mlb in the community 2016

MLB IN THE COMMUNITY 2016
On the Cover: Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, and
Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Robinson join former players and the Oriole Bird mascot at one of the first of
scores of Play Ball youth clinics hosted by Major League Baseball and the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY 2016
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Dear Friends and Colleagues:
Baseball has long been a part of the fabric of our society. At its very
best, the game serves as a reflection of our culture. These are platforms
that Major League Baseball and its 30 Clubs are grateful to have. As an
institution, it is our honor to embrace the chance to make a difference in
the lives of baseball fans.
Every contributor to baseball, no matter what the level, should take
pride in the manner in which our sport can unite and set a positive
example in all of its communities. Our Clubs demonstrate this
unwavering commitment in countless ways. MLB’s 2016 Community
Affairs Report illustrates the individuals, organizations and missions
that have inspired us.
The enduring legacies of Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente remind
us that baseball’s impact can transcend the field of play. Indeed, our
beloved game can be a force for good among its fans and the places
that they call home across the world. As you will vividly see in the
pages that follow, all of us throughout Major League Baseball view such
opportunities as a distinct privilege.
Sincerely,
Robert D. Manfred, Jr.
Commissioner of Baseball
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2015
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER
3
Legends
The Jackie Robinson Foundation
MLB supports The Jackie Robinson Foundation and its scholarship program, which provides financial grants,
mentoring and leadership training for minority college students. Currently underwriting 23 scholars, MLB is
the largest corporate provider of scholarships for JRF students graduating this year. Additional JRF scholars are
sponsored by the Orioles, Red Sox, White Sox, Dodgers, Mets and Yankees. For more info, visit jackierobinson.org.
On Jackie Robinson Day, April 15, 2015, Major League Baseball presented the ninth annual Civil Rights Game. The Los Angeles Dodgers hosted
baseball’s celebration of those individuals who helped usher in a new era of U.S. social progress, and the celebration took place not far from
where Robinson was raised, on the 68th anniversary of the day that the sporting and civil rights icon broke baseball’s color barrier.
All on-field personnel wore Robinson’s number 42, which is retired league-wide, to commemorate the day. Other notable tributes included
a youth clinic with four former Dodgers at Rancho Cienega Sports Complex and a roundtable discussion about baseball and the civil rights
movement featuring Jackie’s daughter, Sharon Robinson; Billy Bean, then MLB’s ambassador for inclusion; and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson.
Robinson received a special award to mark the 40th anniversary of his debut as the first African-American manager in Major
League history, while fellow panelists Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Dolores Huerta received Beacon Awards.
Robinson’s wife, Rachel, visited Dodger Stadium for the occasion and joined Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax for the firstpitch ceremony. Prior to the game, the Dodgers announced their plans to further honor Robinson, whom Commissioner
Manfred called “the most historic figure ever to play the game,” with a statue at Dodger Stadium.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Jackie Robinson Day
5
Legends
2015 Roberto Clemente Award Nominees
Arizona Diamondbacks
6
Roberto Clemente
Day
Major League Baseball celebrates Roberto
Clemente Day each season to honor the 15time All-Star and Hall of Famer’s humanitarian
legacy. Each Club annually recognizes a
current player who best represents the game
of baseball through positive contributions on
and off the field, including sportsmanship and
community involvement.
On Sept. 16, Major League Baseball
announced the 30 nominees for the prestigious
Roberto Clemente Award in 2015. Thirteen of the
30 nominees were 2015 MLB All-Stars.
