THE OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL NEWSLETTER OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBAL L H 2007 SEASON-IN-REVIEW WORLD CHAMPS TO OPEN 2008 SEASON IN JAPAN
Canadian Jeff Francis
INTERNATIONAL STARS LEAD CLUBS IN THE POSTSEASON International stars played a larger role in this year’s postseason than ever before. A record number (16) of foreign-born players were on World Series rosters for the Boston Red Sox and Colorado Boston Red Sox Hideki Okajima Rockies, fitting in a season (left) and Daisuke Matsuzaka show
S when a record-high 246 E
off their World Series Championship G A foreign-born players were on M trophy after dousing each other I Y
T MLB Club rosters (as of T
with champagne in celebration. E G Opening Day). The World Series Champion HE WORLD SERIES CHAMPION BOSTON RED scheduled for March 22 and 23. Red Sox teamed rookies like Sox will face the Oakland Athletics in Tokyo, This will mark the first MLB season opener in Japan Daisuke Matsuzaka (Japan) TJapan to open the 2008 MLB Champi - since the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays and Jacoby Ellsbury (United Lonship Season this March. played in front of sell-out crowds at the States) with veterans David Japan Opening Series 2008 fea - Tokyo Dome in 2004. Over the past Ortiz (Dominican Republic) tures the Red Sox beginning their decade, eight MLB Clubs have ex - and World Series MVP Mike World Series title defense in a two- perienced international openers. Lowell (Puerto Rico) to earn their rings. National League game set versus the nine-time World Overall, nearly 700,000 fans have at - Champion Colorado utilized Series Champion Athletics on March 25 and tended 15 MLB Opening Series games in staff ace Jeff Francis 26 at the Tokyo Dome. The games will mark Monterrey, Mexico (Coloroado Rockies vs. (Canada), closer Manny the third time MLB has opened its season in Tokyo. San Diego Padres - 1999); Tokyo, Japan (New York Corpas (Panama) and As part of Japan Opening Series 2008 , both MLB Mets vs. Chicago Cubs - 2000 and Yankees vs. Rays backstop Yorvit Torrealba Clubs will also compete against Nippon Professional - 2004); and San Juan, Puerto Rico (Texas Rangers (Venezuela) to win an Baseball (NPB) teams in day/night doubleheaders vs. Toronto Blue Jays - 2001). incredible 21 out of their final 22 games to make it to the SCHEDULE OF EVENTS - JAPAN OPENING SERIES 2008 Fall Classic for the first time in franchise history. DATE GAME VENUE Overall, the 2007 postseason Saturday, March 22 Boston Red Sox vs. NPB Club Tokyo Dome featured 65 foreign-born Saturday, March 22 Oakland Athletics vs. NPB Club Tokyo Dome players representing 10 Sunday, March 23 Boston Red Sox vs. NPB Club Tokyo Dome different countries and Sunday, March 23 Oakland Athletics vs. NPB Club Tokyo Dome territories, including Canada, Tuesday, March 25 Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics Tokyo Dome Colombia, Cuba, the Wednesday, March 26 Boston Red Sox vs. Oakland Athletics Tokyo Dome Dominican Republic, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Taiwan and Venezuela. MLB IN CHINA MARKETING EXPANSION OF MLB MLB Director of Game Development in China, Rick Dell, MLBI INVITES STUDENTS TO SHOPS CONTINUES instructs at the inaugural Academy in Wuxi this August. PLAY BALL! ACROSS CHINA THROUGHOUT CHINA LBI LAUNCHED ITS GRASSROOTS YOUTH ajor League Baseball Interna - baseball program, Play Ball!, in five cities Mtional continues to aggressively M open Major League Baseball- across China this September. The program is now incorporated into the physical education cur - branded shops in China. Since April riculum for students aged eight-to-12 in 120 ele - 2007, a total of 30 MLB shops opened mentary schools in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, in more than 16 cities across the coun - Tianjin and Wuxi. try, including five in capital city Bei - Play Ball! China will reach more than 100,000 el - jing, six in the commercial center of ementary school students in 2007 alone. Partici - Shanghai and three in baseball-crazy pating students will be introduced to the rules of Tianjin. These stores are managed by the game and instructed on developing their base - Chinese master licensee, Eversports ball skills as part of their in-school physical edu - Marketing Limited. The stores exclu - cation programs. sively sell MLB products, prominently Nagase Kenko Corporation serves as an official featuring casual sportswear as well YOUTH BASEBALL ACADEMY supplier of Play Ball! China. The world-renowned as fashion apparel and accessories. OPENS IN CHINA THIS AUGUST Kenko Air Safety Baseballs, combining the per - Plans are currently