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• Grey Worldwide Retained by World Baseball Classic

  05Oct
  Categories: WBC2006 Comments: 0

  NEW YORK, Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ — World Baseball Classic, Inc. has awarded Grey Worldwide’s BuzzGrey unit advertising and public relations duties for the launch of the first-ever World Baseball Classic tournament. This unprecedented global event will be held throughout March 2006 and will feature the best baseball players from around the world competing for their home countries and territories.

  “Grey Worldwide’s creative energy and strategic ideas will certainly help us make this international event the start of a new tradition,” said Paul Archey, Senior Vice President, Major League Baseball International Baseball Operations.

  “Grey is expert, everywhere, and innovative. The World Baseball Classic games feature the very best baseball players from around the world in a unique and exciting international format. It’s a perfect fit,” said Gene Orza, chief operating officer of the Major League Baseball Players Association.

  Maureen Maldari, Managing Partner/EVP of BuzzGrey said, “We are extremely excited and honored to be part of an effort that celebrates the growing international flavor of baseball.”

  BuzzGrey headed the fully integrated pitch that included representatives of Grey companies GCI and WingLatino. The World Baseball Classic assignment involves strategic planning, creative, public relations, marketing, research, promotional and advertising components.

  About The World Baseball Classic

  The World Baseball Classic tournament was established by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association in cooperation with professional baseball leagues and baseball federations around the world. The 16-team tournament, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, will feature the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories. The World Baseball Classic tournament is scheduled to take place in March 2006 at venues in the United States, Latin America and Asia.

  About Grey Worldwide

  Grey Worldwide New York is the headquarters and largest office of Grey Worldwide, one of the world’s largest advertising agency networks. Grey Worldwide is a partner company of Grey Global Group, a WPP company (Nasdaq: WPPGY - News). Grey Global Group ranks among the largest global communications companies in the world. It operates branded independent business units in many communications disciplines including general advertising, public relations/public affairs, healthcare marketing, brand development, relationship marketing, sales promotion and interactive marketing, and on-line and off-line media services.

  Grey Worldwide Retained by World Baseball Classic

• Canada hunt for talent

  05Oct
  Categories: Canada, Pool B, WBC2006 Comments: 0

  To prepare the World Baseball Classic next March, Canada full tilt to find as much talent as they can to organize Nation Team.

  Chris Woodward, utility man of Toronto Blue Jays, whose wife is a Toronto native and is trying to become a Canadian for WBC2006. He can play all four infield positions plus the outfield and bats right-handed with some pop, which Canada needs.

  Mark Teahen, left-handed third baseman of Kansas City Royals, obtained Canadian citizenship in 2004 through his father, Mike, who was born in St. Marys, Ont. and played for the national team, is eligible to play.

  Jesse Crain, reliever of Minnesota Twins reliever, was born in Toronto but moved back to USA when he was three months old. He previously pitched for the United States during 2004 Athens Olympics Qualifying Games, but he decided to switch to play for Canada and has received a preliminary OK from USA Baseball, will be an asset for the bullpen.

  Rosters recently increased from 27 to 30, with a minimum of 13 pitchers and three catchers, and Team officials are looking over the eligibility rules and Canada’s immigration laws, try to build the best team with five months to go.

  World Baseball Classic organizers recently sent a memo to every team clarifying those eligibility rules. In order to participate, a player must have been either born in a country, hold citizenship there, be a permanent legal resident, have a parent who is a citizen or hold some other ancestral ties to the land (such as a grandparent).

  Baseball Canada are also in the process of requesting permission to use big named players like Jason Bay, Larry Walker, Justin Morneau and Rich Harden.

  Teams aren’t likely to be officially announced until December or January at the earliest. Canada is tentatively scheduled to open its training camp at Toronto Blue Jays’ facilities in Dunedin, Florida on March 3, giving players a chance to spend about a week and a half at their teams’ spring training camp.

  Canada leaving no stone unturned in hunt for World Baseball Classic talent