American actor Brad Pitt no doubt gained a few more fans in Japan this week.
American actor Brad Pitt no doubt gained a few more fans in Japan this week.
Pitt, visiting Japan to promote his latest movie "Moneyball," handed out autographed baseballs to boys from Miyagi Prefecture at a promotional event on Nov. 9.
The actor attended a special screening of the baseball-themed film in Tokyo and presented the signed baseballs to young ballplayers who were invited to the event.
Ten young players from senior little league teams in the prefecture sported grins, even though they looked somewhat nervous, when they went up to the stage to meet Pitt to receive a baseball.
Prior to the film's Nov. 11 release in Japan, Nippon Broadcasting System and other organizations had sought donations of hardballs to present to the young players in areas most affected by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. So far, 4,159 baseballs have been donated.
The Miyagi Chapter of the Japan Little Senior Baseball Association's Tohoku Federation plans to deliver the balls to baseball teams in disaster-stricken areas.
Yuta Sasaki, 14, who met Pitt and received an autographed ball, was excited.
"I was so happy," he said. "I will display it at home. It will become a lifelong treasure."
In "Moneyball," Pitt plays Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane, who challenged some of the game's long-held traditions in terms of player evaluation.