MLB.com Has 5 Ways to Win Big Money and Prizes This Baseball Season

With the beginning spring comes the launch of the 2009 Major League Baseball (MLB) season and MLB.com has ramped up some pretty good contests for their fans. Some require a bit of skill and commitment and others are merely a sweepstakes to enter. MLB sponsors these contests to attract fans, and it works. Playing one (or all) of these contests certainly creates some of interest in the game because they are all tied into team or player performance. Check these out and good luck!

Fantasy Baseball

MLB.com's Fantasy Baseball is one of the best on the Internet. Every week, you go head-to-head with another team in your league, which can consist of 8, 10, or 12 other teams. If you pick a random public league, it will consist of 12 teams. There are multiple ways for your team to score points each week based on pitcher performance, hitting performance and other player performance. You can only set your lineup once for each week. Your starting team will consist of 10 players including a catcher, first-baseman, second baseman, shortstop, third baseman, three outfielders, one utility hitter, and one pitching staff. The point scoring system is complex and can be read in the official rules.

To be eligible for the prizes in MLB.com's Fantasy Baseball you must place first in your regular season league play. The winners of the leagues will then compete for a $10,000 Grand Prize. The team manager/contest participant with the longest winning streak in post-season play, of at least 10 wins, will win the Grand Prize.

Beat the Streak Contest

In the "Beat the Streak" contest, the goal is to pick a MLB player that will get at least one hit that day. Every day (you can make your picks up to a week in advance) you make your pick, if your pick/player gets a hit, your streak continues. The grand prize for this free contest is $1,000,000. There are several other prizes for picking a 45 hit streak, a 35 hit streak, and a 30 hit streak.

Home Run Beat the Streak Contest

The "Home Run Beat the Streak" contest is essentially the same as the "Beat the Streak" contest. Your goal with this contest is to pick a player every game day that will hit a home run. If you finish the season with the longest streak of 11 or more, you win. The top streak prize for this contest is $10,000. If no one picks a streak of at least 11, MLB.com will award the longest streak of more than 7 home run picks a trip for two to the 2010 All-Star Game in Anaheim, CA.

MLB.com Survivor

This game is pretty simple. Every game day you pick a team that you think is going to win. Pick the winning team and your streak continues. Pick the loosing team and your streak ends and you start over at zero.

Prizes for MLB.com Survivor include the "top streak prize" which is the player/participant with the longest streak of 37 games or more. They will win two season tickets to the MLB team of their choice for the 2010 Major League Baseball season. If there is not a winner (nobody picks 37 consecutive games) the winner will be the person with the longest streak of 14 picks or more. They will win a trip for two to the 2010 MLB All-Star Game in Anaheim, CA.

The Staples Easy 50 Sweepstakes

This contest is a sweepstakes. However, it does consist of more than just putting your name in the hat and hoping it gets chosen. To make yourself eligible for this prize you must successfully predict the first American League and National League teams that win 50 games each. The Grand Prize for this contest is a three-day trip to the 2009 MLB All-Star Game in St. Louis, Missouri. 49 First Place prizes of two tickets to one regular season game of a MLB team of your choice and a $50 Staples® Gift Card will also be chosen. Another 50 Second Place Prizes of a $50 Staples® Gift Card will be given out as well.

Regardless of your affection to Major League Baseball, MLB.com has created these five contests to keep you or get you interested in the game. Picking players and teams, following them through the season is a good way to encourage children to enjoy the game. So take the time this summer and enjoy a couple of games of America's pastime.

This article is for informational purposes only. Please read the official rules for each contest or competition regarding qualifications, prizes and how to play.