CHICAGO (Map) - CHICAGO, May 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As one of the most popular baseball songs of all time, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, many Chicago area kids have no gloves to play the game this summer. Now through June 30, Ryne Sandberg and National City Bank are asking Chicagoans to help area youth by donating new or slightly used gloves. All of National City's 125 Chicagoland bank branches will serve as collection points for the gloves, which will be donated to the Chicago Park District.

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National City will announce the results of the glove drive on Tuesday, July 29, when Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer

"As a boy, I spent many fun summers playing baseball and learning about teamwork, discipline and other values that helped me make it to Major League Baseball," said Ryne Sandberg. "I was fortunate to have the support of Chicago in my baseball career and hope everyone will donate a glove for the kids who may have the same baseball dream that I did those many summers ago."

Sandberg played for the Chicago Cubs from 1982 through 1994 and in 1996/97. He won nine Golden Glove Awards, seven Silver Slugger Awards and was declared the Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player in 1984. He was a Major League Baseball All-Star for 10 consecutive years and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.

Sandberg leads the Peoria Chiefs into action for a second season. In his first year as a minor league manager in 2007, Sandberg posted a 71-68 mark. His last Wrigley Field appearance in uniform was on September 21, 1997. He has served as spokesperson for National City Bank since 2003, his first marketing endorsement since retiring from baseball in 1997.

"We hope the generous people of Chicago will join us in our glove drive and make this baseball season a memorable one for a lot of Chicago kids," said Joseph A. Gregoire, president of National City -- Illinois Banking.

About National City

National City Corporation (NYSE: NCC), headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is one of the nation's largest financial holding companies. The company operates through an extensive banking network primarily in Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and also serves customers in selected markets nationally. Its core businesses include commercial and retail banking, mortgage financing and servicing, consumer finance and asset management. For more information about National City, visit the company's Web site at www.nationalcity.com .