underway to open formance of a real baseball with greater safety and a 120-square-meter MLB flagship store AJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL INTERNATIONAL durability, are the only baseballs used in the pro - in Beijing at Wangfujin Commercial M(MLBI) and the China Baseball Association (CBA) gram. Area by the end of 2007. conducted the first-ever China Baseball Acad - In preparation for the first emy in Wuxi, China this past August. The Academy pro - season of Play Ball! in vided professional instruction to elite young baseball China, MLBI con - talent from across the country at the Jiangsu Provincial ducted coaching Baseball Field in Wuxi from August 7 to 26. clinics, led by top- The MLBI China Baseball Academy features a train - level American ing schedule aimed at improving all facets of the game coaches, for more for 60 of China’s top-rated 12-to-15-year-old baseball than 400 physical players. MLBI and the CBA selected this year’s Academy education teachers participants from existing provincial baseball organiza - in Beijing, tions in Beijing, Chengdu, Dalian, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, Tianjin and Wuxi. Shanghai this summer. MLBI SIGNS LANDMARK TV DEAL IN CHINA LBI AND SHANGHAI MEDIA GROUP (SMG) ball in China” that highlight the most important ele - reached a groundbreaking, three-year agree - ments of the game and provide viewers with in-depth The MLB Shops in Tianjin (above) and M Shanghai (below) have been heavily ment this season that significantly increased coverage of the local baseball scene. The World Series, trafficked by baseball fans in China exposure for MLB in the People’s Republic of China. MLB All-Star Game and “This Week in Baseball,” will looking to show off their team pride! This deal was a first-of-its-kind endeavor for MLB with air on Great Sports through 2009. a local Chinese television partner, and will bring the MLB All-Star Game and World Series, along with a unique version of “This Week in Baseball,” to Great Sports – China’s leading cable sports channel – for the next three seasons. The agreement was launched in July with coverage of the 2007 All-Star Game and has continued through - out the second half of the 2007 Championship Season on a weekly basis with a China-specific edition of “This Week in Baseball.” Produced and aired by SMG, the show includes a weekly recap of MLB action and features segments entitled “Baseball Basics” and “Base -
2007 STAR PLAYERS
ARIZONA ATLANTA BALTIMORE BOSTON CHICAGO DIAMONDBACKS BRAVES ORIOLES RED SOX CUBS Eric Byrnes Jeff Francoeur Erik Bedard Josh Beckett Rich Hill Stephen Drew Tim Hudson Daniel Cabrera David Ortiz Derrek Lee Orlando Hudson Chipper Jones Nick Markakis Jonathan Papelbon Aramis Ramirez Brandon Webb John Smoltz Brian Roberts Dustin Pedroia Alfonso Soriano Chris B. Young Mark Teixeira Miguel Tejada Manny Ramirez Carlos Zambrano 22 MARKETING
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL WANTS FANS TO ‘Dream BIG’ IN JAPAN AJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL INTERNATIONAL’S LAUNCH of Mthe Dream BIG campaign in Japan this season proved to be an effective marketing tool. Resonating with fans and consumers while demonstrating the position of MLB at the pinna - cle of the sport of baseball, the Dream BIG campaign was heavily utilized by all partners in the SHOGAKUKAN CAMPAIGN country, including licensees, re - Shogakukan featured a unique Dream tailers, broadcasters and sponsors. Focusing on the drive and per - BIG promotion this August for children severance necessary to reach dreams, the campaign featured positive in grades one through six. Their sweep - directives, such as “practice,” “work hard” and “have confidence.” stakes asked kids to design their “Dream MLB superstars from Chase Utley to Miguel Cabrera to David Wright Ballpark” or “Dream Uniform” and en - appeared in print advertisements throughout the duration of the ter to win a trip to Seattle, WA to watch campaign as a representation of how they have achieved their dreams the Chicago White Sox take on the Seat - of making it to the major leagues. tle Mariners. Six winners – one from each The Dream BIG campaign captured the emotional, intellectual and grade – received a dream trip that in - physical aspects of the game of baseball, as well as many other pur - suits in life. This campaign’s clear and achievable call to action ap - cluded a tour of SAFECO Field, an inter - peals to everyone who has ever had the chance to “dream big.” view with Ichiro Suzuki’s translators and photos with the Mariners Moose. The winners also watched batting practice on-field where they met MLB stars Jose Guillen and Ichiro Suzuki!
