MAJOR LEAGUERS IN ACTION
______________________________________________________

Meet the Action Team Players in the New PSA:
Inviting All Schools to Get in on the Action!

Detroit Action Team players Curtis Granderson (left) and Nate Robertson (right) inspire students to make a big difference in their communities by volunteering with the Action Team.

As a Mobile Action Team player, Jake Peavy gives back by volunteering his time to activities like the Action Team PSA. Here he’s with a child who is developmentally disabled in a photo from the PSA shoot.

Shane Victorino (left) and fellow Phillies Action Team player Ryan Howard (right) help out with an Action Team project to promote reading at an outdoor literacy event.

Starting in September 2009, the Action Team expands to communities large and small around the country. All high schools are now invited to join the Action Team and every school that enrolls can get in on the action!

Three Major League baseball players have taken the lead to encourage schools to join the Action Team. Curtis Granderson of the Detroit Action Team, Jake Peavy of the Mobile, Alabama Action Team, and Shane Victorino of the Philadelphia Action Team star with Dallas-Ft. Worth Action Team Captains in a new Public Service Announcement (PSA). This trio of Action Team players is proud to represent all Major League baseball players in inviting all schools to “Get in on the Action!” (See Service In Action for a behind-the-scenes peek at the PSA.)

Seasoned Action Team Players

Granderson, Peavy, and Victorino have been dedicated Action Team players for several years. Each supports local Action Team Captains through leadership training and recognition activities.

So what changes now that the Action Team is expanding? Each player looks forward to encouraging even greater numbers of students to volunteer and make a difference in their communities through service. Starting next fall, Action Team Captains will participate in monthly teleconferences with Major League baseball players. Granderson, Peavy, and Victorino all expect to be involved in some of those conversations with new high school Action Team Captains

In addition, as the school year wraps up in spring 2010, all Action Team Captains will receive player-signed certificates of achievement. Granderson, Peavy, and Victorino plan to be among Major Leaguers who will recognize outstanding volunteerism by personally signing certificates.

Motivated to Make a Difference

Each player has a strong commitment to volunteerism and to the Action Team. Granderson generously donates his time to spread the word to Detroit-area students about the value of community service. Granderson and fellow Detroit Action Team player Nate Robertson, along with Michigan Action Team Captains, also took part in a 2007 video promoting the Action Team.

Peavy grew up in Mobile, Alabama. Although this Deep South city has no Major League baseball team, Peavy has maintained his ties to his hometown. Through his involvement, the Action Team expanded to Mobile high schools in 2007.

Victorino is one of four Action Team players for the Philadelphia-Delaware Valley Action Team. (Other current Action Team players from the Phillies are Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and J.C. Romero.) This year Victorino’s enthusiasm for the Action Team extends far beyond the Philadelphia area. Last fall, a new Action Team was established in his former high school in Wailuku, Hawaii. Victorino is gladly playing double-duty, supporting both Philadelphia and Wailuku Action Team Captains. (Check back for profiles of the new Wailuku Action Team and Victorino in the Volunteer Center in March.)

Pitch in and Volunteer

Each of these service-minded Major Leaguers has the same message for high schools and teen service leaders in the PSA: “Get in on the Action!” In addition to speaking for themselves, these three do speak for all players. The Major League Baseball Players Trust created the Action Team, in partnership with Volunteers of America. Every Major Leaguer is a member of the Players Trust, which has made volunteer service the focus of its philanthropy.

So every Major Leaguer is truly behind the Action Team. Now get your high school behind it too. E-mail ActionTeam@mlbpa.org and request an application for your school. Join the Action Team and pitch in with Major League baseball players and high school students volunteering all over America.