Chevrolet and David Ortiz Score for Boston-area Youth

BOSTON, May 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of a continued effort to provide young people with the chance to play on professional-quality baseball diamonds, Chevrolet, the Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball, will celebrate a field makeover at McConnell Park in Boston.

The field makeover honors David Ortiz, the 2013 World Series Most Valuable Player (MVP). As a result of his winning the World Series MVP, Chevrolet awarded him the chance to make over a community field in the Boston area. Ortiz, together with Major League Baseball, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) and Chevrolet, selected one of the fields at McConnell Park.

The updates at McConnell Park's field will include re-grading the infield, replacing the scoreboard and all bases, refurbishing the pitcher's mound to regulation specifications and rebuilding the batter's boxes. The Boston Parks and Recreation department and the Red Sox Foundation also renovated two additional diamonds at McConnell Park in conjunction with the World Series MVP field makeover.

"I was honored to win the World Series MVP award last fall and I'm proud that winning it has led to this beautiful field, thanks to Chevrolet and MLB," said Ortiz. "I hope the kids of Boston get to play thousands of great games on it and learn to love the game as much as I do."

To date, Chevrolet has refurbished more than 46 fields throughout the country and will also provide a field makeover to the MVP of the 2013 MLB All-Star Game, Mariano Rivera.

"Major League Baseball is dedicated to providing safe, reliable places for young people to play baseball and softball, and Chevrolet's commitment through the World Series MVP Award has a significant impact on this effort," Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President, Business, Major League Baseball. "We thank Chevrolet, the Red Sox Foundation, the Boston Parks and Recreation department, and of course David Ortiz, for helping to create a beautiful new facility for the kids who will play at McConnell Park."

"Playing the game of baseball helps kids grow and connect with each other, develop skills, and learn sportsmanship; while families and communities come together to support them," said Paul Edwards, U.S. vice president of Chevrolet marketing. "Chevrolet is happy to help provide a community field where kids and families in Boston can build lasting memories."

"On behalf of the City of Boston, thank you to Chevrolet for their valuable support in revamping the Richard Finnigan Diamond at McConnell Park in Dorchester," said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. "This park is a special place for me, it is my neighborhood park, I played and coached there.  Public/private partnerships contribute to making Boston's parks some of the best in the nation and we are pleased to work with Chevrolet to improve this facility in our community."

Chevrolet has supported youth baseball in communities across America for the past nine years. In 2013, more than 1,600 Chevrolet dealers participated in the Chevrolet Youth Baseball program and helped raise funds to aid local teams, affecting nearly 3.8 million young people across the country. 

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.9 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

CONTACT:

Cristi Vazquez, Chevrolet Communications
(248) 410-7827
[email protected]

SOURCE Chevrolet