All American Game : : Story
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.
Josh Fitzgerald Baseball 