Play Ball initiative showcased in Chicago

CHICAGO — A powerhouse lineup of Commissioner Rob Manfred, Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts, Hall of Famers Ken Griffey Jr. and Fergie Jenkins, Cubs legends Kerry Wood, Mark Prior and Matt Clement, just-named Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, USA Softball spokesperson Destinee Martinez and youth baseball champs joined forces on Saturday morning before Game 4 of the World Series to bring Major League Baseball’s latest activity as part of the Play Ball initiative to local children with a message of playing the game “anywhere and anytime.”

The event was held at Kerry Wood Cubs Field, a brand-new facility brought to reality by the former Cubs pitcher who once struck out 20 batters in a game in May 1998. In addition, Granderson, the Mets’ All-Star outfielder, gave Manfred a morning tour of the recently completed Curtis Granderson Stadium at the University of Illinois-Chicago, his alma mater, a facility that he funded with a $5 million grant. These are two notable examples of a commitment in Chicago by local entities to create more spaces where kids really can have fun learning baseball and learning life skills.

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“I have one of the best jobs in the world. If you can’t be a Major League player, about the best thing that can happen to you is you get elected Commissioner of Baseball if you love the game. And the very best part of my job is events like this,” Manfred told the assembled kids in front of him on an unusually mild late-October day. “Events where we get together, get some kids together, introduce them to our great game, give you a chance to interact with the game and realize that you can play baseball lots of different ways. You don’t have to have 18 kids and an umpire. Baseball really is fun.”

Game Date Time (air time/game time) Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 25   CLE 6, CHC 0 Gm 2 Oct. 26   CHC 5, CLE 1 Gm 3 Oct. 28   CLE 1, CHC 0 Gm 4 Oct. 29 CLE @ CHC FOX Gm 5 Oct. 30 8 p.m. CLE @ CHC FOX *Gm 6 Nov. 1 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX *Gm 7 Nov. 2 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX * If necessary | All times listed ET • World Series coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Indians

Granderson said “fun” is the operative word. The morning after receiving the prestigious humanitarian award by MLB, he was right back out amongst children, starting at a T-ball station and then moving around to watch them try other various skills.

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