Yankees star Curtis Granderson set to tour New Zealand as a Major League Baseball Ambassador
New York Yankees center fielder and 2009 MLB All-Star Curtis Granderson will visit New Zealand Jan. 20-28 as an MLB Ambassador to assist with the growth and promotion of the game of baseball, one of the world’s fastest-growing sports.
Granderson’s visit will coincide with the country’s Oceania Under-16 Baseball Championship Trials, taking place Jan. 25-28 in Pakuranga, which will include teams from Australia and Guam. The winner of the this event will travel to Mexico in 2011 to compete.
“I am anxious to arrive in New Zealand and see first-hand the amount of talent that exists among its athletes,” Granderson stated. “Baseball is one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, and participation numbers in New Zealand have more than doubled in the past year alone. It is an honor to be able to represent Major League Baseball and the New York Yankees while playing a role as the sport further develops in New Zealand.”
The trip and accompanying baseball clinics that Granderson will host will be a rare treat for New Zealand’s young baseball players and athletes from other sports. He will work out with New Zealand’s 16-and-under baseball players preparing for the Oceania Tournament, focusing on improving techniques in hitting, fielding and base running. Granderson will also throw out the first pitch prior to the opening game of the tournament on Jan. 25. The trip will also include Granderson experiencing the many exciting tourist aspects of New Zealand.
“We’re incredibly fortunate that Curtis answered our call to help promote the game of baseball in New Zealand,” said Baseball New Zealand president David Ballinger, who added that Granderson’s trip couldn’t have come at a better time for baseball in the country.
“We believe that baseball is poised for a break-through in the coming years in New Zealand, and Curtis is the perfect role model for us to place before the sports community in this nation to show our young people how an athlete should conduct themselves on and off the field,” added Ballinger, who also runs the Canterbury Baseball Club in Christchurch.
Granderson’s trip to New Zealand was made possible by Major League Baseball and the New York Yankees, as well as the generous support of key Baseball New Zealand sponsors Air New Zealand, SKYCITY Grand Hotel, Tourism New Zealand and Giltrap Prestige.
“This is officially my fourth trip as an overseas ambassador for Major League Baseball. The amount of support that Baseball New Zealand has received from key groups throughout the country is exciting, not only for me, but for the future of baseball in New Zealand,” Granderson said.
In past years, Granderson has visited Europe, South Africa and China on past MLB Ambassador Tours.
Granderson has established himself as one of the top outfielders in all of baseball. Following his trade to the Yankees in the 2009 off-season, Granderson recovered from an early-season injury to hit 24 homeruns, score 76 runs and finish with 67 RBI. In just over five full seasons, he has recorded 126 homeruns, 64 triples and scored 511 runs. His career .993 fielding percentage in the outfield ranks as the fourth-best among all active MLB center fielders.
Off the field, Granderson is just as impressive. As a graduate of the Univ. of Illinois-Chicago with a double-major, and the son of former Chicago Public Schools educators, Granderson’s mission is to enhance and improve the educational experience for youth nationwide. He has established the Grand Kids Foundation, which promotes creativity among youth, assists with the funding of educational initiatives, provides supplies to schools in need and promotes baseball in America’s inner cities. Granderson makes numerous school visits each year to share his passion for education.
Granderson also serves as an official spokesperson for First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move anti-obesity campaign, RBI Baseball and the MLBPA’s Action Team program.
For his work, Granderson was named the 2009 MLBPA Marvin Miller Man of the Year, and in 2008 was awarded the John Henry “Pop” Loyd Award by the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. He has also been nominated for the prestigious Roberto Clemente Award three times.
Thanks for this nice post!
Met Curtis at the New Zealand Breakers game tonight, what a good bloke!!!