Official Rules

Official Rules [PDF file]

Step Up to the Plate @ your library®
Official Rules

No Purchase Necessary

Here's how to enter: Beginning 03/31/08 at 12:00:00 AM (EST) through 09/01/08 at 11:59:59 PM (EST) go to www.ala.org/baseball to download and print the Playbook that corresponds to your age group (10 and under, 11-13, 14-17, and 18 and over) and follow the instructions to enter. Players may also submit answers online at www. ala.org/baseball. Find a the questions correspond to your age group and follow instruction to enter.

You must answer all questions (4) correctly (one question per page or “base”) and fill out the required information, including name, address, telephone number, date of birth and name of your library. Limit one entry per person.

Entries submitted by mail should be sent to Step up to the Plate @ your library®, P.O. BOX 118070, Chicago, IL 60611. All entries must be postmarked no later than 09/01/08 and be received by the American Library Association by 09/12/08. Children under age 13 that submit a paper Playbook must include written permission by a parent or legal guardian in order to be eligible for entry into the sweepstakes.  Children under the age 13 that submit answers online must have a parent or legal guardian type his/her name in entry form as written permission.

Random Drawing: A random drawing will be held from among all eligible entries received. Decisions of judges are final. All prizes will be awarded and winners will be notified by phone or mail or email at the Sponsor's discretion. Odds of winning will depend upon the number of eligible entries received. No purchase or payment is necessary to enter.

Prize and Approximate Retail Value: (1) Grand Prize - A trip for two to Cooperstown, N.Y., to attend the World Series Gala in October 2008, which will include admission to the evening event, admission to the Hall of Fame and a behind-the-scenes tour of the Museum, round-trip coach airfare within the United States, and two nights hotel accommodations in Cooperstown, N.Y. (double occupancy). Retail value is $1,000.00. Prize consists of only those items specifically listed as part of the prize. (20) First Prizes (5 per age group): A commemorative hardbound copy of the Hall of Fame Yearbook, a Hall of Fame tee-shirt, a commemorative set of 20 Hall of Fame baseball cards, a copy of "Baseball's Greatest Hit: The Story of 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'" by Andy Strasberg, Bob Thompson and Tim Wiles, a miniature souvenir Akadema Pro baseball glove, and a Jackie Robinson History Lives poster from ALA Graphics will be awarded at random. Approximate retail value is $100.00.

General Rules: Open only to residents of the 50 United States, Washington DC and Puerto Rico. Employees of the American Library Association and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and each of their respective shareholders, employees, parents, directors, officers, affiliates, representatives, agents, successors, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies and their immediate family member and/or those living in the same household of each are not eligible. Void where prohibited by law. No substitution or transfer of prizes permitted. All federal, state and local taxes are the sole responsibility of the winners. All federal, state, and local laws and regulations apply. All materials submitted become the sole property of the Sponsor and will not be returned. Return of any prize/prize notification as undeliverable will result in disqualification and an alternate will be selected. Potential winners may have to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility/Release of Liability on which the recipient will include a taxpayer ID number within 10 days of attempted notification. Noncompliance within this time period will result in disqualification and an alternate will be selected. In the event that a minor wins a prize, the minor's parent or legal guardian must accompany minor on the trip. The travel companion must execute a Release of Liability prior to ticketing and must possess required travel documents (e.g. valid photo I.D.) prior to departure. The winner must travel on dates specified by the Sponsor. Dates of departure and return subject to change. Event dates and times are subject to change. If event is canceled, winner will receive alternate prize to be determined by National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and American Library Association representatives. No substitution or transfer of prize permitted except that the Sponsor reserves the right to substitute prize of equal or greater value in the event that an offered prize is unavailable. Acceptance of prize constitutes permission to the Sponsor to use winner’s name and/or likeness for purposes of advertising and trade without further compensation unless prohibited by law. By accepting prize, winner agrees to hold the Sponsor and assigns harmless against any and all claims, demands, losses, promises, cause of action, issues, and liabilities arising out of the preparation for, or participation in, this promotion or any use/misuse of the prizes awarded hereunder. Winners assume all liability for any injury or damage caused or claimed to be caused, by participation in this promotion or use or redemption of any prize. By participating in this promotion, entrants agree to be bound by the Official Rules and the decisions of the judges. Sponsor not responsible for any typographical or other error in the printing of the offer, administration of the sweepstakes or in the announcement of the prize. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, mutilated or illegible entries nor for electronic transmission errors resulting in omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operations or transmission, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to or alterations of entry materials, or for technical, network, telephone equipment, electronic, computer, hardware or software malfunctions or limitations of any kind, or inaccurate transmissions of or failure to receive entry information by the Sponsor or presenter on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any web site or any combination thereof. If for any reason the Internet portion of the program is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of the Sponsor which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this sweepstakes, the Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the sweepstakes. Caution: Any attempt by a contestant to deliberately damage any web site or undermine the legitimate operation of the game is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, the Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such contestant to the fullest extent of the law.

For names of winners, available after 10/31/08, go to www.ala.org/baseball.

This promotion is sponsored by the American Library Association, 50 East Huron, Chicago, IL 60611.  Void where prohibited.