Virginia State University alumnus and former Major League Baseball player Alonzo “Al” Bumbry will serve as marshal and guest of honor for this year’s Homecoming Parade. 

Bumbry, a 1969 VSU graduate, played 14 seasons in the majors, primarily with the Baltimore Orioles. He won the 1973 American League Rookie of the Year Award, was selected to the 1980 All-Star Team and helped the Orioles capture the 1983 World Series. His 252 career stolen bases rank fourth in Orioles history. 

Alonzo "Al" Bumbry

 

A Fredericksburg native, Bumbry initially attended VSU on a basketball scholarship but joined the baseball team in his final year after the program was reinstated. He served as team captain and was named the team’s Most Outstanding Player. 

A member of the university’s ROTC program, Bumbry completed two years of military service after graduation, including a year in Vietnam, and was awarded the Bronze Star. 

He was inducted into the Orioles Hall of Fame in 1987 and is also a member of the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame. After his playing career, Bumbry coached for the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians. 

VSU will hold its Homecoming Parade on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 8:30 a.m. This year features a new route to improve traffic flow for attendees arriving for the football game. Details are available at vsu.edu.