Former Mud Hen to represent U.S. at Olympic closing ceremony

Curtis Pride, right, seen in this 1997 photo, played for both the Mud Hens and Tigers and will represent the U.S. as part of a delegation in the Olympic closing ceremony. ASSOCIATED PRESS Enlarge

Curtis Pride, who played for both the Mud Hens and Tigers, is one of six people named to the delegation representing the United States at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Summer Games in London, President Barack Obama announced today.

Susan E. Rice, U.S. representative to the United Nations, will lead the delegation, which also includes Louis B. Susman, United States ambassador to the United Kingdom; Benjamin Rhodes, deputy national security advisor for strategic communication and speechwriting; Michelle Kwan, Olympic figure skating champion; and Reginald Love, former special assistant and personal aide to the President.

Pride, current the baseball coach at Gallaudet University, was an outfielder who played in 95 games for Detroit in 1996 and 79 the next season. His major-league career also included stops in Montreal, Boston, Atlanta, the New York Yankees, and the Los Angeles Angels.

Pride played in nine games for the Mud Hens in 1996 and batted .231 with a home run and two RBIs.