THE
PERFECT GAME ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC PRESENTED BY RAWLINGS HEADS BACK TO
SAN DIEGO
Perfect
Game USA in conjunction with Blue Ridge Sports & Entertainment to
Showcase the Nation's Top High School Baseball Players
CEDAR
RAPIDS, IA. (June 6, 2011) –
Jerry Ford, President of Perfect Game USA, announced today that the
2011 Perfect Game All-American Classic Presented by Rawlings
(www.pgallamerican.com), formerly known as the Aflac All-American
Baseball Classic, will take place on Sunday, Aug 14 at
PETCO Park in
San Diego, Calif, home of Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres.
This is the 9th
annual edition of the country’s premier high school baseball all
star game and the fifth time it has been played in San Diego. The
first eight games have produced 81 former first round draft picks and
40 of them have already appeared in Major League lineups.
The
East versus West matchup features 38 of the nation’s best high
school players, battling at PETCO Park for the third consecutive
year, providing them with a rare opportunity to create Major League
memories. These top-level players continue to make their mark in the
big leagues. In it’s brief history, the Classic has had 80 alumn
selected in the first round (appendix A) of the Major League Baseball
draft, including Bryce Harper (2009), Justin Upton (2004), and Tim
Beckham (2007) who where selected with the #1 pick overall. The game
has also produced an impressive 40 players that are currently on a
Major League Baseball roster (appendix B), including two current
Padres players, Mat Latos (2005) and Cameron Maybin (2004).
Since
the game’s inception, Perfect Game USA has been the selection
partner of the Classic and has now assumed the role of title sponsor
and managing partner. Rawlings, the biggest name in baseball, has
been named the game’s presenting partner and Reebok, the leader in
footwear innovation, has rejoined the event. Topps will once again be
involved in producing All-American Baseball cards for each player,
which have become extremely popular and valuable to collectors.
New television
partner CBS Sports Network (www.cbssportsnetwork.com) will air the
2011 Classic live on Sunday, Aug. 14 at 8 pm EST, and will also air
the game’s first-ever selection show, which announces the 2011
roster and highlights this year’s group of talented young players.
The selection show will air on Wednesday, July 13 at 10:00 pm EST.
“Year
after year I am impressed with the extraordinary high school talent
this All American Baseball Classic brings to the forefront of the
baseball world,”
said Jerry Ford, President of Perfect Game USA. “These
young athletes have the ability to become Major League stars of the
next generation.”
“Also,
this event is THE
BEST
high school baseball all american game in the country which is
evident when you look at the celebrated alumni that have played in
it. Perfect Game USA is the nation’s top independent baseball
scouting service and Jerry Ford and his team excel every year in
selecting the very best players,” said David Gardiner, President of
Blue Ridge Sports & Entertainment, Inc. “This event provides
a unique opportunity for the players to learn on and off the field
through various community events and the baseball activities.”
Continuing an
ongoing commitment to giving, the proceeds from this year’s Classic
will once again benefit Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.
About
Perfect Game USA
Perfect
Game USA is devoted to furthering the development and career of the
high school baseball player. To that end, Perfect Game USA produces
the very highest, national level, individual player showcases and
team tournaments all over the United States. These events have proven
invaluable to the collegiate coaching community and Major League
Baseball as they can scout a large population of talented baseball
players in one location. Perfect Game USA has a full-time staff of
50 and well over 100 part-time staff. Nearly all have vast
professional and/or collegiate baseball experience. Perfect Game
staff members are located throughout the country. Perfect Game USA
has the largest scouting department in all of baseball. The Perfect
Game USA high school player database is the largest of its kind
anywhere in baseball. At any given time there will be nearly 100,000
high school players being followed via their database.
©
2011 Blue Ridge Sports & Entertainment, Inc.