GREENVILLE, S.C. - On Friday, the Greenville Drive and Michelin will join forces to pay tribute to a man that has made the most significant impact on the game of baseball – Jackie Robinson – with the 6th Annual HBCU Classic at Fluor Field.
This special game will begin at 7 p.m., when the Benedict College Tigers will take on the Paine College Lions. Both schools are recognized Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Tickets are $8 for open seating in the box seats, with 25 percent of the proceeds going to support the colleges' athletic programs.
"Jackie Robinson did so much for the game of baseball. He set a new standard in the sport, en route to becoming a Hall of Famer, and we are thrilled to honor the impact he had on the game on April 18th," said Drive General Manager Eric Jarinko regarding this special day. "The celebration also marks the sixth year in a row that we've hosted two Historically Black Colleges and Universities at Fluor Field, and we couldn't be happier to have Benedict College and Paine College on hand to participate in this game."
"Commemorating Jackie Robinson's historic debut provides an opportunity to share with young people an understanding of the importance of diversity both on the field and in society," added Leesa Owens, Director of Community Relations for Michelin North America. "A game of baseball is a great way to celebrate the cultural diversity of our country and community. We are proud to partner with the Drive to support this event."
As part of this year's HBCU game, the Drive will also be showcasing the City of Greenville's Youth Baseball Program, which provides inner city children with an opportunity to play baseball in a structured program at their community park. Children from that program will participate in activities around the game, and any fan who brings new or slightly used baseball equipment for these teams will be given a complimentary ticket to the game.
"This game will be a great opportunity to introduce youth that are participating in the City of Greenville's Youth Baseball program to heroes of the game, and to provide some meaningful support for their Community Center's athletic equipment needs," said Brad Cuttino, Recreation Operations Administrator for the City of Greenville. "We are excited about the positive impact and encouragement this will provide these young players and their families!"
Following the game, fans will be treated to a spectacular fireworks display at Fluor Field.
For more information regarding Drive ticket plans, luxury accommodations, group outings, and single-game tickets, please call (864) 240-4528 or visit www.GreenvilleDrive.com.
About The Drive
The Greenville Drive, the South Atlantic League affiliate of the 2013 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox, just completed its 8th season at award-winning Fluor Field, located in Downtown Greenville. Since 2006, more than 400,000 fans a year have been welcomed to Fluor Field for both Drive games and additional community events. The Drive has received numerous awards, including Ballpark of the year in its Inaugural 2006 Season, the National Sports Forums Overall Award for Excellence for Sports Marketing in 2010 and 2011 and the prestigious Freitas Award in 2012, presented by Baseball Americaand given to an organization which exemplifies excellence in operations, franchise stability and community engagement. 32 Drive alumni have gone onto play at the Major League level, including Clay Buchholz, Xander Bogaerts, Brandon Workman, and Will Middlebrooks.
About Michelin, N.A.
Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and the space shuttle. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelin-us.com) employs more than 22,300 and operates 19 major manufacturing plants in 17 locations.
