GARY, Ind. — Former Chicago White Sox hurler and Major League Baseball legend Tommy John will be signing autographs and interacting with fans at the first-ever RailCats Fan Fest, Saturday, February 21 at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville.

John, who won 288 games in a 26-year career, will be at the Fan Fest during the afternoon session as a special guest.  The Terre Haute, Indiana native pitched for the White Sox from 1965-71 and still has many close ties to the Chicago area.

“We are very excited to include Tommy John in this celebration of RailCats baseball,” RailCats Owner/CEO Pat Salvi said.  “Tommy has a lot of family in the area and is a RailCats fan.  He was a terrific ballplayer, and is a great person and a welcome addition to our Fan Fest.”

Perhaps most well-known for the elbow ligament replacement surgery that now bears his name, John enjoyed a prolific career both before and after his injury and subsequent surgery in 1974.  A four-time All-Star (1968, 1978-80), John won at least 20 games three times (1977, 1979-80) and pitched in three World Series (1977-78, Los Angeles Dodgers; 1981, New York Yankees).  When he retired in 1989, John ranked 23rd on baseball’s all-time wins list, sixth in starts (700) and 17th in innings pitched (4710.1).  He is the winningest pitcher in baseball history not to be elected to the Hall of Fame.

John has been back in baseball since December 2006 as the manager of the independent Bridgeport Bluefish in the Atlantic League. The Bluefish have won 127 games the last two seasons under John’s leadership.

John will join current and former RailCats stars at the February 21 Fan Fest, the first of its kind in team history.  Tickets are on sale now for $15 by visiting www.railcatsbaseball.com or calling 219.882.2255.  Tickets will go up to $20/person at the door.  Fans interested in staying at the Radisson Hotel can spend Friday or Saturday night at a discount rate of $109 by calling the Radisson at 800.333.3333 before Friday, February 13.

For more information on the 2009 RailCats Fan Fest and for a complete listing of ticket prices, activities and guests, visit www.railcatsbaseball.com/fanzone/fanfest.