CELEBRATING A DECADE The 2007 MLB season marked the 10th The Dream BIG-themed train anniversary of the MLB brand’s pres - featured worldwide superstars like Derek Jeter, Daisuke Matsuzaka, ence in the Korean apparel market via Hideki Matsui and Albert Pujols. master licensee F&F. The logos of Ma - jor League Baseball and the 30 MLB ALL ABOARD THE DREAM BIG TRAIN Clubs are now easily recognizable on high-end fashion apparel. Korean celebri - ties can be seen on television and in LBI HIGHLIGHTED THE DREAM BIG vertising (pictured above), licensed consumer campaign in an extensive advertisement product photos and retail information for more magazines wearing MLB products, mak - M ing the apparel a must-have among program on one of Japan Railway’s most than 60 Major League Baseball partners. Each popular train lines, the Yamanote line, for two car was also equipped with a TV screen that was young people. With the success of the ‘I weeks this August. With stops in many of Tokyo’s stationed above doors where riders were able to Live For This’ campaign, business vol - most popular areas, the Yamanote line averages watch MLB game footage. MLB distributed lim - ume has rapidly grown over the past nearly 4.35 million riders each day. Ten (10) train ited edition postcards at participating retail loca - three years, making MLB stand out cars were decorated with Dream BIG-themed ad - tions if they mentioned the Dream BIG train. among sport brands in Korea. 2007 STAR PLAYERS
CHICAGO CINCINNATI CLEVELAND COLORADO DETROIT WHITE SOX REDS INDIANS ROCKIES TIGERS Mark Buehrle Adam Dunn Fausto Carmona Garrett Atkins Carlos Guillen Jermaine Dye Edwin Encarnación Travis Hafner Jeff Francis Magglio Ordonez Bobby Jenks Ken Griffey Jr. Jhonny Peralta Todd Helton Placido Polanco Jim Thome Aaron Harang C.C. Sabathia Matt Holliday Gary Sheffield Javier Vazquez Brandon Phillips Grady Sizemore Troy Tulowitzki Justin Verlander 33 LICENSING SPONSORSHIP & BROADCASTING
NEW LICENSEES IN EUROPE: MASTERDIS AND CLAIRE FONTAINE LBI HAS NAMED CLAIRE FONTAINE A NEW LICENSEE FOR A RANGE Mof “Back to School” accessories in France in 2008. The collection will in - clude essential items such as ring binders, notebooks and diaries. MLBI has also signed Masterdis as a new licensee for a range of jewelry featuring the MLB and MLB Club logos which will launch in Germany in 2008. NEW EDITION SENDS DUTCH FANS TO YANKEE STADIUM N AUGUST 2007, NEW EDITION BV, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IInternational’s licensee for a range of “back to school” items in the Netherlands, ran a special promotion with retail giant Vroom und New Era: LDN provides one-stop Dreesman. One (1) lucky winner and a friend won the trip of a lifetime to shopping for all of London’s see the New York Yankees take on their American League East rivals, the headwear needs! Tampa Bay Rays at historic Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. The trip also included a helicopter ride around Manhattan for a bird’s eye view NEW ERA ESTABLISHES of the Big Apple! LONDON PRESENCE With two very popular flagship stores in New York City and Buffalo, DOMINICAN “ESTRELLAS” New Era has set its sights on SHINE WITH GRUPO RAMOS conquering London. Located in the heart of two of the trendiest shopping areas in the world, Carnaby Street and Covent Garden, just off of London’s Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus, New Era