The City of Knoxville is recognizing three of the most important figures in Knoxville's baseball history.

What: Unveiling of plaques commemorating the contributions made by Neal Ridley, Todd Helton and Bill Meyer, to baseball in Knoxville.
When: 11 a.m., Monday, January 28th
Where: Ridley/Helton Field located at the end of Jessamine Street. The field is located on the site of the old Bill Meyer Stadium, longtime home of professional baseball in Knoxville. Directions: on I-40, take the Hall of Fame exit. Head south on Hall of Fame Dr.; turn left onto Fifth Ave.; turn left onto Jessamine St.; park is at end of road.
Who: Todd Helton, the Colorado Rockies first baseman and former University of Tennessee baseball star, Mayor Bill Haslam, UT Broadcaster Bob Kesling, will take part in the event.

Todd Helton - a former Central High School athlete, UT quarterback and the best baseball player to come out of Knoxville - made a significant financial contribution to renovating the current field, which is used by youth and recreational league players, after Bill Meyer Stadium was demolished in 2001.

Neal Ridley - a local businessman who made considerable investments of time and money to keep minor league baseball alive in Knoxville. He owned the city's professional team, off and on, from 1956 until 1980.

Bill Meyer - a Knoxville native who played major league baseball and later managed the Pittsburgh Pirates. The baseball home of what was then the Knoxville Smokies was named after him in 1955.