Ceremonial & off-field activities for Game Five of the 2024 World Series presented by Capital One

2009 World Series MVP Hideki Matsui to Throw Ceremonial First Pitch; National Anthem Performance by 13-time Grammy Award Winner Babyface

October 30th, 2024

Major League Baseball today announced the ceremonial and off-field activities for Game Five of the 2024 World Series presented by Capital One. The 120th Fall Classic between the American League Champion New York Yankees and the National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers continues tonight, Wednesday, October 30th, at Yankee Stadium with LIVE coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes and ESPN Radio.

CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH: The MVP of the 2009 World Series, Hideki Matsui, will throw the ceremonial first pitch.

NATIONAL ANTHEM PERFORMANCE: Singer, songwriter and record producer Babyface will perform the National Anthem. This is the 13-time Grammy Award winner’s first performance at a World Series game.

BGCA GAME BALL DELIVERY: Member of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club, Nicholas L., 13, will deliver the Game Ball to the Yankee Stadium mound for Game Five. Nicholas, a student at Middle School 101, has been playing for Throgs Neck Little League since tee-ball.

T-MOBILE’S “RALLY FOR RELIEF”: T-Mobile has launched “Rally for Relief” to provide contributions to the American Red Cross in support of communities affected by hurricanes and tropical storms in 2024, including Hurricanes Helene and Milton. T-Mobile is donating $25,000 for every home run hit during the Fall Classic, and also will add $10 when anyone texts ‘RALLY’ to 90999, for a $1 million total commitment from T-Mobile. For more than a decade, T-Mobile and the Red Cross have partnered to help support communities in need. The Red Cross responds to an average of 65,000 disasters annually providing anyone in need with safe shelter, meals, relief supplies, emotional support and more. As a proud partner of Major League Baseball, T-Mobile’s commitment joins the sport’s overall contributions to relief and recovery efforts by MLB and Clubs, which totals nearly $4 million.

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 New York Yankees to Rock and Wrap It Up!, a local non-profit committed to reducing poverty and carbon footprints. After each game/event hosted at Yankee Stadium, all prepared food that has not been unwrapped is collected and distributed to various food pantries and soup kitchens throughout the surrounding communities. In excess of 120,000 New Yorkers have received provisions from this initiative. In addition to food recovery, Rock and Wrap It Up! educates municipalities, soup kitchens and food banks about tactics and strategies to help reduce poverty and feed the hungry.

SENSORY INCLUSION AT YANKEE STADIUM: Major League Baseball and the New York Yankees are committed to making the World Series sensory inclusive.

  • In partnership with KultureCity, MLB will provide additional sensory bags throughout the World Series. KultureCity volunteers will be onsite distributing sensory bags at their sensory activation (located inside Gate 2). 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.
  • The New York Yankees unveiled their brand-new sensory room (located on the Terrace Level at Section 320C) this season. The room is designed to accommodate fans who may be experiencing sensory overload and includes activity panels, bean bag chairs, bubble walls, and fidget toys among other items to assist fans. This space became possible through collaborative efforts with One World Middle School, R.A.I.N., and former NYC Schools Chancellor Dr. Meisha Porter. In addition to this room, MLB and the New York Yankees unveiled plans to build a new sensory room at One World Middle School as part of the World Series Legacy initiative prior to Game Three.