Aflac Announces Contenders for National High School Baseball Player of the Year Honors
2010 Jackie Robinson Award Nominees Possess Power and Precision
Four of the nation’s most dominant young pitchers join a power-hitting, defensively sound catcher in the field of nominees for the seventh annual Aflac National High School Baseball Player of the Year Award, given each year to the country’s top prep baseball player.
The award will be presented at the Aflac All-American Awards dinner to be held at the San Diego Hall of Champions on Aug. 14. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer and 2010 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic honorary chairman Andre Dawson will also attend the ceremony.
Named in honor of the late Hall of Famer and first man to break Major League Baseball’s color barrier, the Jackie Robinson Award recognizes the nation’s top high school player entering his senior year who demonstrates outstanding character, exhibits leadership and embodies the values of being a student athlete in both his schoolwork and community affairs.
“Jackie Robinson’s legacy on and off the field resonates throughout baseball at every level, and this year’s Player of the Year Award nominees reflect the same character and love of baseball that he displayed,” said Danny Fleishman, vice president of sponsorships and emerging markets at Aflac. “The Player of the Year Award and the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic showcase the best in high school baseball both on the diamond and in the community, and we are honored to recognize such an elite group of young players.” Read more
New York Yankees America’s Favorite Baseball Team for 8th Year
As we reach the mid-point of the baseball season, it’s time for the All-Star game and for reflections on the sport as a whole. So far in the 2010 Major League Baseball season, pitching has been the star performer, with some memorable perfect games, including the one that was, but wasn’t, and the debut of the Washington Nationals’ young phenom.
But, one thing remains the same when it comes to baseball. Among those who follow the sport, the New York Yankees again win the honor of “America’s Favorite“, as they have each year since 2003. In the second spot on the list are their long time arch-rivals, the Boston Red Sox, followed by the Atlanta Braves at number three; both of these teams’ positions are unchanged from last year.
Rounding out the top five are the Philadelphia Phillies at number four, rising from 7th place last year, and the Chicago Cubs, who may not win pennants, but do win a lot of hearts.
These are some of the results of The Harris Poll of 2,227 adults surveyed online between June 14 and 21, 2010 by Harris Interactive.
Looking at the bottom half of the top ten favorite baseball teams, at number six are the New York Mets, up from number 11 last year; the San Francisco Giants (#7, up from #9); the Los Angeles Dodgers (#8, down from a tie at #4); the Minnesota Twins (#9, up from #13); and the St. Louis Cardinals (#10, down from #6). Read more
The 2009 New York Yankees World Series victory immortalized
Celebrated Sports Artist to Debut Seventh World Series Celebration Piece
After nearly a decade of waiting for the championship to return home, the 2009 Yankees clinched their 27th World Series. It is only fitting that a legendary victory such as this one be immortalized by famed seven-time World Series Celebration artist Opie Otterstad. On Saturday, April 17, 2010, Otterstad will unveil his Official World Series Victory Piece at Pop International Galleries, in SoHo.
In what has become a tradition of its own, the World Series victory art piece transports fans back to the glorious moment when a historic team clinches its destiny. For the past seven years, Major League Baseball fans have looked to legendary sports artist Opie Otterstad to create spectacular panoramic paintings capturing these wins. Known for narrating each winning team’s history on canvas, Otterstad celebrates not only the winning moment but often the path that led the team there. With Otterstad painting in Pinstripes, this piece will preserve the 2009 World Series story for all-time. Read more
SIRIUS XM Radio launches 2010 MLB Spring Training Tour March 5
MLB Home Plate and Mad Dog Radio channels to broadcast live from 30 MLB Spring Training sites in Arizona and Florida from March 5 – 26 SIRIUS XM’s Cal Ripken Jr., Jim Bowden, Rob Dibble, Jim Duquette, Kevin Kennedy and Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo will interview players, managers and team execs
SIRIUS XM Radio will embark on its 2010 Spring Training Tour on Friday, March 5, taking listeners to 30 Major League Baseball Spring Training sites in three weeks. MLB Home Plate, SIRIUS XM’s 24-hour baseball talk channel, and Mad Dog Radio, SIRIUS XM’s all-sports talk channel, will broadcast live from ballparks in Arizona and Florida, offering baseball fans an in-depth look at every Major League club and one-on-one interviews with managers, players and team executives.
