Dwight Evans Teaches Baseball and Values At 'Fleet Play Ball Youth Baseball Clinic'.

Business Editors

PAWTUCKET, R.I.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 2000

More than 250 Rhode Island kids, ages 8 to 14, learned the fundamentals of baseball today from legendary Boston Red Sox outfielder Dwight Evans at the "Fleet Play Ball Youth Baseball Clinic" sponsored by Fleet Boston Financial, an official sponsor of Major League Baseball(R). The famed big leaguer conducted two clinics today at the Boys & Girls Club in Pawtucket.

At the clinics, Evans and former Boston College baseball coach Moe Maloney helped the young players with the basic skills of the game: pitching, catching, hitting and base-running.

Following the skills portion of the clinics, Evans spoke with the young athletes about his own career in the big leagues and how his experiences - along with the history and lessons of baseball - have helped him to succeed on and off the field. Each participant received a "Memories & Milestones of Major League Baseball" timeline depicting the historic moments of baseball. The timeline identifies important life lessons demonstrated by numerous Major League Baseball stars, including Jackie Robinson's determination in breaking down the racial barriers that had segregated professional baseball by joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 and earning the Rookie of the Year award, and the respect Sandy Koufax demonstrated for his family and his religious faith by missing the first game of the 1965 World Series - at which he was scheduled to pitch - to observe Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish Year. Other players highlighted include Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron and Cal Ripken, Jr.

"Baseball is a wonderful way to teach values to children," said Dean T. Holt, President and Chief Executive Officer at Fleet in Rhode Island. "We believe that learning the techniques of the game while also hearing about valuable life lessons directly from a big league player will leave a lasting impression on all the kids that participate in these clinics."

"This clinic is a terrific way to reach out to kids and not only help them with the fundamentals of one of the greatest sports in America, but also to teach them about the lessons that can be learned through baseball, including conflict resolution, being a team player and striving for personal excellence in everything they do," said Dwight Evans.

The 250-plus youths who attended the clinics are members of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Rhode Island, statewide Little League organizations, Urban League of Rhode Island, the Providence City Arts for Youths, and other organizations.

Fleet will sponsor 20 "Fleet Play Ball Youth Baseball Clinics" in cities throughout New England, New York and New Jersey this summer. In addition to being an official sponsor of Major League Baseball, Fleet is also a sponsor of the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees.

Major League Alumni Marketing (MLAM), with offices in McLean, Virginia, St. Petersburg, Florida, and Colorado Springs, Colorado, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA), and is responsible for all marketing and promotion of MLBPAA.

Through MLAM, MLBPAA's purpose is to inspire today's youth through positive sports images, raise funds to support important charitable causes, promote baseball, and involve former Major League Baseball players in community activities. Metrocall and Coors Brewing Co. are Founding Sponsors and support MLBPAA's Baseball Vision 2010.

FleetBoston Financial is the eighth-largest financial holding company in the United States. A $181 billion diversified financial services company, it offers a comprehensive array of innovative financial solutions to 20 million customers in more than 20 countries and territories. Among the company's key lines of business are: retail banking, with over 1,250 branches and over 3,400 ATMs in the Northeast; commercial banking, including capital markets/investment banking and commercial finance; investment services, including discount brokerage; and full-service banking through more than 250 offices in Latin America. FleetBoston Financial is headquartered in Boston and listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: FBF) and the Boston Stock Exchange (BSE: FBF).