London, dubbed "New Era: LDN," opened “NEW ERA” BEGINS IN TORONTO in summer 2007 at 72-74 Brewer N SEPTEMBER 29, TORONTO BLUE JAYS Street. New Era: LDN features Opitchers Dustin McGowan and Shaun the broadest and most exclusive Marcum took the mound at New Era’s selection of New Era headwear MLBI RECENTLY TEAMED WITH RETAIL POWER - flagship store in Toronto. Accompanied by ACE, in the world . Mhouse Grupo Ramos in the Dominican Republic. Activa the Blue Jays mascot, the trio signed auto - Global Sports & Entertainment LLC, a key driver in graphs and entertained young fans by taking forming this new relationship, created a special collectible pictures and running around the store. Strate - medallion set featuring top Dominican major leaguers, sold gically located on Queen Street, in the heart of only in Grupo Ramos stores and promoted through El Diario Li - Toronto’s trendy shopping boutique area, New bre newspaper. Era’s store has been able to offer both fans and To launch this promotion, Grupo Ramos organized a two-day fashionistas alike a wide array of caps, from the event to honor Osvaldo José Virgil – the first MLB player from traditional on-field team model to countless the Dominican Republic – with a special award (pictured above). high-style 5950 editions. Since its store open - Also in attendance was Mr. Met whose New York team is home ing on August 3, 2007, New Era has opened its to some of the best Major League Baseball players from the doors to a “new era” of cap-shopping that will Dominican Republic, including Pedro Martínez, Moises Alou never go out of style! and Jose Reyes. 2007 STAR PLAYERS FLORIDA HOUSTON KANSAS CITY LOS ANGELES LOS ANGELES MARLINS ASTROS ROYALS ANGELS OF ANAHEIM DODGERS MCigluebl hCaoburesrae Lance Berkman Brian Bannister Kelvim Escobar Chad Billingsley Hinan lCeyh Rianma irez Craig Biggio Joey Gathright Chone Figgins Derek Lowe Dan Uggla Carlos Lee Mark Grudzielanek Vladimir Guerrero Russell Martin Josh Willingham Roy Oswalt Gil Meche John Lackey Brad Penny Dontrelle Willis Hunter Pence Mark Teahan Francisco Rodriguez Takashi Saito 4 4 SPONSORSHIP & BROADCASTING AUSSIES GATHER TO ASAHI HIGHLIGHTS 2007 SEASON FANS FEEL THE EXCITEMENT OF THE WATCH WORLD SERIES OLLOWING A NATION-WIDE , SEASON -LONG WORLD SERIES WITH PRESIDENTE WITH FOX advertising campaign, Asahi Breweries brought Fan exciting premium program across Japan RESIDENTE, THE this August, with an exclusive DVD highlighting the 2007 official beer of Major PLeague Baseball in seasons of Hideki Matsui and Daisuke Matsuzaka. Com - piled in conjunction with the Dominican Republic, sent MLB Productions, more lucky fans on an all-expense than 900,000 copies of the paid trip to Games Three and DVD were distributed at Four of the 2007 World Se - The A ustralian baseball faithful over 42,000 convenience ries. Fans had the opportu - gathered to celebrate this Octo - stores. Asahi also attached nity to participate in the ber with “World Series Watch Par - World Series logo sports sweepstakes when they pur - ties” in Sydney, Brisbane and towels to 20,000 six-packs chased a four- or six-pack of Melbourne. Along with the ex - in support of the 2007 MLB Presidente beer at partici - citement of the Fall Classic, the postseason. pating supermarkets. parties welcomed home the record-breaking seven Australians who were on Major League ros - ters in 2007: Grant Balfour (Tampa MASTERCARD PEPSI SHOWS