BASEBALL ACROPOLIS-Photos

Photos

First -ever 2003 Elliniada Baseball Champions in Salonika, Greece.

Team USA with team Australia.

Team USA with local kids in Salonika after the game.

Coach Chris Karalekas during team meeting night before the games.

Team USA sharing a joyous moment and holding their championship cup.

On stage at awards closing ceremonies team USA is all smiles.

It all started with Chris tutoring kids in his dad's village of Paradise in the Peloponesos (1999).

A soccer field was the space of choice to teach the game he loved.

Chris Karalekas with kids who camped outside his home in the village desiring to play more of that new game.

The fabled cloth " Yes We Can" banner made it 5000 miles to Greece. These kids know they can play.

Mr. Peter Angelos and Chris at a press conference in Athens announcing the Angelos effort to lead the Greek National Baseball team recruitment with the federation.

Members of the Hellenic Amateur Baseball Federation are seated, and standing are members of MLB, the Baltimore Orioles contingent, Boston businessmen, and Chris.

Jim Small of Major League Baseball International with Chris Karalekas at MLB office.

Here is Chris on the streets of Athens following up with equipment deliveries promised to kids who attended clinics he did in their village.

Here's Chris meeting gentleman Eric Karros while with the L.A. Dodgers before a game at Shea Stadium in New York.

Meeting at MLB offices on Park Ave. Syd Thrift, Chris, Lou Angelos and Tom Marudas.

U.S. Ambassador to Greece R. Nicholas Burns with Chris and Gus Karalekas.

The banner on the foothills of the Acropolis being held by Chris, Panos Mitsiopoulos, and Dimitri Gousios of the federation.

There was never enough bats - but Chris had a lot of heart.

Bat, ball and glove day at another clinic.

Here, Chris is helping a youngster who is with his grandfather.

Ironically, it was Chris' grandfather who baptized this boy's grandfather in this picture.

The older group liked working on the basketball court in the village.

Here Chris was touched and honored to meet Mr. Mike Agganis - nephew of Harry Agganis - Boston great and a spiritual hero to Chris.

Chris in a lighter moment with Panos Mitsiopoulos and Dimitri Gousios of the H.A.B.F.

National team here being honored in July 2001 at Pep Rally in New York hosted by Baseball Acropolis.

Players and coaches received medals of spirit from Baseball Acropolis.

Mike Gianaris (New York's first - ever elected Greek American Assemblyman), and Chris & Gus Karalekas here at first - ever

Greek night at Shea Stadium in N.Y. Chris received The Spirit Award from the N.Y. Mets for his efforts on behalf of Baseball Acropolis.

Here Chris is preparing to announce starting lineups over the public address system in Greek.

This was a major league first.

Outside Mickey Mantle's Restaurant coach Dimitri Gousios, Chris and President of the Hellenic Amateur Baseball Federation in Greece Panos Mitsiopoulos.

The baseball field in Glyfatha, Athens where tournament and league games had been played.

Here National Greek team Olympic Baseball coach Mike Riskas is flanked by Gus and Chris Karalekas after an Athens All-Star game in 2000.

This is not Iowa. This was Greece during a tournament game two years ago.

Chris welcoming the dynamic leader of the Athens 2004 - Gianna Daskalaki to New York.

Chris with Srdjan Milosavljevic friend, and leader of efforts to grow baseball in Salonika.

The Honorable Governor of New York State George Pataki acknowledging Baseball Acropolis' efforts.