In case you hadn't heard, Matt Cain pitched a perfect game last week. 27 hitters up, 27 hitters down. 14 strikeouts, tying Sandy Koufax.
What you might not know about Cain is some of his accomplishments outside the baseball diamond. One of them is being a Mizuno Brand ambassador, which I believe is one of the highest honors bestowed upon a modern American athlete by the Mizuno company.
What really makes this whole ambassador thing roll is all the cool stuff you can get when you do great things. Mizuno is giving Cain a pretty cool gift for his outstanding achievement last weekend, one that I really wish that I could get.
Mizuno doesn't hand this honor out a lot either. Only five other MLB players have received this honor. Find out more about the award from this press release.
I am sure you are aware of Matt Cain’s first-ever perfect game against the Houston Astros this past Wednesday, June 13th. Needless to say, it was a flawless pitching performance resulting 14 strikeouts and zero walks – indeed, a perfect game. However, what you probably are not familiar with is Matt Cain’s undying loyalty as a Mizuno Brand Ambassador not only throughout his professional career, but dating back to his childhood. With that said, Mizuno will present Cain with the highest honor of for any Brand Ambassador - a customized samurai sword to congratulate him on his perfect game – in Anaheim prior to his next start on Monday, June 18th. This prestigious honor has been awarded only five times by Mizuno to the following brand ambassadors:
· Chipper Jones - 2008 NL Batting Champion
· Heather Tarr – 2009 College Women’s Softball National Championship
· Bobby Cox – Retirement
· Zack Greinke – 2009 Cy Young
· Dallas Braden – Perfect Game in 2010
Update: Here's Cain with the sword.
@SFGiants teammates Matt Cain & @JeremyAffeldt #mizunosamuraiinstagr.am/p/MCFsIWohKY/
— Mizuno Baseball (@MizunoBaseball) June 18, 2012
Check out more on Giants and Cain, head on over to McCovey Chronicles.