MAJOR Bay Rays), Travis Blackley (San Francisco Giants), Justin Huber TAKES FANS TO LEAGUE EXCITEMENT! (Kansas City Royals), Peter Moy - TH E FALL CLASSIC EPSI’S “METAL PEPSI” CAMPAIGN IN LATIN AMERICA lan (Atlanta Braves), Ryan Row - built major excitement for the 2007 season - featur - land-Smith (Seattle Mariners), LONG WITH CREDOMATIC BANK, Ping three Latin superstars (Miguel Tejada of the Chris Snelling (Oakland Athlet - MasterCard once again gave six fans Baltimore Orioles, Carlos Delgado of the New York Mets and ics) and Rich Thompson (Los An - Ain Panama the opportunity to win an Bobby Abreu of the New York Yankees), the players appeared geles Angels of Anaheim) . all-expense paid trip to the 2007 World on Pepsi products and in commercials Series. Each time Credomatic MasterCard- in the Dominican Republic, Puerto OVER-THE-AIR GAMES holders used their cards from July 13th Rico and Venezuela. RETURN TO PUERTO RICO through October 4th, they were entered to Pepsi also ran a sweepstakes win the trip of a lifetime! promotion in Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets throughout Panama and Nicaragua: fans had the chance to win a World Series Dream Prize consisting of a two- night hotel stay and two tickets to Major League Baseball and OPG the World Series. Communications, Inc. have brought MLB regular season and postseason games back to over-the-air television in Puerto Rico by partnering with TeleIsla. TeleIsla has over 95% distribu - tion across Puerto Rico on over- the-air television and is carried on all local cable systems. BUDWEISER IN PANAMA Through this partnership, Puerto UDWEISER, THE OFFICIAL BEER OF MAJOR LEAGUE Ricans can now cheer on their Baseball in Panama, was featured on billboards through - countrymen and all of their fa - Bout Panama City beginning October 7th to highlight the vorite players in the 2007 postseason. Anheuser-Busch supported their campaign big leagues! with print, radio and on-premise activation.
2007 STAR PLAYERS MILWAUKEE MINNESOTA NEW YORK NEW YORK OAKLAND BREWERS TWINS METS YANKEES ATHLETICS Ryan Braun Michael Cuddyer Moises Alou Derek Jeter Joe Blanton Prince Fielder Joe Mauer Carlos Beltran Hideki Matsui Jack Cust Bill Hall Justin Morneau John Maine Mariano Rivera Mark Ellis J.J. Hardy Joe Nathan Jose Reyes Alex Rodriguez Dan Haren Ben Sheets Johan Santana David Wright Chien-Ming Wang Nick Swisher 5 GAME DEVELOPMENT GAME DEVELOPMENT ACADEMY FIRST: AUSSIE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL MAKES “THE SHOW” As the eighth annual MLBI Aus - PITCH, HIT & RUN COMES TO JAPAN tralian Academy came to a close in 2007, the program achieved a The four winners of the Tokyo historic first: one of its graduates, Pitch, Hit & Run competition Rich Thompson, debuted in the received unique prizes like the Major Leagues. On September gold baseball trophy pictured here, created by Mizuno. 1st, the 23-year old right-handed pitcher, a member of the Acad - emy class of 2001, worked one in - ning in relief for the LA Angels of Anaheim, allowing one hit, no runs and striking out two. Australia’s sole representative in the 2007 XM All-Star Futures game, Thompson attended the very first Academy in 2001 as a 17-year-old and signed with Ana - HIS SEPTEMBER, MLBI CHALLENGED YOUNG BASEBALL FANS IN TOKYO TO heim following his strong per - test their skills in the Pitch, Hit & Run competition. The youth grassroots program, formance