Below is our video interview with Fred Lynn, conducted July 9th, 2010. Additional footage of the opening ceremonies from the SUBWAY Baseball DeSIGNS tour, including the ceremonial first pitch, is included.
Interview conducted by David Saltzer, AngelsWin.com Senior Writer
On July 9th, 2010, SUBWAY kicked off its second annual event for SUBWAY Baseball DeSIGNS with a National Little League Baseball Appreciation Game at La Cienega Park in Beverly Hills. The game featured All-Star Little League teams from Orange County and Los Angeles County coached by former Major League Baseball players Fred Lynn and Orel Hershiser. The Orange County team, coached by Fred Lynn, won the exhibition game.
SUBWAY Baseball DeSIGNS is a traveling tour that will make stops in four U.S. cities to promote Little League baseball as part of SUBWAY’S commitment to promote healthy active lifestyles for families. The tour will make its next stop in Anaheim as part of the All-Star Game activities and then will travel to New York City prior to the Little League World Series.
To help raise awareness and funds for the Little League Urban Initiative, over 30 athletes and stars signed baseballs designed and decorated by Little Leaguers. Athletes and celebrities who signed baseballs include:
Basketball: Blake Griffin
Baseball: Joe Torre, Dave Winfield, Ryan Howard, Orel Hershiser, Fred Lynn, Dan Uggla, Ken Griffey Sr., Andre Dawson, Josh Johnson, CC Sabathia, Heath Bell, Adrian Gonzalez
Football: Michael Strahan, Ndamukong Suh, C.J. Spiller, Amani Toomer
Boxing: Laila Ali
Motorsports: Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon
Hockey: Chris Drury
Swimming: Michael Phelps
Entertainment: Zac Effron, Vanessa Hudgens, Britney Snow, Ryan Rottman, Ashley Greene, Kellan Lutz, Jackson Rathbone, Larry King, Shay Sorells, Bob Harper & Jillian Michaels, Mike & Mike, Jared Fogle
Fans can visit SubwayKids.com and SUBWAY’s Facebook page to see pictures of all of the baseballs in the display. Beginning August 20th, the baseballs will be up for online auction and fans can bid on the baseballs via ebay. The auction will last for 10 days, with all of the proceeds going to support the Little League Urban Initiative.
Prior to the start of the exhibition game, AngelsWin.com caught up with Fred Lynn to speak about his participation in the SUBWAY Baseball DeSIGNS tour, his career as a Major League player, and his thoughts on the current state of the game.
Fred Lynn is no stranger to Southern California. Growing up in El Monte, California, he was a standout high school star in football, baseball and basketball. He then went on to star at USC before getting drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 1973. As a rookie in 1975, Fred Lynn won the Rookie of the Year Award, the Most Valuable Player Award, and a Gold Glove for his defense in centerfield.
In 1981, Fred Lynn was traded to the California Angels along with Steve Renko for Joe Rudi, Frank Tanana, and Jim Dorsey. With the California Angels, Fred Lynn became one of the four former MVP players to compose the 1982 team. The 1982 Angels were the second Angels’ team to make it to the post season, but, unfortunately fell one game short in a heartbreaking series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
In 1983, Fred Lynn made All-Star history in the 50th anniversary of the All-Star Game by hitting the first grand slam in All-Star history. After the 1984 season, Fred Lynn left the Angels as a free agent to play for Baltimore. Before retiring, Fred Lynn played for Detroit and San Diego. He finished his career in 1990, amassing nine All-Star appearances, four Gold Gloves and 306 homeruns.
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