6/30/09 - NATIONS TOP HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYERS NAMED

NATION’S TOP HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYERS RETURN TO SAN DIEGO FOR AFLAC ALL-AMERICAN BASEBALL CLASSIC AT PETCO PARK

Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith Returns as Honorary Chairman;

Final Rosters to Be Announced

SAN DIEGO – June 30, 2009 – For the third time in four years, 40 of the nation’s top high school baseball players will descend upon San Diego to play in the Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic, the country’s premier high school baseball showcase. This year’s game will be played Aug. 16 at 5 p.m. PDT in PETCO Park, home of the San Diego Padres, and will be nationally televised live on FOX Sports Net.

The baseball showcase features an East versus West matchup of the nation’s top high school players following their junior year. For the second consecutive year, the Aflac Baseball Classic will be played in a major league venue. Last year’s showcase was played at Los Angeles’ historic Dodger Stadium.

The Aflac Baseball Classic is more than just a game: It is part of Aflac's ongoing commitment to the fight against childhood cancer, with proceeds benefiting Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego. Since 2003, the Classic has generated nearly $685,000 for charity.

“The Aflac Baseball Classic showcases baseball’s stars of tomorrow, and also allows us to raise significant funds for local hospitals that share our passion in the fight against pediatric cancer. This year’s benefitting hospital is Rady Children’s Hospital,” said Jeff Charney, Aflac’s chief marketing officer. “The city of San Diego has always offered tremendous support for this game and we are thrilled to bring it back to the community for another year.”

Ozzie Smith, Hall of Fame shortstop and former San Diego Padre, will again return as the Aflac Baseball Classic’s honorary chairman. In addition to helping promote the Classic, Smith will be on-site in San Diego for game-week activities and to spend time with the players. This will be Smith’s third stint as honorary chairman. Past honorary chairmen have included Hall of Famers Reggie Jackson (2006), Cal Ripken Jr. (2004, 2005) and Stan Musial (2003).

“It is an honor to once again be named honorary chairman for such a prestigious high school baseball showcase and return to the home of my first major league team,” Smith said. “This game has risen to such a level that the players have a unique opportunity to showcase their talents in front of a national audience and MLB scouts — an opportunity I wish I had starting out.”

Today also marks the release of the full 40-player roster for the 2009 Aflac Baseball Classic. Aflac All-Americans are chosen by the experts at the official selection partner, Perfect Game USA.

Aflac Baseball Classic alumni have made a huge impact on Major League Baseball’s first-year player drafts. Since the game’s inception in 2003, 62 alumni have been selected in the first round, including three No. 1 overall selections: Matt Bush (2004, San Diego) and Justin Upton (2005, Arizona), and this year’s top pick, Tim Beckham (2008, Tampa). Ten Aflac All-Americans were taken in the first round of the 2009 draft, including the No. 3 pick, Donavan Tate, by the Padres. San Diego also drafted 2008 Aflac All-Americans Everett Williams and Keyvius Sampson.

The Aflac Baseball Classic is considered the country’s marquee prep All-American event. Participants must have just completed their junior year of high school, be in good academic standing and display qualities off the field that embody baseball’s ideals, including discipline, determination and hard work.

For more information about the Aflac Baseball Classic, visit www.aflacallamerican.com.


For more than 50 years, Aflac products have given policyholders the opportunity to direct cash where it is needed most when a life-interrupting medical event causes financial challenges. As the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the United States and the number one insurance company in terms of individual insurance policies in force in Japan, Aflac insurance products provide protection to more than 40 million people worldwide. In 2009, Aflac was recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies for the third consecutive year and was also named by the Reputation Institute as the Most Reputable Company in the Global Insurance Industry for the second consecutive year. In 2009 Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the eleventh consecutive year.

Fortune magazine also ranked Aflac No. 1 on its global list of the Most Admired Companies in the Life and Health Insurance category. Aflac appears on Hispanic Enterprise magazine's list of the 50 Best Companies for Supplier Diversity and on Black Enterprise magazine's list of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity. Aflac was also named by Forbes magazine as America's Best-Managed Company in the Insurance category. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL.

To find out more about Aflac, visit http://www.aflac.com.