throughout the six-week T camp. Upon his debut with the which attracts more than 600,000 participants each year in the United States, al - lows fans to showcase their pitching, hitting and running abilities against other partic - Angels, Thompson became the ipants in four different age groups: 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14 years olds. The Tokyo 25th Australian, and the first MLBI competition marked the first time Pitch, Hit & Run reached fans in Asia. Academy graduate, to play in the big leagues. With support from Mizuno and SPORTS AUTHORITY, the MLB Pitch, Hit & Run As of Opening Day 2007, 71 Aus - competition at Ohta Stadium was heavily-attended and fun for all. Winners from each tralian Academy alumni – 75% of of the four age groups were awarded a Mizuno commemorative gold baseball tro - all current Australian and New phy, an item from the Ichiro Suzuki replica baseball equipment line and SPORTS AU - Zealander players – were playing THORITY gift certificates. In addition, former Japanese MLB player Shigetoshi with Major League organizations. Hasegawa and bat craftsman Isokazu Kubota appeared for demonstrations. A record-high seven Australians played with MLB Clubs during the NINE PLAYERS SIGN OUT OF 2007 EUROPEAN ACADEMY 2007 season. HE THIRD ANNUAL MLB INTERNATIONAL from five countries across Europe, including three play - Australian Rich European Baseball Academy saw a record nine ers from Germany and the Netherlands and one each Thompson makes T his MLB debut Academy participants sign professional con - from Denmark, France and Italy. To date, 20 MLBI Eu - with the LA Angels tracts with six different MLB organizations. The nine ropean Baseball Academy graduates have signed pro - of Anaheim. players, among the region’s best baseball talent, hail fessional contracts with MLB Clubs.
2007 EUROPEAN BASEBALL ACADEMY PARTICIPANTS SIGNED BY MLB ORGANIZATIONS Player Position Academy Year(s) Country Club Donald Lutz Outfield 2006, ’07 Germany Cincinnati Reds Frédéric Hanvi Catcher 2006, ’07 France Minnesota Twins Jennel Hudson Pitcher 2007 Germany Boston Red Sox Ludwig Glaser Third Base 2006, ’07 Germany Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Dwayne Kemp Shortstop 2006, ’07 Netherlands Chicago Cubs Andrea Lucati Pitcher 2006, ’07 Italy Houston Astros Frederik Terkelsen Outfield 2006, ’07 Denmark Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Tjerk Hogervorst Outfield 2007 Netherlands New York Mets Jan Baldee Infielder 2006, ’07 Netherlands Houston Astros
2007 STAR PLAYERS PHILADELPHIA PITTSBURGH ST. LOUIS SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO PHILLIES PIRATES CARDINALS PADRES GIANTS Cole Hamels Matt Capps Chris Duncan Brian Giles Barry Bonds Ryan Howard Tom Gorzelanny Jim Edmonds Adrian Gonzalez Matt Cain Brett Myers Adam LaRoche Jason Isringhausen Khalil Greene Noah Lowry Jimmy Rollins Xavier Nady Albert Pujols Trevor Hoffman Omar Vizquel Chase Utley Freddy Sanchez Adam Wainwright Jake Peavy Randy Winn 6 GAME DEVELOPMENT MLBI PARTNERS WITH DEVELOPING TALENT IN EUROPE AND AFRICA PITCH IN FOR BASEBALL
Detroit Tiger Curtis Granderson visited the elite players of the Amsterdam Academy in November 2006 as part of his Ambassador Tour of Europe. Granderson will be an MLB Ambassador once again this December, traveling to South Africa to attend the All-Africa Games and host clinics for top- rated South African players.
