World Series to use red, white & blue baseballs

Stars and strikes
Series will feature specially designed balls

NEW YORK (AP)-- Special balls with a stars-and-stripes bunting pattern included as part of the World Series logo will be used for this year's championship between the New York Yankees and Arizona.

"These baseballs were designed to reflect the patriotic mood in America since Sept. 11," Howard Smith, senior vice president for licensing for Major League Baseball Properties, said Thursday.

In addition to manufacturing the balls, Rawlings Sporting Goods also made balls with American flags, which will be used for the ceremonial first pitches before Saturday's opener in Phoenix and Tuesday's Game 3 in New York.

Both balls will be distributed for retail sale, and portions of the revenue will be donated to relief organizations and charities.