Ceremonial & off-field activities for Game 1 of the 2019 World Series presented by YouTube TV
Major League Baseball today announced the ceremonial & off-field activities for Game 1 of the 2019 World Series presented by YouTube TV. The 115th Fall Classic between the American League Champion Houston Astros and the National League Champion Washington Nationals begins tonight, Tuesday, October 22nd, at Minute Maid Park with LIVE coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes and ESPN Radio. All games exclusively covered by FOX will be available to MLB.TV subscribers who are authenticated subscribers to the applicable network through a participating pay TV provider. ESPN Radio will provide live national coverage of all 2019 World Series games.
FALL CLASSIC LEGACY INITIATIVE BEGINS
The Washington Nationals’ first World Series berth is not the only bit of history being made this October as MLB is launching the inaugural “Fall Classic Legacy Initiative,” which has provided funding for community enrichment projects to both the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals in recognition of each Club advancing to the 2019 World Series. Each team and Major League Baseball will unveil the projects, seeded by a $25,000 grant, during the World Series. The Astros will unveil plans for a dedicated waiting space for teens at Texas Children’s Hospital prior to Game Two, and the Nationals will commemorate renovations to a field used by Capitol Hill Little League prior to Game Three. This effort is an extension of the longstanding All-Star Legacy Initiative, which has contributed more than $90 million to enrichment projects in All-Star host communities since 1997.
MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR ERIC COOPER: MLB will hold a Moment of Silence for the late 21-year Major League Umpire Eric Cooper. Throughout the 2019 World series, the umpiring crew will wear a uniform patch in Cooper’s memory.
NATIONAL ANTHEM & GOD BLESS AMERICA PERFORMANCES: The National Anthem for Game 1 will be performed by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and panelist on FOX’s hit television competition “_The Masked Singer_” Nicole Scherzinger. God Bless America will be performed by US Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Doug Rader.
CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH: The Ceremonial First Pitch for Game 1 will be thrown by 2017 World Series Champion Brian McCann to his former teammate Evan Gattis.
“PLAY BALL!”: Pro Bowl defensive end for the Houston Texans, and massive Astros fan, JJ Watt, will yell “Play Ball!” prior to the game’s first pitch.
SPECIAL GUEST FOR GAME 1: Major League Baseball has invited a special young fan to a first-class experience at Game 1, including attending Batting Practice, meeting Commissioner Rob Manfred, Major League players and MLB Network talent. In partnership with Make-A-Wish, MLB has invited Logan Carman, 19 from Tamarac, FL, to the first game of the 2019 Fall Classic. Logan, whose favorite players are Javy Báez and Max Scherzer, will be joined by his mother and cousin. Since 2000, MLB has granted more than 100 wishes to attend the All-Star Game and World Series Games.
GAME BALL DELIVERY: Members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston will deliver the game ball of Games One and Two to the mound. Jacquelyn Dominguez, 16, from the Johnny Mitchell Boys & Girls Club will deliver the game ball for Game 1. Her favorite player is Carlos Correa, and she currently plays center field for the JV softball team for Ball High School in Galveston.
BUDWEISER RESPONSIBLE FAN: MLB, Anheuser-Busch and Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition will host Laura Lawhon, the Astros winner of the “Responsibility Has Its Rewards” sweepstakes, at Game 1 of the World Series. Lawhon, from Houston, TX, was randomly selected after she pledged to be a “Responsible Fan.” One of more than 500,000 MLB fans who pledged to be Responsible Fans this year at ballparks, Lawhon won a pair of tickets to Game 1.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY DURING WORLD SERIES: MLB will continue to be sustainability-focused at its jewel events through the following environmentally responsible practices:
- Local Green Teams will work with the host Club to walk through the aisles between innings to collect recyclables and raise awareness for what fans can do in their everyday lives to be more “green.”
- All water and energy used at the ballparks during World Series will be offset through a partnership with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation
- MLB will provide reusable water bottles and water filtration systems to broadcast crews with FOX and MLB Network working the World Series, eliminating the single use of thousands of plastic water bottles.
KULTURECITY REPRESENTED AT FALL CLASSIC CITIES: KultureCity will be at both Minute Maid Park and Nationals Park this World Series. KultureCity is the leading nonprofit that advocates for those with sensory challenges such as autism and post-traumatic stress disorder. A mobile sensory room will be on the concourse at both ballparks (Right Field Gate at Minute Maid Park and Section 109 at Nationals Park). KultureCity trained volunteers will be on-site to assist any guests and provide information on the organization. In addition, Sensory Bags filled with noise cancelling headphones, fidget tools and other sensory calming devices will be distributed.