MOBILE, Ala. – The Arizona Diamondbacks will honor former University of South Alabama baseball standout and 2001 World Series hero Luis Gonzalez Saturday with the retirement of his No. 20 in a ceremony during Saturday’s contest against San Diego.

Gonzalez, who lettered at South Alabama from 1986-88 and twice earned All-American honors, will become the first Diamondback to have his number retired. He is the organization’s all-time leader in hits (1,337), doubles (310), runs scored (780), home runs (224), RBI (774), total bases (2,373), base on balls (650), on-base percentage (.391) and slugging percentage (.529).

“It’s a pretty awesome honor to be one of the first players of the organization to have your number retired,” Gonzalez said. “Not only that, but coach (Steve) Kittrell and Mrs. (Carol) Kittrell are going to be here, and my college roomates and teammates from South Alabama that I spent so much time with will be here also. I tried to bring people that meant a lot to me in my college career as well as my high school career, to carry me on to where I finished up, which is the Major Leagues."

Gonzalez was a five-time all-star with Arizona, and was awarded the 2001 Silver Slugger Award the same year he delivered his infamous walk-off single in game seven of the 2001 World Series off of New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera, which gave the Diamondbacks their first-ever world championship.

“They’re expecting a pretty good-sized crowd,” Gonzalez said of Saturday's game. “It’s my chance to say thank you to the fans, and express how much they meant to me. It’s a pretty unique honor to have, so I’m really excited about it.”

He led the National League in hits (206) in 1999, and finished second in batting average at .336, but produced,undoubtedly, the best year of his career in 2001 when he batted .325 with a career-best 57 home runs and 142 RBI, and finished third in the National League Most Valuable Player voting. That season, Gonzalez also set career highs in triples (7), runs scored (128), slugging percentage (.688) and on-base percentage (.429).

“We’re all extremely proud of Luis (Gonzalez) and what he’s been able to accomplish in his career,” USA baseball head coach Steve Kittrell said. “Certainly, the Diamondbacks are rewarding him for that. It’s quite an honor to be the first player to have your number retired by an organization, and if anybody is deserving, I think it is Luis Gonzalez.”

Gonzalez holds single-season records for RBI (80) and games played (70) at South Alabama, which he produced in 1988 and 1987, respectively. In 1988, he led the Jaguars in home runs with 16. Gonzalez had his No. 5 at South Alabama retired in 2001, and he was inducted into the USA Hall of Fame in 1999.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

-USA-