Baseball and softball are literally going global this weekend.
From Friday, 10 June, through Sunday, 12 June, Major League Baseball (MLB) and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) clubs will host events in their communities to celebrate baseball/softball and encourage kids to play baseball from every corner of the earth.
The Play Ball Weekend initiatives will spread the game to all continents. While some academics argue how many continents the earth truly has, we're going with seven, because bigger is better.
The Play Ball Weekend is part of a joint programme by MLB, USA Baseball and USA Softball. Clubs are partnering with local and national baseball and softball partners to incorporate programming uniquely suited to their markets.
Initiatives include clinics, MLB's youth skills competition named Pitch, Hit & Run, Junior Home Run Derby competitions, youth baseball and softball tournaments, and games and events.
On Friday, 10 June, Because Baseball will host a clinic for Egyptian youth held by former MLB pitcher Cory Gearrin, former San Francisco Giants general manager Bobby Evans, and St Mary's College pitching coach Josh Nashed, and Because Baseball coaching fellow Terry Johnson.
The McMurdo Station, the largest Antarctic research station, will feature a ceremonial pitch to commemorate the Station's annual softball tournament, held in January, the only time of the year when outdoor activities are manageable.
On Sunday, 12 June, MLB Japan will host an event at the Meiji Jingu Rubber-ball Baseball Ground in Tokyo featuring former New York Mets pitcher Ryota Igarashi and former Seattle Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma.
Baseball Australia will celebrate the Play Ball Weekend during the U-12 National Championships.
MLB Europe will hold a baseball event for children in London's Regent Park.
The Brazilian Baseball Softball Federation will hold a Play Ball event at the Ibiuna Academy in São Paulo.
The Play Ball programme is a signature youth engagement activity scheduled on key dates throughout the MLB season.
