From LBSU reports

Colorado Rockies shortstop and former Long Beach State All-American Troy Tulowitzki will be the keynote speaker at the team’s annual Leadoff Dinner on Thursday, February 12 at The Grand in Long Beach, Alumni Golf Tournament on February 13 at Rec Park and the annual alumni game starting at 11 a.m. and intra squad scrimmage at Blair Field on February 14.

Tickets for the Leadoff Dinner will be $100 and can be purchased by calling (562) 985-4662. Those interested in playing golf or attending the alumni game can call (562) 985-8215.

Long Beach State Baseball will also be celebrating 20 Years of Dirtbag Baseball in 2009, commemorating the first “Dirtbag” team in 1989 and the team’s four College World Series, 17 NCAA appearances and eight conference titles.

Tulowitzki exploded onto the Major League scene in 2007, coming just a few votes shy of the National League Rookie of the Year award, while leading the Rockies to their first-ever World Series appearance.

While at Long Beach State, Tulowitzki played in back-to-back Super Regionals, won the Big West title (2003) and hit .310 with 20 home runs and 117 RBIs over 155 games. He was a two-time first team All-Big West picks and was named a third team All-American by Collegiate Baseball in 2005.

He was the fastest Rockies minor leaguer ever to make the Majors, spending just 126 games in the minors after being the seventh overall pick in June, 2005. He hit .291 with 104 runs , 99 RBIs and 24 home runs in his first full season in 2007.

Tulowitzki was one of 13 former Dirtbags to play in the Majors in 2008. Long Beach State’s left side of the infield has had many successes in the Big Leagues, beginning with shortstop Chris Gomez and then-third baseman Jason Giambi in the early 1990s. Both are still in the Majors and have since been joined by Bobby Crosby (2003), Tulowitzki (2006) and Evan Longoria (2008).

This will be the 17th Leadoff Dinner kicking off the Long Beach State baseball season, which has featured past keynote speakers: Jered Weaver, Mike Gallo, Bobby Crosby, Jason Giambi, Dave Snow, CSULB President Robert Maxson, Tommy Lasorda, Sparky Anderson, Mike Scioscia, Tony Muser, Bill Russell, Bert Blyleven, and Terry Collins.