Major League Baseball today announced the ceremonial and off-field activities for Games One and Two of the 2024 World Series presented by Capital One. The 120th Fall Classic between the National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the American League Champion New York Yankees begins tomorrow, Friday, October 25^th, at Dodger Stadium with LIVE coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes and ESPN Radio. Game One of the 2024 World Series also will be broadcast on Univision in conjunction with FOX Sports and FOX Deportes.

A TRIBUTE FOR FERNANDO: The Dodgers and Major League Baseball will pay tribute to Dodger great and 1981 World Series Champion Fernando Valenzuela. A moment of silence will be observed prior to Game One, and Dodgers players will wear a “34” patch on their uniforms for the entirety of the World Series.

CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCHES: In celebration of the great Fall Classic history of “Dodger Baseball,” the following will participate in ceremonial first pitches, including:

• Game One – A pair of World Series MVPs will participate in a ceremonial first pitch moment – Steve Yeager (1981) and Orel Hershiser (1988).
• Game Two – Former teammates Andre Ethier and Matt Kemp will be part of the first pitch ceremony before Game Two. Each player was part of National League Champion Dodger teams (Ethier – 2017; Kemp – 2018).

NATIONAL ANTHEM PERFORMANCES:

• Dodger superfan and Grammy Award winning country music star Brad Paisley will perform the National Anthem before Game One on Friday, October 25^th.
• 2023 Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth Talent Performer Pearle Peterson, 19, will make her return to the World Series to sing the “Star Spangled Banner” before Game Two for the second consecutive year on Saturday, October 26^th.
• NOTE: Originally set on attending Law School, last year’s Fall Classic performance inspired Pearle to pursue a musical career.

FALL CLASSIC LEGACY TO GIVE BACK TO KIDS FROM CLIFFORD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LOS ANGELES PLUS SPECIAL YOUTH GUESTS AT THE FALL CLASSIC: As part of the MLB Together platform (www.MLBTogether.com), a pair of important efforts in the spirit of Community, Philanthropy and Youth Engagement will take place in Los Angeles prior to Games One and Two.

Before Game One, MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers (LAD) and Dodgers Foundation (LADF) will unveil plans to support Clifford Elementary School, which is located in the community surrounding Dodger Stadium. Together, MLB and the Dodger Foundation will:

• The project is in partnership with Catching Hope Foundation* and part of LAD and LADF’s broader LA Reads program. The special Legacy Project will feature a renovated outdoor common area at Clifford Elementary School, which aims to inspire students to read, learn, and find serenity in an outdoor learning space. In addition to the physical transformation of the space, 200 new books will be added. Every student at the school will go home with four new books to add to their own home library.
• To maximize the impact of this legacy initiative, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Dodgers Foundation and Catching Hope Foundation have committed to matching MLB legacy project funds and committing to additional funding to the literacy corner renovations, to be unveiled in 2025.

Game Two will celebrate youth baseball and softball, and MLB has invited over 100 youth who participate in various MLB-led and localized community programs all around the country. These student-athletes will participate in a special PLAY BALL event on Saturday, October 26^th at the Dodgers Dreamfield at Edward Vincent Park in Ingelwood. Later that evening, the youth will be recognized at Dodger Stadium during pregame ceremonies and attend the game as guests of Major League Baseball. These youth student-athletes include:

