Chevy Calling on Fans to Hit Home Run for Youth Baseball

DETROIT, April 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season, Chevrolet is giving fans a chance to win one of 100 prizes for their community baseball programs – from youth-baseball field makeovers to new equipment; even a trip for four to the MLB All-Star Game®.  

Since 2006, Chevy has provided equipment, fundraising support, and baseball clinics to more than 1.5 million youth baseball players and their families, donating more than $11 million.  That includes more than 70,000 tickets to MLB and Minor League Baseball games and more than 350 clinics for young players, many with players and coaches from MLB.

More than 1,400 Chevrolet dealerships will provide support for local baseball leagues through the Chevy Youth Baseball program this year.

The first pitch of the 2011 Chevrolet "Diamonds & Dreams" program is a 30-second television spot, featuring youth baseball players recreating some of the most "Famous Baseball Moments," from Babe Ruth calling his home run in the 1932 World Series to Kirk Gibson's iconic fist pump as he ran the bases during the 1988 World Series.  

"Every baseball player remembers the feeling of stepping up to the plate as a kid, and swinging for the fences," said Rick Scheidt, US vice president, Chevrolet marketing. "It's easy to imagine that somewhere in America, there's a future baseball star just starting out in a T-ball or coach-pitch baseball league."

To help these future All-Stars, Chevrolet is partnering with The Scotts Company LLC, Ripken Baseball, Ripken Design, Rawlings Sporting Goods, MLB Advanced Media, and Major League Baseball to provide 100 prizes to local youth-baseball teams, including:

• 20 youth baseball field makeovers, with the 20 field nominees each receiving a year's worth of ScottsMiracle-Gro products
• 20 baseball clinics from famed Ripken Baseball
• 60 baseball equipment packages for youth baseball teams from Rawlings

One hundred winners will be drawn from all eligible entries submitted online at www.chevybaseball.com. In addition to winning youth baseball prizes for their community, each of the 100 winners also will be entered for a chance to win one of four trips for four to the MLB All-Star Game® on July 12th in Phoenix and the chance to win a Chevrolet. Baseball fans can submit entries beginning today through May 31, 2011. Winners will be announced in June.  For official rules please visit www.chevybaseball.com.  To celebrate baseball come #playcatch with @Chevrolet on Twitter and get your friends in on the game. http://t.co/KN6HYdm

Administering renovations for the 20 field makeovers is Ripken Design, the sports design and consulting firm owned by National Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. and his brother, 12-year Major League Baseball veteran, Billy Ripken. 

Scotts, the Official Lawn Care Company of MLB, continues to partner with Chevrolet and MLB on multiple field refurbishments. Scotts believes that it is important to offer youth a safe, reliable field and playing area.  In addition to helping reduce injuries, a strong foundation of thick and lush grass helps to create a beautiful environment that encourages children to spend time outdoors.

In 2010, Chevrolet, Scotts, and Ripken Design provided five field makeovers for youth baseball.

To see a before-and-after video of the 2010 Diamonds and Dreams field makeovers, please visit www.chevybaseball.com, or the Chevrolet YouTube channel.

* No Purchase Necessary. Ends May 31, 2011. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. & DC, 18+. Void where prohibited. Odds of winning a prize will depend on the number of eligible entries received for the applicable drawing. For rules visit chevybaseball.com.

About Chevrolet

Founded in Detroit in 1911, Chevrolet celebrates its centennial as a global automotive brand with annual sales of about 4.25 million vehicles in more than 130 countries. Chevrolet provides consumers with fuel-efficient, safe and reliable vehicles that deliver high quality, expressive design, spirited performance and value. The Chevrolet portfolio includes iconic performance cars such as Corvette and Camaro; dependable, long-lasting pickups and SUVs such as Silverado and Suburban; and award-winning passenger cars and crossovers such as Spark, Cruze, Malibu, Equinox and Traverse. Chevrolet also offers "gas-friendly to gas-free" solutions including Cruze Eco and Volt. Cruze Eco offers 42 mpg highway while Volt offers 35 miles of electric, gasoline-free driving and an additional 344 miles of extended range. Most new Chevrolet models offer OnStar safety, security and convenience technologies including OnStar Hands-Free Calling, Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Slowdown. More information regarding Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

About ScottsMiracle-Gro

With approximately $3 billion in worldwide sales, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, The Scotts Company LLC, is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company's brands are the most recognized in the industry. In the U.S., the Company's Scotts®, Miracle-Gro® and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories, as is the consumer Roundup® brand, which is marketed in North America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In the U.S., the Company operates Scotts LawnService®, the second largest residential lawn care service business.  In Europe, the Company's brands include Weedol®, Pathclear®, Evergreen®, Levington®, Miracle-Gro®, KB®, Fertiligene® and Substral®. For additional information, visit us at www.scotts.com.

SOURCE General Motors