On MLB Home Plate (XM channel 175, SIRIUS channel 210 with the “Best of XM”), Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., former Reds and Nationals general manager Jim Bowden, former Rangers and Red Sox manager Kevin Kennedy, and host Casey Stern will cover Arizona’s Cactus League, hosting Inside Pitch (1:00-4:00 pm ET/10:00am-1:00pm PT) from 10 ballparks in and around the Phoenix area from March 5-14. In Florida to cover the Grapefruit League, from March 15-24, will be MLB Home Plate hosts Jim Duquette, the former GM of the Orioles and Mets, former All-Star pitcher Rob Dibble, and host Jody McDonald, who will host Power Alley (10:00am-1:00pm ET/7:00-10:00am PT) from 10 Spring Training sites.
On Mad Dog Radio (SIRIUS channel 123, XM channel 144), Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo will host his daily all-sports talk show, Mad Dog Unleashed, from five Florida Spring Training locations from March 8-12. From March 22-26, Russo will host the show from five different Arizona sites. Mad Dog Unleashed airs every weekday (2:00-7:00 pm ET).
2010 SIRIUS XM Radio Spring Training Tour Schedule: (All times ET)
Friday, Mar. 5
– Dodgers @ White Sox – The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch, Glendale, AZ 1-4pm ET: Inside Pitch with Casey Stern & Cal Ripken Jr.
Saturday, Mar. 6
– Royals @ Rangers – Surprise Stadium, Surprise, AZ 1-4pm ET: Inside Pitch with Casey Stern & Kevin Kennedy
Sunday, Mar. 7
– Padres @ Mariners – Peoria Sports Complex, Peoria, AZ 1-4pm ET: Inside Pitch with Casey Stern & Kevin Kennedy
Monday, Mar. 8
– Indians @ Diamondbacks – Tucson Electric Park, Tucson, AZ 1-4pm ET: Inside Pitch with Casey Stern & Kevin Kennedy
– Cardinals @ Red Sox – City of Palms Park, Fort Myers, FL 2-7 pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris Russo
Tuesday, Mar. 9
– Rockies @ Dodgers – The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch, Glendale, AZ 1-4pm ET: Inside Pitch with Casey Stern & Kevin Kennedy
– Pirates @ Yankees – Steinbrenner Field, Tampa, FL 2-7 pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris Russo
Wednesday, Mar. 10
– Giants @ Cubs – HoHoKam Park, Mesa, AZ 1-4pm ET: Inside Pitch with Casey Stern & Jim Bowden
– Mets @ Braves – Champion Stadium, Kissimmee, FL 2-7 pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris Russo
Thursday, Mar. 11
– Athletics @ Brewers – Maryvale Baseball Park, Phoenix, AZ 1-4pm ET: Inside Pitch with Casey Stern & Jim Bowden
– Orioles @ Twins – Lee County Sports Complex – Hammond Stadium, Ft. Myers, FL 2-7 pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris Russo
Friday, Mar. 12
– Reds @ Dodgers – The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch, Glendale, AZ 1-4pm ET: Inside Pitch with Casey Stern & Jim Bowden
– Phillies @ Rays – Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte, FL 2-7 pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris Russo
Saturday, Mar. 13
– Rangers @ Indians – Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, AZ 1-4pm ET: Inside Pitch with Casey Stern & Jim Bowden
Sunday, Mar. 14
– Cubs @ Angels – Tempe Diablo Stadium, Tempe, AZ 1-4pm ET: Inside Pitch with Casey Stern & Jim Bowden
Monday, Mar. 15
– Orioles @ Red Sox – City of Palms Park, Fort Myers, FL 10am-1pm ET: Power Alley with Jody McDonald & Jim Duquette
Tuesday, Mar. 16
– Tigers @ Phillies – Bright House Field, Clearwater, FL 10am-1pm ET: Power Alley with Jody McDonald & Jim Duquette
Wednesday, Mar. 17
– Twins @ Rays – Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte, FL 10am-1pm ET: Power Alley with Jody McDonald & Jim Duquette
Thursday, Mar. 18
– Pirates @ Twins – Lee County Sports Complex – Hammond Stadium, Ft. Myers, FL 10am-1pm ET: Power Alley with Jody McDonald & Jim Duquette
Friday, Mar. 19
– Blue Jays @ Astros – Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee, FL 10am-1pm ET: Power Alley with Jody McDonald & Jim Duquette
Saturday, Mar. 20
– Mets @ Cardinals – Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter, FL 10am-1pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette
Sunday, Mar. 21
– Tigers @ Yankees – Tampa, FL 1-4pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette
