Discounted Registration Still Available at www.allstargame.com
Release provided courtesy of Major Leage Baseball
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NEW YORK - June 18, 2009 - Hall of Famer Lou Brock will be the official starter with Hall of Famer Rollie Fingers and former Cardinal Vince Coleman handing out medals and congratulating fans as they cross the finish line of the first-ever All-Star Charity 5K & Fun Run presented by Sports Authority and Nike, which will take place on Sunday, July 12. This event is part of the 2009 MLB All-Star Summer program dedicated to charitable initiatives and giving back to the community. All race related net proceeds will be donated equally to three charities supporting cancer research and education -- the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Stand Up To Cancer and Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.
Hall of Famer Lou Brock is recognized as one of the most talented and gifted baserunners in Major League history. Brock, who had 938 career stolen bases, ranks second all-time in stolen bases and each year, the National League’s leader in stolen bases is presented with the Lou Brock Award. Lou led the N.L. in stolen bases eight times (1966-1969; 1971-1974) and became the first player to steal 50 bases and hit 20 home runs in the same season in 1967. Brock helped lead the Cardinals to three National League pennants and two World Series Championships in 1964 and 1967. In 21 career postseason contests, he batted .391 with four home runs, 13 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Lou, who had his number 20 retired by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979, collected 3,023 hits during his 19-year career with the Chicago Cubs (1961-1964) and St. Louis Cardinals (1964-1979).
Rollie Fingers helped lead the way in defining the role of the modern day closer. Over his 17-year Major League career with the Oakland Athletics, the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers, Fingers was selected to seven All-Star Games and appeared in 16 World Series games, fashioning a 1.35 ERA and collecting six saves in the Fall Classic. Known for his handle-bar moustache, Fingers was a key part of the A’s team that won three consecutive World Series Championships from 1972-1974. Fingers won both the American League MVP and Cy Young Award in 1981 with the Milwaukee Brewers. In 1992, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and is currently one of only eight players to have their number retired by more than one team. He finished his career with a 2.90 ERA and 341 saves.
Vince Coleman was a two-time National League All-Star while a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Known for his speed on the basepaths, Coleman set numerous stolen base records. In his N.L. Rookie of the Year Award-winning season in 1985, Coleman stole 110 bases, setting a single-season stolen base record for a rookie. He became the first player in Major League history to steal 100 bases in each of his first three seasons. Coleman led the N.L. in stolen bases in each of his six seasons with the Cardinals. In 1987, Coleman recorded his 500th stolen base in just his 804th game, the fewest that any player has needed to reach that plateau, as he helped the Cardinals reach the World Series that season. Coleman stole six bases without getting caught in the 1987 Fall Classic. Overall, Coleman played 13 Major League seasons (1985-1997) with the Cardinals, the New York Mets, the Kansas City Royals, the Seattle Mariners, the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers.
Participants will run and walk on a baseball-themed course featuring appearances by MLB legends and mascots. All finishers will receive a commemorative All-Star medal and t-shirt. The course will begin at Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals and host of the 2009 MLB All-Star Game, and will finish at America’s Center, home of Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest. The 5K portion of the event, which will be an officially timed event, will begin at 7:30 a.m. CT with the family-friendly 1.1 mile Fun Run starting at 8:00 a.m. CT. Sign up by July 2 and receive a discounted price of $30 (adult) and $25 (children 12 and under) for the 5K and $20 (adult) and $15 (children 12 and under) for the Fun Run. Space is limited so participants are encouraged to sign up early. Registration and event information is available at www.allstargame.com. Information is also available at all nine St. Louis area Sports Authority locations.
The All-Star Charity 5K and Fun Run presented by Sports Authority and Nike will be joining an All-Star Summer event line-up that focuses on giving back to the community including the MLB All-Star Charity Concert benefiting Stand Up to Cancer; People “All-Stars Among Us,” a national campaign with PEOPLE Magazine that will recognize individuals who have served their communities in extraordinary ways; and in-stadium events highlighted by Gatorade All-Star Workout Day in which nearly $5 million will be donated to local and national charities through MLB Charities and Cardinals Care. The charity and community service initiatives, which will be themed “Going Beyond,” will be the most extensive in Major League Baseball All-Star history and will complement the celebration of history and traditions of Baseball and the St. Louis Cardinals.
About 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 80th Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday, July 14th in St. Louis and will feature the best of the American League taking on the top players of the National League. Building up to the excitement of the All-Star Game, Major League Baseball will conduct a wide variety of special events and charitable activities for fans both inside and outside of Busch Stadium. At the ballpark, the events will include Taco Bell All-Star Sunday on Sunday, July 12th featuring the XM All-Star Futures Game and the Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game, and Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13th featuring the State Farm Home Run Derby. Outside of the ballpark, fans will have an opportunity to experience All-Star Summer through a variety of special events including Major League Baseball All-Star FanFest, the five-day interactive fan festival; the MLB All-Star Charity Concert benefiting Stand Up To Cancer, a free concert for fans under The Gateway Arch; the All-Star Charity 5K & Fun Run presented by Sports Authority and Nike, a charity run on a baseball-themed route to benefit three cancer organizations; and the All-Star Game Red Carpet Show presented by Chevy, a free parade of All-Stars leading into Busch Stadium. The Midsummer Classic will be televised nationally on FOX Sports and will be shown around the world by Major League Baseball International. For more information about 2009 All-Star Summer, visit www.allstargame.com.
