Wilson Sponsors Mayor Daley's "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" Wager - White Sox

Wilson baseball equipment highlights Daley's dream of an all-Chicago World Series

10.02.2008

CHICAGO, IL - October 2, 2008 - With both the Cubs and the White Sox in the postseason for the first time in 102 years, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley is confidently entering into friendly wagers that will benefit kids in rival cities across the nation.

On Tuesday, Mayor Daley wagered L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa that the Chicago Cubs will beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the League Division Series. Today he made the same friendly wager with Mayor Rick Baker of St. Petersburg, Mayor Pam Iorio of Tampa and Mayor Frank Hibbard of Clearwater, as the White Sox open their Division Series with the Tampa Rays this afternoon.

These "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" wagers place a package of Chicago goods that includes enough baseball bats, gloves, baseballs, softballs, jerseys, equipment bags and protective equipment for 150 young people in the winning city.

"Through the years, baseball and other sports have helped our young people build strength, endurance, fitness and self-confidence," said Mayor Daley. "Wilson is making this contribution as a way of supporting youth baseball and encouraging healthy physical activity for young people and I want to thank them for their generosity."

Headquartered in Chicago, Wilson Sporting Goods Co., the Official Ball Glove and Protective Gear of Major League Baseball, has a long history of supporting youth initiatives. Whether it's designing innovative new batting helmets for the Little League World Series or supplying equipment and gear to youth basketball and football programs across the country, Wilson has always played an important role in youth sports.

"Wilson supplies equipment to youth baseball, football, basketball, soccer and volleyball organizations across the country and around the world," said Jim Hackett, General Manager of Wilson Baseball and Softball. "The Mayor?s friendly wager offered us the perfect opportunity to get involved with a cause we believe in. Let's be clear. We think this is the Cubs' year. But should the unforeseen occur, we're happy to step in and see kids be the beneficiaries."

Daley promised that if - not when - the Cubs and White Sox advance, the Mayor will continue to place wagers with the opposing mayors for the League Championship Series and the World Series as well.

If the dream of an all-Chicago World Series comes true, Wilson will donate the youth baseball and softball items to the City of Chicago to support its youth-based sports initiatives.

If the Cubs or the White Sox bow out early, Wilson will donate the following items to young people in the opposing city:

• youth baseball and softball gloves
• youth baseball and softball bats
• youth baseball and softball batting helmets
• youth baseball and softball jerseys
• youth baseball and softball batting gloves

Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods Co., a division of Amer Sports, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of sports equipment. The company designs, manufactures and distributes advanced equipment that helps players improve their performance. Wilson's core categories include Baseball, Football, Basketball, Softball, Bats, Volleyball, Soccer, Youth Sports, Uniforms/Apparel, Golf, Footwear, and Racquet Sports (Tennis, Racquetball, Squash, Badminton and Platform Tennis).

www.wilson.com

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