Little League Champs get their own cards in celebration

On Oct. 30, Little League World Series Champion Park View All-Stars from Chula Vista, Calif., were treated to an autograph signing session/pizza party at the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum in Balboa Park. The event, orchestrated by Park View All-Stars League President Rod Roberto and the Hall of Champions, was a way for the team to get together after their momentous season to collectively sign a variety of items (photos, caps, baseballs, bats, etc.) for family members and friends who helped support them ton the way to the championship game victory in Williamsport, Pa., on Aug. 30.

As a way to commemorate the team’s achievement, Upper Deck printed 250 cards of each of the players and coaches that they could share with family and friends.

“It was our pleasure to produce these cards,” said Terry Melia, Upper Deck’s public relations manager who presented the cards to each of the players. “This sort of thing doesn’t happen every year in San Diego, so it was important for us to commemorate it by doing something special. This represents another way for the kids to recall their significant accomplishment.”

On Sept. 10, Upper Deck invited the Park View All-Stars to a private photo session at company headquarters in Carlsbad where they each struck a pose for their individual cards.

“This is great,” said Andy Rios, the team’s shortstop who was named the LLWS MVP. “People have been asking us for autographs ever since we won, but I never thought we’d get our own Upper Deck trading cards.”

Coach Ramirez added: “What was amazing to me throughout the whole process was the effect we had on San Diego and the City of Chula Vista. After it was all over, it was a shock for everybody to come home and be congratulated by people we didn’t even know. The number of people who were following us through the process was unbelievable. And they did it because of their love of baseball.”