• 2024 Nike RBI World Series Champions – Several members from each championship team of the 2024 Nike RBI World Series will be on-hand, including Chicago White Sox Nike RBI (junior & senior baseball divisions) and Houston Astros Nike RBI (softball division).
• NOTE: In total, there are nearly 30 Nike RBI players and coaches attending the Fall Classic
• MLB Youth Academy Network “Youth of the Year” – Ten members of the MLB Youth Academies from around the country and Puerto Rico also will be on-hand. The honorees are their respective Academy’s “Youth of the Year,” which recognizes a member who has had a positive year on and off the field, has overcome challenges in their lives, or has made a positive impact in their community:
• Saul Carpio from Montebello, CA (MLB Compton Youth Academy)
• Madeline Cohen from Philadelphia, PA (Philadelphia Phillies MLB Urban Youth Academy)
• Josnel Ortiz from Yabucoa, Puerto Rico (Puerto Rico Baseball Academy)
• Sophia Smith from Kansas City, MO (Kansas City Royals MLB Urban Youth Academy)
• Armando Bailey from Humble, TX (Houston Astros MLB Youth Academy)
• Caitlin Baldwin from New Orleans, LA (New Orleans MLB Youth Academy)
• Giovanca Frias from Irving, TX (Texas Rangers Youth Academy)
• Avery Battle from Cincinnati, OH (P&G MLB Cincinnati Reds Youth Academy)
• Demi Small from New York, NY (DREAM MLB Youth Academy)
• Noelle O’Brien from Washington, D.C. (Washington National Youth Baseball Academy)
• CHEVROLET’S “MLB Develops MVP” and “PLAY BALL Player of the Month”: Chevrolet continued its commitment to youth baseball & softball, including its support of Baseball’s “PLAY BALL” initiative through two awards that recognize outstanding performances of youth around the U.S. and Canada. This includes the “MLB Develops MVP” Award, which recognizes standout performances by youth baseball and softball players at some of the premier, MLB-led league and development events. Additionally, Chevrolet is acknowledging important contributions to the sport from youth around the country (two players per month), as nominated by their coaches, community leaders or local league officials through the “PLAY BALL Player of the Month.” These individuals are as follows:
• MLB Develops MVP:
• Clayton Armah from Great Falls, VA – Breakthrough Series (Boys Baseball)
• Jermirah Birchett from Jersey City, NJ – Softball Elite Development Invitational (Girls Softball)
• Carmen Bivins from Missouri City, TX – All-Star Jennie Finch Classic (Girls Softball)
• Jada Cooper from Houston, TX – Nike RBI World Series Softball Championship (Girls Softball)
• Izzie Dieter from San Diego, CA – Trailblazer Series (Girls Baseball)
• Connor Elenteny from Chicago, IL – Nike RBI World Series Sr. Division Championship (Boys Baseball)
• Gavin Fien from Temecula, CA – MLB-USA Baseball High School All-American Game (Boys Baseball)
• Keamani Fujimoto from Williamsburg, VA – Breakthrough Series (Girls Softball)
• Jalen McLin from McKinney, TX – All-Star Commissioner’s Cup (Boys Baseball)
• Luciana Moreno from Sun Prairie, WI – Girls Baseball Elite Development Invitational (Girls Baseball)
• Anthony Murphy from Corona, CA – Breakthrough Series Invitational Tournament (Boys Baseball)
• Josiah Patterson from Chicago, IL – Nike RBI World Series Jr. Division Championship (Boys Baseball)
• Rookie Shepard from North Las Vegas, NV – Breakthrough Series Invitational Tournament (Boys Baseball)
• PLAY BALL Player of the Month:
• Carissa Strange from Phoenix, AZ (April)
• Hudson Carter from Bountiful, UT (April)
• Piper West from Franklin, KY (May)
• Jace Reichbach from Parkland, FL (May)
• Mya Rosploch from La Salle, IL (June)
• Trevor Roberts from Stormville, NY (June)
• Mikayla Condray from Wright City, MO (July)
• Zayne Gonzales from Gooding, ID (July)
• Sammy Barrea from Corcoran, CA (August)
• Lillian Roush from New Haven, WV (August)
• Lillian Grounds from Chesapeake, VA (September)
• Marco DiBenedetto from Lake Forth, FL (September)
• JENNIE FINCH EMPOWERMENT AWARD + ARM & HAMMER CHECK PRESENTATION: The 6^th season of the Jennie Finch Empowerment Award presented by ARM & HAMMER will honor four young women who demonstrated leadership characteristics on and off the softball field. As part of the pregame recognition, representatives from Church & Dwight Co., Inc., will commemorate a $40,000 scholarship donation ($10,000 on behalf of each winner) to the following recipients who each participated in an MLB-led softball programs:
• Yasmin Burrell from Spring Hill, MD – Softball Breakthrough Series
• Hunter Salausa-Galletes from Waipahu, HI– Nike RBI World Series
• Sofia Santana from Carolina, PR – Softball Elite Development Invitational
• Katelen Pedroza from Bell Gardens, CA – All-Star Jennie Finch Classic
• The 2024 American Legion Champions, Troy Alabama Post 70 from Troy, AL also will attend Game Two in celebration of their championship.
• Pitch, Hit & Run Finalists: 46 youth baseball and softball athletes will be recognized for being finalists of Pitch, Hit & Run, MLB’s official youth skills competitions. The youth, ages 7-14, will compete in the finals at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, October 26th during the World Series travel day.

MAKE-A-WISH FOR THE WORLD SERIES: In keeping with the youth recognition theme of Game Two, MLB and the Dodgers will provide a special experience for six young fans from around the country and Canada to have their wishes granted, through Make-A-Wish, to attend the World Series with their families.

BGCA GAME BALL DELIVERY: Alumna of the Watts Willowbrook Boys & Girls Club in Los Angeles Julieta R., 18, will deliver the Game Ball for Game One. Nico F., 18, the 2024-25 National Youth of the Year for Boys & Girls Clubs of America will do the honors for Game Two. Julieta is a Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Legacy Scholar, student at University of California, Fullerton, played baseball in Little League and softball in high school, both of which she attributes to teaching her the value of teamwork and determination. Mookie Betts is her favorite player. Nico, a Political Science major at Florida State University, an alum of Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida.

WORLD SERIES PRESENTING SPONSOR SUPPORTS JACKIE ROBINSON FOUNDATION: Capital One, the presenting sponsor of the World Series and Official Bank and Credit Card Partner of MLB, will present a check donation of $250,000 to the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF). Capital One continued its partnership with the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) for a third consecutive year by donating $1,000 for each “Capital One Walk-Off” this season. This donation will support the Foundation’s initiatives including its JRF Scholars program, which provides scholarship and leadership development opportunities to students as they pursue higher education.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY DURING WORLD SERIES: As part of Major League Baseball’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship, MLB has ensured that the 2024 World Series incorporates environmentally friendly features and activities. Efforts include:

• World Series Green Teams will collect recyclables between innings and raise awareness for what fans can do in their everyday life to be more environmentally conscious during Games 1-7.
• MLB Green is donating $10,000 on behalf of the Los Angeles Dodgers to LA Conservation Corps, a local non-profit with workforce development programs that offer youth and young adults paid work experience on a variety of conservation projects as well as the chance to build valuable life skills and personal resilience in a supportive environment.
• For more information, please visit mlbtogether.com/green.

SENSORY INCLUSION AT DODGER STADIUM: In partnership with KultureCity, MLB will provide additional sensory bags throughout the World Series. The Los Angeles Dodgers unveiled their refreshed sensory room (located on the first floor of the Right Field Pavilion, across from the restrooms) this season. KultureCity volunteers will be onsite so guests can access the room or guests can go to the Welcome Center in Center Field for more information. KultureCity is the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to fighting for inclusion and acceptance of all individuals. KultureCity advocates for those with sensory challenges such as autism and PTSD, just to name a few. KultureCity provides training and equipment to public and private spaces to create an inclusive experience for everyone to fight against social isolation.