PR Newswire
Future first ballot Hall of Famer will also serve as Executive Advisor to Baseball United's CEO
DUBAI , UAE , June 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Baseball United , the first-ever professional baseball league focused on the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent, announced today that Albert Pujols , one of the greatest players in baseball history, would serve as the organization's official Global Ambassador. Pujols played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball and won three MVP Awards, two World Series championships, and a Batting Title.
Pujols was an 11-time All-Star, six-time Silver Slugger, and twice led the league in home runs. Last year, he joined Hall of Famer Hank Aaron as the only players in Major League Baseball history with more than 3,000 hits and 700 home runs. He is second place all-time for career RBIs and total bases, and fourth all-time in career home runs after starring for the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
In this newly created role, Pujols will help promote the new league, its franchises, and events through Baseball United campaigns and via his personal social platforms. Pujols will also join Baseball United executives in various government meetings and community activations within the Middle East .
"We are so grateful to partner with Albert to help bring the great game of baseball to a new generation of fans in a new part of the world," said Kash Shaikh , President, CEO, and Co-Owner of Baseball United. "Albert is one of the best players in the history of the game, with legendary accomplishments that will never be forgotten. He's also one of the game's greatest ambassadors, playing the right way, leading with honor and integrity, and teaching with passion and humility. There's no better person to team with our current group of baseball legends as we collectively work to grow the game. I'm looking forward to working with Albert as we write a new chapter in baseball history."
In addition to Shaikh, Baseball United's ownership group includes Hall of Famers
Barry Larkin
and
Mariano Rivera
, as well as
Adrian Beltre
,
Felix Hernandez
, and
Elvis Andrus
.
The league begins play with its
Dubai
Showcase this November, which will feature its first two franchises – the Mumbai Cobras and Karachi Monarchs – as well as two additional franchises that will be announced in the coming weeks. The
Dubai
Showcase will be the first time professional baseball is played in the history of the region.
"I am truly honored to partner with Baseball United to help bring professional baseball to the Middle East and South Asia ," said Pujols. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow the game we love in a way that no one has ever done before. I'm very grateful to Kash, John Miedreich (Executive Vice President, Baseball Operations), and the entire BU team for trusting me with this important work. And I can't wait to get to Dubai ."
In addition to his Global Ambassador role, Pujols will serve as Executive Advisor to Shaikh, sharing his input and expertise on topics such as baseball operations, gameplay innovation, and global development.
To learn more about Baseball United, visit baseballunited.com .
About Baseball United
Baseball United is the first-ever professional baseball league focused on the
Middle East
and the Indian Subcontinent, beginning play
November 2023
in
Dubai
, UAE. Our mission is to inspire one billion new fans to fall in love with baseball. The ownership group includes award-winning business leaders and inspirational baseball legends, including
Mariano Rivera
,
Barry Larkin
, Adrián Beltré, and
Felix Hernandez
. In addition to our professional league, the Baseball United ecosystem spans youth development, federation partnerships, media and content production, merchandise, and non-profit outreach. With over 30 nationalities represented on our team rosters and a new suite of entertainment-based game changes, Baseball United is working to create a new future for baseball in one of the fastest growing and most culturally rich regions in the world. Learn more at
baseballunited.com
.
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SOURCE Baseball United, Inc.