Monday, Mar. 22
– Mets @ Nationals – Space Coast Stadium, Viera, FL 10am-1pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette & Rob Dibble
– Angels @ Dodgers – The Ballpark at Camelback Ranch, Glendale, AZ 2-7 pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris Russo
Tuesday, Mar. 23
– Orioles @ Marlins – Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter, FL 10am-1pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette & Rob Dibble
– Padres @ Rockies – Hi Corbett Field, Tucson, AZ 2-7 pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris Russo
Wednesday, Mar. 24
– Phillies @ Braves – Champion Stadium, Kissimmee, FL 10am-1pm ET: Power Alley with Jim Duquette & Cal Ripken Jr.
– Giants @ Reds – Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, AZ 2-7 pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris Russo
Thursday, Mar. 25
– Mariners @ Indians – Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, AZ 2-7 pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris Russo
Friday, Mar. 26
– Athletics @ Cubs – HoHoKam Park, Mesa, AZ 2-7 pm ET: Mad Dog Unleashed with Chris Russo
MLB Home Plate is available to listeners nationwide on XM channel 175 and SIRIUS channel 210 with the “Best of XM.” Visit www.xmradio.com/mlb for programming info.
Mad Dog Radio airs nationwide on SIRIUS channel 123 and XM channel 144. Visit www.sirius.com/maddogradio for programming info.
Fans with visual impairments gain enhanced access to MLB.com
Baseball fans with visual impairments will benefit from the implementation of functional improvements to MLB.com, the official Web site of Major League Baseball, and all 30 individual Club sites as a result of a joint collaboration between MLB Advanced Media, LP (MLBAM), the American Council of the Blind, Bay State Council of the Blind and California Council of the Blind. All three organizations applaud this fan initiative taken by MLBAM.
“MLBAM has undertaken groundbreaking work to make its web sites accessible and has assumed a strong leadership position among sports, media and entertainment properties in doing so,” said Mitch Pomerantz, President of the American Council of the Blind. “We certainly urge similar sites to make this level of commitment in following MLBAM’s lead.”
As part of its initiative, MLB.com launched an accessible media center for its MLB.com Gameday Audio(TM) subscribers, offering features such as volume control, ability to choose the home or away feed and access to archived games. Additionally, MLB.com has ensured that fans with visual impairments can continue to participate in the annual online voting programs associated with the All-Star Game and will be providing an accessibility page on its site detailing information on accessibility, usability tips and customer service resources. As it continues to deliver technological innovations for following baseball games, MLB.com will make additional accessibility enhancements available to fans with visual impairments.
Brian Charlson, a Boston baseball fan and Director of Computer Training Services at the Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Massachusetts, described how MLB.com’s accessibility efforts have improved his enjoyment of the game: “As a member of the blind community, the kind of changes MLB.com was willing to make on its web sites keeps me coming back for more. It shows how much can be done when people with disabilities find willing partners. For example, with the changes in Gameday Audio, I find myself enjoying switching back and forth between the home and away broadcasters the same way my sighted friends do. And knowing my votes were counted in this year’s All-Star balloting made listening to the game much more meaningful. I’m excited about what MLB.com has done and about its commitment to further improvements.”
MLB.com utilized guidelines issued by the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). The web content accessibility guidelines are of particular benefit to blind baseball fans who use a screen reader, through which information on a page is read aloud, or magnification technology on their computers and who rely on a keyboard instead of a mouse.
Source: MLB.com