PRESS RELEASE
HART SHARP VIDEO TO PARTNER
WITH RIPKEN BASEBALL
NEW YORK, NY -- Hart Sharp Video President Joe Amodei today announced that Hart Sharp Video and Ripken Baseball have partnered to distribute a series of baseball instructional DVDs.
As part of the initiative, Hart Sharp Video will distribute three Ripken Way Baseball DVDs into the marketplace in first quarter 2005. Each DVD will break down the fundamentals that all players - from the 10-year-old to the big league all-star -- need to understand and perfect if they want to become better players.
The DVDs will use modern video technology to analyze real footage from real games, breaking down each play into its fundamental bases. After the youth players featured on the DVDs are instructed and put through drills they will be compared to the players in the actual game footage - again through the use of video technology such as split screens, freeze frames and slow motion.
Playing Defense The Ripken Way will cover individual and team fundamentals, including proper fielding technique, throwing after the catch, first base play, 5-4-3 double plays, 6-4-3 and 4-6-3 double plays, the underhand flip as used by infielders, pitchers covering first base, relays, rundowns and covering the base on a steal attempt.
Pitching The Ripken Way will cover fastball grips, the importance of observing before teaching, the importance of being able to throw fastballs for strikes, teaching mechanics from the wind-up and stretch, evaluating mechanics, off- speed and breaking pitch grips and mechanics, an analysis of how different types of pitches move, pickoffs and fielding the position.
Hitting The Ripken Way will cover the importance of choosing a bat you can handle, proper grip, mechanics (stance, weight shift, stride, swing, follow through), balance, hitting behind runners (inside-out swing), letting the natural swing take over (not all players will hit the outside pitch to the opposite field) and bunting.
Each DVD will contain bonus footage featuring information about Cal and Bill's business ventures, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the DVDs and a walking tour of the Ripken Baseball Academy - with Cal and Bill - in their hometown of Aberdeen , MD.
"I am thrilled to partner with two of greatest baseball players in history," said Joe Amodei, Hart Sharp Video President. "It gives me the opportunity to provide the industry with DVDs that teach children "The Ripken Way" of playing baseball."
Cal Ripken, Jr. commented, "After writing the instructional book we believed that this DVD series was the next logical step. Partnering with a proven distributor like Hart Sharp assures us that the DVD series will be available in many outlets throughout the country. We have discovered that there is a real need for solid baseball instruction and we hope that these DVDs fill that need.
ABOUT HART SHARP: Hart Sharp Video was founded in 2003 by Joe Amodei to develop, acquire, market and distribute home video and DVD product in the feature film, special interest and sports categories.
ABOUT RIPKEN BASEBALL: With the recent release of the Ripkens' book, Play Baseball the Ripken Way, the complete illustrated guide to the fundamentals , the launch of an interactive Coaches E-Newsletter and their in-depth coaching clinic programs, Cal and Bill Ripken are working to supply parents and coaches with the tools necessary to teach kids the game the right way, while maintaining a sense of fun. Over the years, "The Ripken Way" of teaching baseball has developed into these four principles:Keep It Simple, Make It Fun, Explain The Why, and Celebrate the Individual
Lynne Hillman, Publicist
Hart Sharp Video
(917) 847-2918
Lynne Hillman [lynne.hillman@hartsharpvideo.com] |
