KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Former Kutztown University pitcher and two-time MLB World Series Champion Ryan Vogelsong returns to Kutztown University on Saturday, Oct. 24. He will be honored by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and the Kutztown University President's Office at a private ceremony at 11 a.m., and will have his #14 jersey retired publically during halftime of KU's 1:05 p.m. homecoming football game at Andre Reed Stadium.
 
There will be media opportunities to cover the private ceremony at 11 a.m. Journalists, photographers or videographers intending to cover any or all events must register by emailing Bryan Salvadore, KU sports information director, at salvadore@kutztown.edu.
 
Vogelsong will be honored by the PSAC and the Kutztown University President's Office at the 11 a.m. private ceremony. The PSAC Award of Merit, awarded to individuals with an affiliation with a league school, either as an alumnus, coach or administrator, is given for outstanding and extraordinary accomplishments or services that bring exceptional recognition and honor to the conference. This is the eighth Award of Merit given out by the PSAC.
 
The KU President's Medal was created in 2014 to celebrate and honor select individuals who have devoted their time, talent and treasure to allow Kutztown University to fulfill its mission and reach its goals.  This is the third medal awarded by the President's Office. Past recipients include William F. Ribble '73 and Andre Reed '05.
 
At halftime of KU's homecoming football game at 1:05 p.m., Vogelsong's #14 Golden Bear uniform will be officially retired during an on-field ceremony.
 
Vogelsong, a 2005 inductee to the KU Athletics Hall of Fame, was a stellar pitcher and third baseman for the Kutztown University baseball team from 1996-98. He wore #14 in each of his three seasons at KU and will be the first KU baseball player to have his number retired. His number, along with few others, has been recognized at North Campus Field, but Vogelsong's #14 will be the first to be taken out of circulation at KU.
 
He was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the fifth round of the 1998 Major League Baseball draft, KU's highest-ever draft choice.  He made his Major League debut on Sept. 2, 2000, against the Chicago Cubs. Vogelsong was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2001, and played four seasons with the Pirates. 
 
Vogelsong has played 11 seasons in the MLB, the last five coming with the San Francisco Giants. In his first season since returning to the Giants in 2011, he was named to the MLB All-Star Team (2011), the first KU player to earn the honor. He played an integral role in two World Series Championships with the Giants in 2012, and 2014. In four starts in the 2012 postseason, Vogelsong held an outstanding 1.09 ERA by allowing just three runs in 24.2 innings. He held a 3-0 record on the hill and was arguably the MVP of the postseason for the Giants.
 
In the majors, Vogelsong has pitched in 265 career games, making 165 starts. He holds a 58-68 record with a 4.45 ERA, with his best season coming in his All-Star, 2011 campaign with a 13-7 record and 2.71 ERA. He has notched 839 career strikeouts in 1107.02 career innings.
 
At Kutztown, Vogelsong finished his career with nine school records, including earned-run average in a season (1.41 in 1998) and career (2.87); wins in a season (nine in 1997 and 1998) and career (24); strikeouts in a season (109 in 1998) and career (242); innings pitched in a season (89.2 in 1998) and career (210.1) and complete games in a season (9 in 1998). 
 
Vogelsong emerged onto the scene as one of the top pitchers in Division II as a sophomore in 1997. That year, he tied KU's single-season record for wins with nine, while helping the team to the PSAC Eastern Division title.  Vogelsong earned first-team All-PSAC East honors.  The following year, Vogelsong dominated PSAC hitters en route to a KU record and NCAA Division II leading 1.41 earned run average.  He won nine games and struck out a school record 109 batters.  That year, Vogelsong was a second-team All-American, North Atlantic Region Pitcher of the Year, PSAC East Player of the Year, first-team All-Region and all-PSAC East and the KU Male Athlete of the Year.  In addition, Vogelsong was a career .304 hitter as a third baseman, finishing in KU's top five all time with 73 runs batted in.
 
A native of Octorara, PA, he graduated from Octorara High School in 1995.  In 2000, Vogelsong was named one of KU's top male athletes of the 1990s and one of KU's Top 30 Athletes of the 20th Century.