These academies provide regular training throughout the year to 250 of Europe and Africa’s best 13-to-19-year- old players. Of these players, eight signed professional con - tracts with MLB organizations OLLOWING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE MLBI in 2007 and 23 went on to represent their countries at In 2007, MLB International formed FEuropean Baseball Academy, MLBI has teamed the 2007 MLBI European Baseball Academy. an exciting new partnership with up with national baseball federations in Europe Martin Brunner, head coach of the Regensburg the charitable organization, Pitch and Africa to develop a network of year-round train - Academy (Germany), which has produced three pro - In For Baseball (PIFB). Based in ing academies for the regions’ top young talent. fessional players in the past year, said of MLBI’s sup - Philadelphia, PA, PIFB shares MLBI is working with national baseball academies in port: “Our players are all amateurs, having to manage MLBI’s commitment to promoting seven European and African nations - Italy, Germany, demanding school or university schedules. Yet they and enhancing the growth of base - France, the Netherlands, Sweden, South Africa and see the difference the Academy brings to them as ball around the world by providing the United Kingdom. MLBI’s involvement includes pro - baseball players and have committed the time to im - the necessary equipment, which viding coaching expertise, MLB player visits (see above), proving, even through the winter months. And they can prove challenging to obtain at equipment and training resources to each program. know they have MLB to thank for that.” the grassroots level. MLBI and PIFB partnered on donations to 14 dif - ferent countries in 2007. Since the MLB ROADSHOW inception of the Major League Base - ball International Equipment Do - HITS EUROPE nation Program in 2003, MLBI has LBI PARTNERED WITH distributed baseball equipment to MNew Era, Majestic Ath - organizations in more than 30 coun - letic and Burger King tries worldwide, including Ameri - to run one of the largest tours can Samoa, Argentina, Australia, ever of the MLB Roadshow in Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Chile, Germany. Creating baseball China, Costa Rica, Fiji, Ghana, “mini-festivals” at popular lo - Guatemala, India, Ireland, Israel, cations such as Berlin’s Pots - Kenya, Malta, Mali, Mexico, Mozam - damer Platz, the Roadshow bique, New Caledonia, New Zealand, visited 20 events in 17 major Ger - Nicaragua, Northern Mariana Is - man cities. Over 14,000 people participated in of America, MLB set up a popular baseball zone lands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Ro - games at these events, which were supported by that included batting, pitching and ballpark fa - mania, Russia, St. Martin, Tunisia, members of Germany’s national baseball team. vorites such as popcorn and “Take Me Out to the Uganda and Vietnam. For more in - In England, the MLB Roadshow made a two- Ballgame.” Over 40,000 visitors attended the Jam - formation on this program, please week stop at the 21st World Scout Jamboree from boree at Hylands Park in Chelmsford, making it contact Erin Sloneker at July 27 to August 8. Partnering with Boy Scouts one of the largest scouting events in history. [email protected].
2007 STAR PLAYERS SEATTLE TAMPA BAY TEXAS TORONTO WASHINGTON MARINERS RAYS RANGERS BLUE JAYS NATIONALS Adrian Beltre Carl Crawford Ian Kinsler A.J. Burnett Ronnie Belliard Felix Hernandez Akinori Iwamura Kevin Millwood Roy Halladay Chad Cordero Raul Ibanez Scott Kazmir Jarrod Saltalamacchia Alex Rios Austin Kearns J.J. Putz Carlos Pena Sammy Sosa Matt Stairs Dmitri Young Ichiro Suzuki B.J. Upton Michael Young Frank Thomas Ryan Zimmerman 7 MLB INTERNATIONAL STAFF DIRECTORY
CENTRAL OFFICE (NEW YORK) MLB INTERNATIONAL (+1) 212-931-7500 Paul Archey, Senior Vice President, International Business Operations Venue Candidates Lin e Up for 2009 World Baseball Classic
