Ceremonial & off-field activities for Game Four of the 2018 World Series

Major League Baseball today announced the ceremonial & off-field activities for Game Four of the 2018 World Series presented by YouTube TV.

October 27th, 2018

Major League Baseball today announced the ceremonial & off-field activities for Game Four of the 2018 World Series presented by YouTube TV. The 114th Fall Classic between the National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the American League Champion Boston Red Sox continues tonight, Saturday, October 27th, at Dodger Stadium with LIVE coverage beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes and ESPN Radio. 
CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH
Another past Dodger World Series hero will participate in tonight's first pitch ceremony. 
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Songwriter, Grammy-winning record producer and front man of the Grammy-nominated group OneRepublic Ryan Tedder will perform the National Anthem prior to Game Four. Beyond the tremendous success of OneRepublic, Tedder has simultaneously established himself as a musical force having co-written one of the biggest hits in recent memory, "Bleeding Love," which was nominated for a Grammy for Record of the Year. The song became an international smash for Leona Lewis reaching #1 in over 30 countries. Tedder's written and/or produced numerous tracks for the artists likes of Beyoncé, Paul McCartney, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Maroon 5, Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, Ariana Grande, Ellie Goulding, Rascall Flatts, Gwen Stefani and Demi Lovato. Nominated for a Grammy Award, Best Pop Performance by a Duo of Group with Vocals, One Republic's #1 hit "Apologize" has also became one of the most downloaded tracks for the digital age selling over 10 million copies.
GAME FOUR EVENT -- 350 LOS ANGELES YOUTH, DODGERS, DODGERS FOUNDATION & 'PLAY BALL!': Prior to Game Four, Major League Baseball, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation hosted a special 'PLAY BALL' event where approximately 350+ kids participated in a series of fun baseball and softball activities that highlight the many ways the game can be played. Kids were from various L.A.-based youth groups, including Dodgers RBI, Northeast Los Angeles Little League, LAPD Youth Foundation Programs Unit, and Boys & Girls Clubs of Ramona Gardens. Special guests included Mackenzie Hancsicsak (This Is Us), Dodgers alumni (Shawn Green, Mickey Hatcher, Billy Ashley and Dennis Powell), and Olympic Gold Medalist and Los Angeles native Jennie Finch. Additionally, members of the RBI World Series Championship teams and MLB Youth Academy "Youths of the Year" served as event clinicians. 
Since 2015, Major League Baseball and its many partners in the PLAY BALL initiative have hosted hundreds of PLAY BALL-focused events throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. For the second consecutive year, baseball and softball combined to rank as the most participated team sports in the United States in 2017 (25.1 million participants), according to the annual Topline Participation Report produced by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). In 2017, casual participation in baseball rose by 12.9% with overall participation seeing a 6.0% increase. Over the last three years, baseball has seen a 49.1% growth in casual participation, which is in direct correlation to the launch of the PLAY BALL initiative. 
2018 RBI WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS RECOGNIZED: Several members from each championship team of the 2018 RBI World Series will be recognized during pregame ceremonies. Teams include Chicago White Sox RBI (senior baseball division out of Chicago, Illinois), Houston Astros RBI (softball division out of Houston, Texas) and Rays RBI Tampa (junior baseball division out of Tampa, Florida).  
MEMBERS FROM SEVEN MLB YOUTH ACADEMIES TO ATTEND GAME FOUR: Ten members of the MLB Youth Academies from around the country also will be recognized during pregame ceremonies. The members are their respective Academy's "Youth of the Year," which recognizes a member who has had a positive year on and off the field, has overcome challenges in their lives, or has made a positive impact in their community. This year's honorees include:
•    Kassius Thomas -- MLB Youth Academy in Compton, Calif.
•    Kabrel Johnson -- New Orleans MLB Youth Academy in New Orleans, La.
•    David Pressley -- Houston Astros MLB Youth Academy in Houston, Texas
•    Alyssa Dixon -- P&G Cincinnati Reds MLB Youth Academy in Cincinnati, Ohio
•    Kamarah Glasgow -- Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy in Washington, D.C.
•    Steven Shaffer -- Philadelphia Phillies MLB Youth Academy in Philadelphia, Pa.
•    Miguel Perez Torres -- Texas Rangers Baseball Youth Academy in Dallas, Texas
•    Justin Cabrera -- DREAM Youth Academy in Bronx, N.Y.
•    Carmen Gudino -- Kansas City Royals MLB Urban Youth Academy in Kansas City, Mo.
•    Daniel Vazquez -- Puerto Rico Baseball High School & Academy in Gurabo, Puerto Rico.
MLB's Youth Academies aim to set the standard for mentorship and development in underserved communities through professional-level baseball and softball instruction, education assistance and career development programs - all while serving as positive members of their respective communities. Since their inception, the cost-free, year-round Academies have seen more than 500 players go on to play on the collegiate level, more than 100 players drafted by MLB clubs, and many more establish non-playing careers. 
RELIEVERS OF THE YEAR AWARD: The winners of the 2018 Relievers of the Year presented by The Hartford will be announced at a press conference prior to Game Four. The press conference will include Commissioner of Baseball Robert D. Manfred, Jr., Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman and the All-Times Saves Leader Mariano Rivera, in addition to the American and National League winners.
GAME BALL DELIVERY: Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Youth of the Year (2018-2019) Malachi Haynes, will deliver the game ball of Game Four to the mound. He will be joined by Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Famer, Compton, CA native, and star of the hit show Black-ish Anthony Anderson. Haynes is a 12-year member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver (Colorado), which he credits for helping him through rough patches and literally saving his life. He saw peers who stopped attending the Club go in the wrong direction and is grateful for the positive alternatives the Club offered and for teaching him to believe in himself. When he noticed young African-American males in his community consistently read two or three levels below their grade levels, Haynes created a Club program called "Double Trouble." Each week, he and a friend identified five children to tutor. To secure participation, they promised the kids one hour of physical activity for each hour they dedicated to reading and studying. Every one of them improved their literacy level. Haynes is a freshman at Colorado State University where he is pursuing a career in kinesiology. 
IN-GAME SU2C MOMENT: MLB, Stand Up To Cancer and Mastercard will continue the annual Fall Classic tradition of an in-game SU2C moment at Dodger Stadium, with players, umpires, coaches and fans, as they all hold up placards with the names of loved ones affected by the disease. The moment will take place after the 5th inning and will air LIVE on FOX. MLB and its 30 Clubs are the founding donors of SU2C, committing $43 million to date to SU2C's innovative cancer research programs.
BETTIS/TAILLON SU2C VIDEO
SU2C utilized MLB footage of Chad Bettis and Jameson Taillon discussing their cancer experiences to highlight the ways they have supported each other throughout the 2018 season. To view, you can go to facebook.com/SU2C.
MASTERCARD DONATION PRESENTATION TO SU2C: Mastercard will present $4 million, through its 'Make It a Date' campaign, to Stand Up To Cancer co-founders on-field before tonight's game.