a book signing by Kathy and Richard Verlander, 2008 Little League Parents of the Year and authors of Rocks Across the Pond. The event and screening at the VHS are free and open to the public. Seating is first come, first served.