Ambassador McCallum Presents Ambassador’s Cup to Local Baseball Players

Ambassador McCallum with some of the winners at the Ambassador’s Cup event.

Canberra — 13 February 2008

The U.S. Embassy has a long and historical link to baseball in Australia. As a part of an ongoing program for youth and sports diplomacy, Ambassador and Mrs. McCallum joined Major League Baseball Australia’s director Tom Nicholson and over seventy participants from the ACT Baseball Association’s Play Ball program to present the annual Ambassador’s Cup. The Cup was initiated in 2004 by Ambassador Tom Schieffer, who was part owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team with President Bush.

The Play Ball program is designed to increase participation by Canberra’s young ballplayers through local schools and baseball clubs. This year’s winner was the Ainslie/Gungahlin Bears, coached by Peter Soskin.

Ambassador and Mrs. McCallum recounted stories of playing baseball in their youth and the game’s role in the United States as the “National Pastime.” Ambassador McCallum thanked the organizers for putting on a quality program, and congratulated all of the young ballplayers for “giving it a go and trying something new.” “I hope you’ve learned a little something about sportsmanship, fair play, and teamwork,” said the Ambassador, “and most of all, I hope you had fun!”