Being good sports

Baseball star Torii Hunter steals spotlight at Homeruns and Heroes

In the 2014 campaign, baseball all-star and Pine Bluff native Torii Hunter publicly endorsed Asa Hutchinson, well-traveled news in Republican and black Arkansan circles. On Jan. 29, inside his new house, the governor publicly thanked the outfielder at Homeruns and Heroes, the second annual fundraiser for the Torii Hunter Baseball, Softball & Little League Complex at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.

“You’re a friend to Arkansas, and I’m proud of you,” said the governor. “I just hope you never run for office,” he added, no doubt intending to mean against him.

Hunter, for his part, joked that sometime in the 1990s, about the time that he faced the prospect of bringing serious bank to bear on his major league talents, the ballplayer moved his young family to Texas, where there’s no state income tax. He told the governor from the stage that if Hutchinson would just repeal Arkansas’ income taxes, he would love to come home. Hutchinson then took the stage (and the microphone).

“The Legislature is in session, and we might come up with a Torii Hunter income tax exemption to get you back to Arkansas.”

“What?! You know what? I will be right back,” Hunter said, then called to his wife from the stage. “Quick, pack your bags.”

All of it was in jest, although UAPB baseball coach Carlos James predicted, “That’s gonna be in the paper tomorrow, you know that, right?”

Before this, Bill Jones, the project’s lodestar, who with his mother, Sissy, operates Sissy’s Log Cabin jewelry stores, said he sat down with Hunter and his wife, Katrina, and the couple agreed to put up the remaining money on the capital construction for the complex — about $350,000.

(Bill Jones said fundraising has turned out about $250,000, and that what remains — a press box feature for the complex that includes VIP boxes, concession nooks and bleacher eaves — will cost about $600,000.)

“They want to see it finished, and so do we,” Jones said.

This summer, the city hosts a Babe Ruth World Series. Jones said it might be finished by then.

For hosting the fundraiser, Hunter presented the governor and first lady Susan Hutchinson diamond-studded cuff links and a pin, respectively.

Timontai Bolden gets a photo with Cliff Lee.

Carolyn Blakely, Michel Gutman and Sissy Jones — all of Pine Bluff — with R.J. McGregor of Little Rock

Veronica and Chancellor Laurence Alexander of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff greet James and Debbie Ray of Little Rock.

Carlos James, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff baseball coach, and Torii Hunter during a question-and-answer session

Deborah James, Sam Hall and Mary Trice — all of Pine Bluff — with Katrina Hunter of Prosper, Texas

Kristen Lee, Sharri Jones, Sylvester Smith and Cindy Murphy

Bill Jones with Randy Milligan

Alex Guynn of Pine Bluff and Efrem Neely of Little Rock