First shipment of licensed, postseason 2007 Major League Baseball merchandise, no longer for sale in the United States, will assist northern Ghana flood survivors.

October 23, 2007

As the saying goes: "For every winner, there's a loser."

For some folks in the West African nation of Ghana, however, losers are champions — all because of a winning partnership between Major League Baseball (MLB) and World Vision.

MLB is donating all of its licensed, excess 2007 postseason apparel to World Vision, including shirts and caps featuring teams eliminated in the division playoffs and the losing team of the 2007 World Series. In turn, we are shipping the select goods, no longer saleable in the United States, primarily to countries in Africa whose communities have the greatest needs.

Losers Are Champions

Our first shipment is being sent to recent flood survivors in northern Ghana, who will sport t-shirts and caps declaring the MLB 2007 postseason 'losers' — the Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, California Angels, and Cleveland Indians — as winners.

"The children and families we serve will take great joy in these goods, which are a God-send," says Richard Stearns, president of World Vision U.S. "Especially right now in Ghana, where thousands have lost their homes and what few possessions they had."

Ghana has recently experienced devastating flooding caused by weeks of torrential rains and spillage from the Bagre Dam in nearby Burkina Faso.

According to Ghana's government, the flooding has affected 592 communities, destroyed 20,000 homes, and displaced 260,000 people.

Winning Partnership

For families in Ghana to receive the donated apparel, MLB has worked with its licensees to send the excess merchandise to World Vision's Gifts-in-Kind distribution center in Pittsburgh. Here, it is sorted and packaged for shipment to developing countries, where we have experienced staff and established product distribution networks.

World Vision also is monitoring and tracking the merchandise to ensure it is delivered to the intended recipients who need it most.

"I am gratified to learn about the partnership of Major League Baseball and World Vision to provide assistance to flood victims in northern Ghana," says Pamela E. Bridgewater, U.S. ambassador to Ghana. "This action clearly demonstrates that governments, businesses, foundations, non-governmental organizations, and private citizens can work together to help those in need when natural disasters occur.

"The collective response of the international community to flood victims in Ghana has been encouraging."

As the organization that represents 'America's pastime,' MLB has worked with us previously to collect counterfeit goods confiscated by law enforcement and distribute them to those in need. This effort continues during the 2007 postseason.

Social Responsibility

"Baseball is a social institution with enormous social responsibilities, and this is a tremendous opportunity for Major League Baseball to make an impact on the lives of those in need around the world," concludes Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig. "We are pleased to work with World Vision, which brings more than 50 years of experience successfully assisting millions of people around the world."

Earlier this year, World Vision was pleased to also collaborate with another American sports institution — the National Football League.