The Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic spotlights the country's rising high school seniors in an East versus West face-off. The best high school baseball players throughout the United States get the chance to showcase their talents to a nationwide audience.
The Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic is endorsed by many of the game’s pillars, including Major League Baseball. In 2003 in Ft. Myers, Florida, Stan Musial served as the game’s inaugural honorary chairman. Baseball Legend, Cal Ripken, Jr. served in that capacity for the classic in 2004 and 2005, with both games played at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Maryland.
For a second consecutive year, San Diego was the host city for the game. Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson served as the game’s honorary chairman in 2006. Ozzie Smith, a 2002 Hall of Fame inductee, was the 2007 game’s honorary chairman.
Jackie Robinson Award
The Jackie Robinson Award is presented to the Aflac National High School Player of the Year who demonstrates outstanding character, exhibits leadership, and embodies the values of being a student-athlete. The award is named in honor of the late Hall of Fame baseball player, Jackie Robinson. The renowned Brooklyn Dodger was the first player to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball, and was also a leader in social issues off the field.
Justin Upton, the overall No.1 draft pick for 2005, was awarded the 2004 inaugural Jackie Robinson Award. In 2005, Cody Johnson, a first baseman/outfielder from Mosley High School in Panama City, Florida, won the award. Johnson was taken No. 24 in the first round by the Atlanta Braves in the MLB draft.
The 2006 winner was Michael Burgess, a left-handed pitcher and outfielder from Hillsborough High School in Tampa, Florida. Tim Melville, a right-handed pitcher from Holt High School in Wentzville, Missouri, won the 2007 award.
Philanthropic Focus
As a part of Aflac's ongoing commitment to the fight against childhood cancer, all game proceeds are donated to the research and treatment of pediatric cancer. A combination of athletics and philanthropy, the Aflac All-American Baseball Classic successfully blends sporting excitement with charitable aid.
The 2003 inaugural Aflac All-American High School Baseball Classic benefited the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Aflac Cancer Center in Atlanta. The division of pediatric oncology at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in Baltimore was the official game charity for 2004 and 2005.
Since the game’s inception, the event has raised $525,000 for pediatric cancer. Game proceeds this year, as they did in 2006, went to the Rady Children’s Hospital and Health Center in San Diego, and Coaches Curing Kids Cancer, an organization dedicated to raising money for cutting edge pediatric cancer research.
Major League Success
In four Major League Baseball First-Year Player Drafts (held annually in June) 42 Aflac All-Americans have been taken in the first round – including the No. 1 overall picks in 2005 (Justin Upton by the Arizona Diamondbacks) and 2004 (Matt Bush by the San Diego Padres). In the 2007 draft, 13 Aflac All-Americans were selected in the first round, the most ever from our game. Since the classic’s inception in 2003, 133 of 154 Aflac All-Americans have been drafted by MLB teams.
For more information about the game, go to aflacallamerican.com.
