Kid Reporter Mariam El Hasan with baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew (left) and the World's Largest Baseball at the 2010 MLB All-Star FanFest. (Photos courtesy Mariam El Hasan)
MLB All-Star Fan Fest
Baseball mania hits Anaheim, CA
Imagine a theme park for baseball fans. That is the best way to describe the Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star FanFest, which just happens to be across the street from Disneyland.
"This is a great experience," said MLB Hall of Famer Rod Carew as he gave this reporter a tour of FanFest. "Instead of just concentrating on the All-Star Game, now the players and the fans can come here and participate in different events at FanFest."
Carew is the official host of FanFest this year, which took place at the Anaheim Convention Center. The MLB All-Star game was held on Tuesday July 13 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California.
"The goal of FanFest is to give all the fans the All-Star Game experience," said Jackie Secaira-Cotto, the MLB Director of Special Events. "It's not easy to get to the All-Star Game, but it's easy for everyone to come to FanFest."
Baseball fans can have their picture taken for a baseball card while they wear a favorite team's uniform, they can practice playing on a baseball diamond, take the "steal home" challenge, or make a video DVD where "you call the play" at the Sony PlayStation Lounge.
"[Fans] will experience what it means to be in the All-Star Game, rub shoulders with great players, get free autographs, get on the diamond or in the batting cages, and really experience what it means to be a baseball player," said Reg Bronskill, the Executive Producer of FanFest.
A traveling MLB Hall of Fame Museum was also on hand, and fans could take a picture next to the World's Largest Baseball. The ball, which has been autographed by famous players, is in the Guinness Book of World Records and measures 12 feet in diameter.
"People come here to participate in different events at FanFest, meet former players and Hall of Famers and get autographs," Carew told the Scholastic Kids Press Corps. "If we can say something that can change one of these youngsters lives, that's what it's all about."
Did you catch the All-Star game? If not, find out which league will have home field advantage in this year's World Series. Log on to Kid Reporter Mariam El Hasan's post on the Scholastic Kids Press Corps Blog!
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Get the latest on national and international events, movies, television, music, sports, and more from the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.
Mariam El Hasan is a member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.
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