BALTIMORE -- Chevy Trucks and Cal Ripken, Jr., Major League Baseball's "Ironman," are teaming up in Baltimore to present the first of four Chevrolet-sponsored Ripken Youth Baseball Clinics to drive home their message of striving for overall excellence and dependability.

This is the third straight year Chevy Trucks have sponsored the youth clinics with Ripken, Jr., who has been a Chevy Trucks spokesperson since 1995. This summer marks the first year of Chevy Trucks' sponsorship of Ripken Baseball Summer Camps in addition to the clinics.

The three remaining clinics, which will coincide with Orioles' road games, are scheduled for Oakland, Calif., August 2; St. Petersburg, Fla., August 9; and Detroit, Mich., August 27. The clinics are free and the sessions are at the respective Major League stadiums. Immediately following the clinics, athletes will have a special opportunity to observe pre-game practices by the Major League teams and to view the game from seats provided by Chevy Trucks.

Following the clinics in St. Petersburg and Oakland, a multi-day baseball camp will be held. These three-day camps will operate at local baseball complexes. Ripken, Jr. will team with his brother, Bill, 10-year Major League Baseball veteran, to conduct the camps and carry on the legacy established by their father, Cal Ripken, Sr., who lead the very popular sessions the last two years.

"We are extremely pleased to have Cal on the Chevy team and to be working with him once again," said Kurt Ritter, Chevrolet general manager. "Cal and his entire family have always stood for the same ideals as Chevy - long-lasting, dependable and genuine. Those are key messages for all young people, and Cal's a great role model to demonstrate those ideals."

Young athletes from the Babe Ruth League, Inc., one of the nation's leading amateur baseball and softball programs, are nominated in each region to attend these special clinics. Each candidate is selected specifically because of their hard work, achievement and overall commitment to excellence in athletics and academics.

More than 400 young athletes, ages 10-15, will participate in the clinics, which will include a balanced combination of lectures, instruction on the fundamentals of the game, and demonstrations on the Major League field led by Cal Ripken, Jr. and his brother Bill.

In addition, Chevy Trucks will offer two scholarships per city to the three-day camps, by sponsoring an essay contest to determine winners. The scholarships will acknowledge, reward and nurture the exceptional athletic and academic performance of today's youth.

"Having positive role models and opportunities influenced me profoundly in my professional and personal life," said Ripken, Jr. "That's why I continue the tradition my family has established, first through my father, Cal Ripken, Sr., and now with my brother Bill, to remain committed to teaching young people and to helping them pursue their dreams. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Chevy Trucks to present these clinics. Together, we make a great team."

Ripken, Jr., currently in his 18th season with the Baltimore Orioles, is a worldwide legend who holds numerous Major League Baseball records, including the most consecutive games played (a total of 2,632) - a record previously held by New York Yankees legend Lou Gehrig.

"Although enhancing baseball skills is the overriding purpose of the clinics, we really want to emphasize the importance and value of dedication in reaching your goals. No one personifies dedication and hard work more than Cal Ripken, Jr., who has exemplified this trait throughout his entire career," said Ritter. "Similarly, Chevrolet is very dedicated to providing our customers with the most-dependable, longest-lasting trucks on the road."