2013 World Baseball Classic rings the NYSE Opening Bell

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• published: 28 Feb 2013
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Representatives from World Baseball Classic, Inc. and MetLife (NYSE: MET), the Official Insurance Company of the 2013 World Baseball Classic, will visit the New York Stock Exchange and ring The Opening BellSM to celebrate the start of the 2013 World Baseball Classic (WBC), the premier international baseball tournament. Bell ringers will include: Al Leiter, MLB Network Analyst and former All-Star Pitcher; Candy Maldonado, ESPN Deportes Analyst and former Major League Outfielder; Paul Archey, Senior Vice President, International Business Operations, Major League Baseball and SNOOPY, MetLife Brand Ambassador. This year's WBC is the third edition of the tournament and features the world's best baseball players representing 16 countries and territories. Thirty-nine games will be played in seven venues in four nations and territories from March 1 through March 19, 2013. Team Japan is the two-time defending champion of the World Baseball Classic, having won in 2006 and 2009. For more information on the World Baseball Classic, please visit http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/index.jsp. About the World Baseball Classic The World Baseball Classic is the premier international baseball tournament, sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation, and features the best players in the world competing for their home countries and territories. More than 1.5 million fans from all over the world have attended the tournament games, held in March 2006 and 2009. Team Japan is the reigning World Baseball Classic Champion, taking home both the inaugural and 2009 titles. The upcoming World Baseball Classic will be played in March 2013 and will again feature the greatest baseball-playing nations in the world. The tournament will be held every four years thereafter. About World Baseball Classic and MetLife As a World Baseball Classic Global Sponsor, MetLife will be incorporated into multiple aspects of the event including in-stadium exposure and on worldwide media platforms. MetLife, a leading global insurer operating in 46 countries worldwide, is joining Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), Konami (NYSE: KNM) and Brand USA as the fourth Global Sponsor of the tournament. As part of the agreement, MetLife will be the title sponsor of the All-World Baseball Classic Team. The MetLife All-World Baseball Classic Team will be comprised of the best performers at each position during the tournament. MetLife's long experience and expertise in covering premier sporting events from above will allow it to provide dynamic aerial coverage from its blimps - Snoopy One, Snoopy Two and Snoopy J. The MetLife blimps will be flying above all the games played in Phoenix, Arizona; Miami, Florida; Tokyo, Japan and in San Francisco, California. A camera will be in each blimp capturing scenic aerial footage, as well as crucial in-game moments, that will be incorporated into the game broadcasts on MLB Network, ESPN Deportes and the worldwide feed being distributed to more than 200 countries and territories. To add to the excitement and fan experience at the games, Snoopy, donning a World Baseball Classic jersey, will be making special appearances, interacting with fans and distributing gifts. About World Baseball Classic, Inc. World Baseball Classic, Inc. (WBCI) is a company created at the direction of Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) to operate the World Baseball Classic tournament. The tournament, which is sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF), is supported by MLB, the MLBPA, Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), their respective players associations and other leagues and players from around the world. About the International Baseball Federation The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) is the world governing body for baseball, comprising 122 national member federations. Together with its member federations, the IBAF is dedicated to the promotion, development, and organization of baseball around the world. The IBAF is the sole entity recognized by the International Olympic Committee for overseeing and sanctioning all national team competition. The IBAF headquarters are located in Lausanne, Switzerland