Press Release World Baseball Classic, Inc.
Alou, Manager of the 2009 Dominican Team, and Meulens, Hitting Coach for the San Francisco Giants, Will Honor Their Countries Advancing To the Championship Round
Felipe Alou, former San Francisco Giants player and manager who managed the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and current manager of Team Netherlands Hensley Meulens, the current hitting coach for the Giants, will throw out the ceremonial first pitches prior to the World Baseball Classic Semi-Final Game on Monday night, March 18, at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
The game begins at 6:00 p.m. PT and will feature the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which is making its first appearance in the Championship Round versus the Dominican Republic, which is undefeated in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Hensley Meulens played for the New York Yankees for parts of five seasons (1989-93) before playing three seasons in Japan (1994-96) and returning to play for the Expos in 1997 and the Diamondbacks in 1998. Nicknamed “Bam Bam,” Meulens is managing The Kingdom of the Netherlands during the World Baseball Classic. Meulens is the hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants and has been a part of the coaching staff during the team’s two recent World Series titles (2010 & 2012).
Felipe Alou, a three-time All-Star, played in the Major Leagues for 17 seasons as a first baseman and outfielder, including as a member of the original San Francisco Giants club in 1958. After his playing days, Alou was named manager of the Montreal Expos in 1992, becoming the first Dominican-born manager in MLB history. After leading the Expos to the best record in 1994, Alou was named the NL Manager of the Year. Alou currently serves as a special assistant to the general manager of the San Francisco Giants.
Individual tickets for the remaining two games in San Francisco can be purchased at worldbaseballclassic.com or by calling 877-4SFGTIX. Tickets can also be purchased at any Giants Dugout store or the ballpark. Windows are open at AT&T Park from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. everyday throughout the tournament. All games of the World Baseball Classic are scheduled to be televised live on the MLB Network and ESPN Deportes in the United States and 40 international broadcasters will televise games in 14 languages in more than 200 countries and territories.