Nation's Top High School Baseball Players Return to San Diego

Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith Returns as Honorary Chairman; Final Rosters to Be Announced

SAN DIEGO – June 30, 2009 – For the third time in four years, 40 of the nation’s top high school baseball players will descend upon San Diego to play in the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic, the country’s premier high school baseball showcase. This year’s game will be played on Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. PDT in PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres, and will once again be televised live nationally on FOX Sports Net.

The Classic features an East vs. West format, played annually during the late summer before most participants have returned to school. For the second consecutive year, the Aflac Classic will be played in a major league venue. The 2008 showcase was played in Los Angeles’ historic Dodger Stadium. The 2006 and 2007 games were held at San Diego State University’s Tony Gwynn Stadium.

The Aflac All-American Classic, however, is more than just a game. As part of Aflac’s ongoing commitment to the fight against childhood cancer, all game proceeds from the 2009 Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic will benefit Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Since 2003, the game has generated nearly $685,000 for charity.

“The Aflac All-American Classic highlights baseball’s stars of tomorrow while enabling us to also extend our reach in the fight against pediatric cancer with Rady Children’s Hospital,” said Jeff Charney, Aflac’s chief marketing officer. “The city of San Diego has always offered tremendous support for this game and we are thrilled to bring it back to the community for another year.”

Hall of Fame shortstop, and former San Diego Padre, Ozzie Smith, will once again return as this year’s honorary chairman. In addition to helping promote the game, Smith will be on-site in San Diego for game week activities and to spend time with the players. This will be Smith’s third time as the Aflac Classic’s honorary chairman. Past honorary chairmen have included Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson (2006), Cal Ripken (2004, 2005) and Stan Musial (2003).
“It is an honor to once again be named honorary chairman for such a prestigious high school baseball showcase and return to the home of my first major league team,” said Smith. “This game has risen to such a level that the players have a unique opportunity to showcase their talents in front of a national audience and MLB scouts — an opportunity I wish I had starting out.”

Today also marks the release of the full 40-player roster for the 2009 Aflac Classic. Aflac All-Americans are chosen by the experts at the official selection partner, Perfect Game USA.

The Aflac All-American Classic boasts alumni who have had a huge impact in Major League Baseball’s first-year player drafts. Since the game’s inception in 2003, 65 alumni have been selected in the first round, including three No. 1 overall selections: Matt Bush (2004, San Diego) and Justin Upton (2005, Arizona), and this year’s top pick, Tim Beckham (2008, Tampa). There were 10 Aflac All-Americans taken in the first round of the 2009 draft, including the No. 3 pick, Donavan Tate, by the Padres. San Diego also drafted 2008 Aflac All-Americans Everett Williams and Keyvius Sampson.

The Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic is considered the country’s marquee prep All-American event. All participants must have just completed their junior year of high school, be in good academic standing and display redeeming qualities off the field that embody the ideals of the sport of baseball, including discipline, determination and hard work.

Click here for the Full Roster.

About Aflac

For more than 50 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting medical event causes financial challenges. As the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan, Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. In 2009, Aflac was recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for the third consecutive year and was also named by the Reputation Institute as the Most Reputable Company in the Global Insurance Industry for the second consecutive year. In 2009 Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the eleventh consecutive year. Fortune magazine also ranked Aflac No. 1 on its global list of the Most Admired Companies in the Life and Health Insurance category. Aflac appears on Hispanic Enterprise magazine’s list of the 50 Best Companies for Supplier Diversity and on Black Enterprise magazine’s list of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity. Aflac was also named by Forbes magazine as America’s Best-Managed Company in the Insurance category. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com.