In a post on the shop’s Instagram page, Keiper’s Cards in downtown Centralia announced W.F. West High School graduate and Washington State University pitcher Dakota Hawkins will be at the shop on July 8 to sign autographs, take pictures and talk with fans.
Hawkins’ appearance will coincide with Keiper’s Cards’ trade night, scheduled for the same day, with both events starting at 4 p.m. Customers are invited to bring their own personal card collections to trade with one another aside from meeting Hawkins.
Shop owner Dan Keiper said he organized the autograph signing event for Hawkins to raise money as he prepares to enter the Major League Baseball draft this year.
“The minor leagues don’t pay very well, so I’m hoping this will help him out during his first year,” Keiper told The Chronicle Friday.
One-hundred percent of the proceeds from his appearance will go to Hawkins, according to the Instagram post.
After pitching at W.F. West and graduating in 2018, Hawkins began playing at Lower Columbia College (LCC) before transferring to WSU in 2020.
“He improved on some things at LCC I guess and then WSU saw him and got him, and he’s only gotten better from there,” added Keiper.
Hawkins’ WSU career ended with the pitcher being ninth all-time in strikeouts for the university, and he also received an honorable mention from the Pac-12 for having the third most strikeouts of any pitcher throughout the conference this past season.
According to the Instagram post, pictures with Hawkins will cost $5, autographs on cards and pictures will be $10 and autographs on bats and baseballs will cost $20.
Keiper’s Cards is located in downtown Centralia at 320 N. Tower Ave., suite 104.
Follow Keiper’s Cards on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/keiperscards/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086953932185.
