MLB Pro and ESPN Analyst Ben McDonald Announced as Keynote Speaker
The Livingston Parish Chamber of Commerce recently announced its Keynote Speaker for their 16th Annual Meeting & Awards luncheon. The event which also recognizes Livingston Parish’s Best in the Biz, is scheduled for Wednesday, February 12, 2025.
The Keynote will be presented by former MLB Pitcher and ESPN Analyst, Ben McDonald. Ben McDonald, a Denham Springs native and standout athlete, earned widespread recognition for his exceptional achievements in both college and professional baseball. A two-time All-American at LSU, McDonald was named the 1989 Golden Spikes Award winner and led the USA to a gold medal in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.
Drafted first overall in 1989 by the Baltimore Orioles, he went on to play nine seasons in Major League Baseball, winning 78 games. Today, McDonald is a respected color analyst for the Orioles and ESPN, with his jersey retired at LSU and inductions into both the College Baseball Hall of Fame and Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
In addition, winners for the Livingston Parish Businesses of the Year, as well as Women’s Leadership Awards, Livingston Future 5 and Community Impact will be announced. These awards seek to recognize outstanding businesses and business professionals which are excelling in their industry or career.
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Ben McDonald
Born: November 24, 1967
Height: 6’7”
Position: Pitcher
McDonald was born in Baton Rouge, LA and grew up and resides in Denham Springs, LA.
High school: he was chosen all-state as a football placekicker and punter, basketball center, as well as pitcher (all-state in 3 sports, 4 positions). McDonald was a 2-time high school all-American in basketball. He compiled a 33-7 career record in baseball. In 1986, McDonald was selected in the 20th round by the Atlanta Braves in free agent draft. He chose to attend LSU on a basketball/ baseball scholarship.
College: McDonald grew up 12 miles from LSU and originally attended LSU on a basketball scholarship where, in his freshman year (1987), he made it to the Elite Eight. After 2 seasons, he decided to play only baseball. As a junior, McDonald was named college player of the year by the Sporting News and Baseball America. He was ESPN’s Co-Player of the Year. McDonald was 14-4 with 4 saves and a 3.49 era. He fanned 202 batters in 152 innings while leading LSU to its 2nd CWS birth in 3 years. His 373 K’s in a career and 202 in a single season are still LSU records today. 44.2 scoreless innings pitched in the SEC is another record still held today. In his 3-year career at LSU, McDonald was 29-14 with 6 saves and fanned 373 batters in 308 innings. He was a 2-time all-American.
Olympics: McDonald was 6-2 during the pre-Olympic tour including 16 innings of shut-out ball at the World Amateur Baseball Championships at Grosseto, Italy. His 0 era record is still held today. During the 1988 Olympic games in Seoul, Korea, McDonald was 2-0 and threw complete game victories over Puerto Rico and Korea. He led the USA to the Gold medal.
Golden Spikes Award: at the end of his LSU career, McDonald was the recipient of amateur baseball’s greatest individual honor, the 1989 Golden Spikes Award given to the Nation’s Most Outstanding Amateur Player.
Draft pick: McDonald was the 1st player selected in baseball’s 1989 free agent draft. He received the highest rating ever for a pitcher by the Major League Baseball scouting bureau and signed with the Baltimore Orioles on August 19th. McDonald made his major league debut on September 6, 1989. He played 9 years in MLB, 7 with the Orioles, 2 with the Brewers and won 78 games and lost 70 with an era of 3.90.
Current: McDonald married his hometown sweetheart in 1994. He retired at the end of the 2000 season after 3 shoulder surgeries that ended his career. McDonald has 2 children, a daughter, Jorie and a son, Jase. They reside in their hometown of Denham Springs.
This will be McDonald’s 24th year in broadcasting. He is a color analyst for the Baltimore Orioles on MASN as well as college baseball for ESPN. This year will be his second year to call MLB playoff baseball on ESPN. In 2008, he was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2009, McDonald’s jersey was the first players’ jersey to be retired in LSU’s baseball history. In 2010, he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. In 2011, he was inducted into the DSHS Hall of Fame.
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Chamber Office
- February 04, 2025
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