The Hanover to Host Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association Youth Baseball Clinic Featuring Ferguson Jenkins and Minnie Miñoso

—Free Event to be held at Triton College—

Itasca, Ill. (July 26, 2010) – The Hanover Insurance Group is proud to announce its sponsorship of a Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) Legends for Youth clinic, Saturday, July 31, at Triton College in River Grove.

The free clinic will host approximately 250 local boys and girls, ages 6-15, and feature Major League Baseball players as instructors, including two of Chicago's baseball legends: Ferguson Jenkins and Minnie Miñoso.

During his career, Chicago Cubs-great Ferguson Jenkins won the Cy Young Award, was a 3-time All Star, and recorded six straight seasons with 20 or more wins. Jenkins was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991. Minnie Miñoso—known as Mr. White Sox—is one of only two major league players to play in four decades, from the 1940s to the 1980s. A nine-time All Star and winner of three Gold Glove awards, Miñoso finished his career with a lifetime batting average of .298, with a .459 slugging average.

Skills for the game, classroom and home

In addition to helping promote the game of baseball and developing basic baseball skills, the clinics also will focus on building kids' confidence and self-esteem, as well as their sense of responsibility for themselves and their team–important skills and abilities that will benefit them at home and at school.

Held at the Triton College baseball field, registration will begin that morning at 8:30 a.m. The clinic will run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and feature training stations such as pitching, batting and catching. Children will also receive free T-shirts and lunch, and enjoy an autograph session with the players.

"We are very excited to bring the Legends for Youth Clinic to young baseball fans and the community, and, especially, to help host two of Chicago's greatest-ever players," said Todd Bavery, regional vice president for The Hanover. "We hope that through their experience at the clinic, interacting with these legends of the game, children will be inspired to give their very best effort and achieve their full potential, whether it is on the baseball diamond or in the classroom."

About the MLBPAA Legends for Youth Program

Each year, the MLBPAA Legends for Youth Program gives thousands of children across the country a chance to learn baseball fundamentals and life skills from former Major League Legends. This year alone, the program will conduct over 40 free events around the United States and will also visit international locations such as Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom.

Celebrating its 29th year in existence, the Alumni Association is a non-profit organization that was formed to promote the game of baseball, raise money for charity, inspire and educate youth through positive sport images and protect the dignity of the game through its former players.

To find out more about the MLBPAA's Legends for Youth program, you can visit their Web sites at, www.baseballalumni.com.

For directions to Triton College, visit the school's Web site at, http://www.triton.edu/moveoxfer/data/Maps/VisiticampusPort.pdf.

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