SACRAMENTO – Not everyone has the talent to make it to the big leagues, but with the launch of the California Lottery’s Major League Baseball Scratchers®, just about anyone can have the chance to throw out the first pitch at an MLB® game, hit the road to see your favorite team play, have dinner with a former big leaguer, or catch a game from a luxury suite with 20 of your closest friends.
“Now Californians can not only cheer for their favorite Major League Baseball team, but by purchasing one of the California Lottery’s new Major League Baseball Scratchers they’ll have the chance at prizes that baseball fans will truly love,” said Joan Borucki, California Lottery Director. “By purchasing MLB Scratchers tickets representing their favorite California team, fans will have a chance to win once in a lifetime sports experiences; experiences they’ve only dreamed about can now become a reality.”
Every Major League Baseball team in California now has its very own Scratchers. Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and San Diego Padres Scratchers are available for sale at Lottery retailers in Southern California. San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics Scratchers are available for sale across Northern California.
In addition to the chance of winning up to $10,000 in cash prizes instantly, this new addition to the California Lottery’s line of $2 Scratchers offers second-chance drawings for once in a lifetime “Ultimate Prizes.”
Ten second-chance draw winners will get the chance to throw out the ceremonial first pitch in front of thousands of fans before a Major League Baseball game. Winners will be escorted down to the field to throw out the first pitch and then will be able to watch the game from VIP stadium seating with a guest. The winner will receive a photograph or video of themselves throwing out the first pitch, a $500 gift certificate to the team store and special team souvenirs.
Five lucky Lottery players will each win a VIP experience for four where a limo will whisk them away to enjoy dinner with a retired MLB player before a game. After dinner, the group will be escorted down to the field to watch batting practice and then to VIP seating for the game. Winners will receive a scoreboard welcome, food and beverages, and special gifts that include an autographed ball for each guest and a $500 gift certificate to the team store.
Five other Ultimate Prize winners will hit the road with their favorite California team. During the 2007 regular season schedule, the winner and their guest will be flown to a Divisional Away Series game of their choice, where they will receive VIP tickets to two games and stay two nights at the team hotel. They will all receive special team souvenirs as well as $1,000 for their meals and other expenses.
Finally, ten other MLB Scratchers second-chance draw participants will each win a night in a 20 seat luxury suite at a California ballpark. They will be welcomed on the scoreboard at the game and a team personality will make a special appearance in their suite. Food and beverages will be provided to keep them going through the game and all 20 people will receive a bundle of team themed gifts.
But these amazing Major League Baseball experiences aren’t the only things you can win; more than 3,500 other second-chance draw contestants will win Major League Baseball merchandise prize packs. Winners will receive a prize pack themed to their choice of any of the thirty MLB teams. Prize packs include an Authentic Collection® home jersey, a team plaque, an MLB team windshirt, replica cap, stadium seat or team flag.
Instant prize winners and second-chance draw contestants are not the only ones who will benefit from the new Major League Baseball Scratchers. Public education receives at least 34 cents of every dollar players spend on Lottery products. The California Lottery contributed $1.28 billion to public education in 2005-06 out of sales of $3.58 billion, the sixth year in a row the Lottery has provided more than $1 billion in supplemental funding for education. Since its inception in 1985, the Lottery has contributed more than $18 billion to California schools.