(Chicago, IL) -- "Responsibility Has Its Rewards" was the message to Chicago White Sox fans as the White Sox, Major League Baseball, and the TEAM Coalition joined forces to get the word out to fans about the importance of responsible drinking and always using a designated driver.

TEAM Coalition - an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, the beer industry, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports facilities – coordinated a league-wide promotion with Major League Baseball in support of existing designated driver programs sponsored by concessionaires and brewers. TEAM and its partners are educating fans about the importance of drinking responsibly and always buckling up and designating a driver.

Approximately 225,000 fans pledged to be designated drivers during the season. Over 3,500 Sox fans participated in the designated driver program offered at U.S. Cellular Field supported by Miller Brewing Company, Sportservice, and Levy Restaurants. From those participants, one lucky designated driver for the season – Brian Laibl – was selected.

When the White Sox host Game One of the World Series on Saturday, Laibl and his son will be at U.S. Cellular Field. A secondary prize of a trip to the 2006 All-Star Game® at PNC Park in Pittsburgh was awarded to Melissa Abbett, designated driver for the season from the Texas Rangers.

“This promotion is an opportunity for the Chicago White Sox and MLB to show support for the clubs’ efforts to encourage responsible fan behavior. And for the fans, it is a great reminder that responsibility has its rewards,” said Jill Pepper, Executive Director of the TEAM Coalition.

"Fan safety in the ballpark has always been a top priority for Major League Baseball," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "We believe this is an excellent program that emphasizes fans' safety to and from the ballpark."

Through the designated driver program, fans who sign up pledge to get everyone in their group home safely after the game. "We want the game-day experience to continue to be safe and enjoyable for White Sox fans while they are at the stadium and as they travel home after the games," said Julie Taylor, White Sox director of guest services. “We are very happy to reward our fans with such a great opportunity for demonstrating responsible behavior.”