BROADCAST OPERATIONS S PART OF THE ONGOING PREPARATIONS FOR THE 2009 Russell Gabay, Vice President & Executive Producer AWorld Baseball Classic, World Baseball Classic, Inc. (WBCI) Tom Guidice, Senior Manager, has identified 12 candidates for consideration in the final phase Broadcasting of its host venue selection process (for a full list, see below). The lo - LICENSING & SPONSORSHIP cations include eight in the United States and four international sites, Shawn Lawson-Cummings, in Canada, Japan, Mexico and Puerto Rico. The quality and depth of Vice President, International potential hosts for 2009 are a strong reflection of the tournament’s Licensing & Sponsorship Deidra Varona, Director, raised global profile following the success of the inaugural World Base - International Licensing ball Classic in 2006. The 16-team competition will once again fea - Jacquelyn Walsh, Director, International Marketing ture two rounds of pool play followed by a thrilling Championship Josephine Fuzesi, Senior Manager, Weekend. WBCI expects to name the official host venues in early 2008. International Licensing Whitney Sanders, Senior Coordinator, International Licensing STADIUM LOCATION Debora Lehrer, Coordinator, International Licensing & Sponsorship AT&T Park San Francisco, CA Ballpark at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Orlando, FL MARKET DEVELOPMENT Chase Field Phoenix, CA Dominick Balsamo, Director, Market Development & Communications Dodger Stadium Los Angeles, CA Mike McClellan, Program Manager, Dolphin Stadium Miami, FL Game Development Minute Maid Park Houston, TX Mike Cafaro, Sr. Coordinator, Event Marketing PETCO Park San Diego, CA Erin Sloneker, Coordinator, Scottsdale Stadium Scottsdale, AZ Market Development & Communications Foro Sol Stadium Mexico City, Mexico TV & SPONSORSHIP SALES Hiram Bithorn Stadium San Juan, Puerto Rico Victor Coto, Manager, Latin American Rogers Centre Toronto, Canada Sales & Marketing 2006 Final in San Diego Tokyo Dome Tokyo, Japan Sonia Gomez, Account Executive, Int’l Broadcasting WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC, INC. 79.5 MILLION ATTEND RECORD-BREAKING SEASON James Pearce, Tournament Director Jane Kim, Manager, Event Operations Andres Betancur, Coordinator, ORE THAN 79.5 MILLION FANS ATTENDED Event Operations games at MLB ballparks during the 2007 sea - JB Hacking, Coordinator, M Event Operations son, shattering the previous attendance record for the fourth year in a row. The season was filled with REGIONAL OFFICES AUSTRALIA & OCEANIA (Sydney) thrilling firsts and historic accomplishments for those (+61) 2-9238- 2292 fans to see, from Opening Day to an exciting postsea - Tom Nicholson, Director son play-in game. International stars played a leading Elizabeth Cage, Consultant, Media & Communications role in making this season so memorable,from rookies S E
Consultant, G Warren King, like Jair Jurrjens (the first MLB pitcher from Curacao) A M Events & Market Development I Y
to leaders like Ichiro Suzuki of Japan (All-Star Game T T E CHINA (Beijing) MVP) and Puerto Rican Mike Lowell (World Series MVP). G (+86) 10-8523-3020 Below are some of the remarkable milestones in one of Craig Biggio and the Houston Astros celebrated his Manager Michael Marone, the greatest MLB seasons in recent decades. 3,000 career hit on June 28, 2007 at Minute Maid Park. Rick Dell, Director, Game Development
EUROPE, MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA PLAYER MLB CLUB RECORD (London) (+44) 207-453-7000 Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants All-Time Home Run Leader (762) Clive Russell, Director Trevor Hoffman San Diego Padres All-Time Saves Leader (482) Jason Holowaty, Manager, Game Craig Biggio Houston Astros 3,000 Hits Development Wendy Yates, Office Manager Pedro Martinez New York Mets 3,000 Strikeouts Sammy Sosa Texas Rangers 600 Home Runs JAPAN & ASIA (Tokyo) Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees 500 Home Runs (+81) 3-5425-6050 Jim Small, Managing Director Frank Thomas Toronto Blue Jays 500 Home Runs & Vice President, Asia Jim Thome Chicago White Sox 500 Home Runs Darrick Thomas, Marketing Manager Tom Glavine New York Mets 300 Wins Hiroko Kato, Account Executive Sami Kawakami, Account Executive