Film Premiere Attracts Major League Baseball's Biggest Stars

The Arizona Desert set the stage Sunday night for the World Premiere of a breathtaking new film featuring the biggest stars in Major League Baseball. Champions of Faith: Baseball is a stunning sports special which depicts America's favorite pastime as a metaphor for life.

Major League Baseball champions Mike Piazza, Jeff Suppan and Mike Sweeney attended the debut screening that unveiled an All-Star line-up of baseball greats speaking frankly about how their faith has shaped their Major League Baseball careers. The 60-minute movie tells the story of faith-in-baseball like no other film ever made.

Designated Hitter for the Oakland A's and twelve-time All-Star Mike Piazza was visibly moved. "This is not just a sports film," Piazza said. "It's a work of art." Shot in breathtaking hi-definition video and set to a rousing musical score, the soundtrack features Grammy-award winning band Third Day and legendary recording artist Bob Dylan. Champions of Faith: Baseball serves to humanize some of the most celebrated and accomplished ballplayers of our time and restore the "sports hero" to its proper place in American culture.

Champions of Faith: Baseball provides an emotionally powerful, action- packed glimpse into what makes a baseball player - and a human being - great. Featured in the film are some two-dozen leading players, managers and coaches who speak frankly about family, sacrifice, leadership, humility and the many virtues and spiritual lessons they have learned from the game.

Mike Sweeney, Captain of the Kansas City Royals and five-time All-Star was overwhelmed by the story told in Champions of Faith - Baseball. "Champions of Faith is a treasure that will inspire others for generations. I have never, in my entire life, been more proud to be part of a fraternity or cast of men like this," said Sweeney.

Tom Allen, President and Editor-in-Chief of Catholic Exchange, saw great potential in a film featuring baseball and faith. Working with John Morales, veteran sports broadcaster, its full potential as a film with broad appeal across the Christian world and the secular mainstream was realized. "Making Champions of Faith has been one of the most challenging and exhilarating experiences of my life," says Allen who served as the film's producer and director. "It's my hope that the film touches every household in America the way it has already touched mine."