Paul Goldschmidt*
Atlanta Braves
Jason Grilli
Baltimore Orioles
Brian Matusz
Boston Red Sox
Brock Holt*
Chicago Cubs
Anthony Rizzo*
Chicago White Sox
David Robertson
Cincinnati Reds
J.J. Hoover
Cleveland Indians
Carlos Carrasco
Colorado Rockies
Kyle Kendrick
Detroit Tigers
Miguel Cabrera*
Houston Astros
George Springer
Kansas City Royals
Alex Gordon*
Los Angeles Angels
Hector Santiago*
Los Angeles Dodgers
Adrian Gonzalez*
Miami Marlins
Dee Gordon*
Milwaukee Brewers
Jonathan Lucroy
Minnesota Twins
Torii Hunter
New York Mets
Curtis Granderson
New York Yankees
Mark Teixeira*
Oakland Athletics
Stephen Vogt*
Philadelphia Phillies
Ryan Howard
Pittsburgh Pirates
Andrew McCutchen*
St. Louis Cardinals
Adam Wainwright
San Diego Padres
Andrew Cashner
San Francisco Giants
Javier Lopez
Seattle Mariners
Charlie Furbush
Tampa Bay Rays
Chris Archer*
Texas Rangers
Adrian Beltre
Toronto Blue Jays
Jose Bautista*
Washington Nationals
Denard Span
*2015 MLB All-Star
Roberto
Clemente
Award
The Roberto Clemente Award
is given annually to the player
who combines a dedication to
giving back to his community
with outstanding skills on the
field. Named for Clemente,
who died in a plane crash on
New Year’s Eve 1972 while
attempting to deliver supplies
to earthquake victims in
Nicaragua, the Award pays
tribute to his achievements
and character.
In 2015, outfielder Andrew
McCutchen took home the
Award. The second player in
Pittsburgh Pirates history to
win (Willie Stargell won in
1974), he was honored before
Game 3 of the World Series.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
7
Roberto Clemente Award Winners
2002
Jim Thome
Indians
1986
Garry Maddox
Phillies
2001
Curt Schilling
Diamondbacks
1985
Don Baylor
Yankees
Al Leiter
Mets
1984
Ron Guidry
Yankees
Brewers
2015
Andrew McCutchen
Pirates
2000
2014
Paul Konerko
Jimmy Rollins
White Sox
Phillies
1999
Tony Gwynn*
Padres
1983
Cecil Cooper
1998
Sammy Sosa
Cubs
1982
Ken Singleton
Orioles
2013
Carlos Beltran
Cardinals
1997
Eric Davis
Orioles
1981
Steve Garvey
Dodgers
2012
Clayton Kershaw
Dodgers
1996
Kirby Puckett*
Twins
1980
Phil Niekro*
Braves
2011
David Ortiz
Red Sox
1995
Ozzie Smith*
Cardinals
1979
Andre Thornton
Indians
2010
Tim Wakefield
Red Sox
1994
Dave Winfield*
Twins
1978
Greg Luzinski
Phillies
2009
Derek Jeter
Yankees
1993
Barry Larkin*
Reds
1977
Rod Carew*
Twins
2008
Albert Pujols
Cardinals
1992
Cal Ripken Jr.*
Orioles
1976
Pete Rose
Reds
2007
Craig Biggio*
Astros
1991
Harold Reynolds
Mariners
1975
Lou Brock*
Cardinals
2006
Carlos Delgado
Mets
1990
Dave Stewart
Athletics
1974
Willie Stargell*
Pirates
2005
John Smoltz*
Braves
1989
Gary Carter*
Mets
1973
Al Kaline*
Tigers
2004
Edgar Martinez
Mariners
1988
Dale Murphy
Braves
1972
Brooks Robinson*†
Orioles
2003
Jamie Moyer
Mariners
1987
Rick Sutcliffe
Cubs
1971
Willie Mays* †
Giants
* Member of Baseball Hall of Fame
†
Previously known as Commissioner’s Award
Giving
B.A.T.
Commissioner’s Community Initiative
and MLB & Players Give Back
MLB is committed to ensuring that all fans have an opportunity to attend a Major
League game. The Commissioner’s Community Initiative and the MLB & Players Give
Back program, a partnership between Major League Baseball and the Major League
Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), both provide tickets free of charge to children,
charities supported by the MLBPA, and community and civic groups. In 2015, these
programs combined to distribute close to 2.5 million tickets.
MLB en la Comunidad
MLB en la Comunidad aims to implement effective community programming geared
toward improving the lives of youth in the Dominican Republic. The initiative seeks
to establish valuable partnerships and community outreach programs that promote
positive play, education, civic pride, environmental awareness and humanitarian
values. Annually, MLB en la Comunidad partners with Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities
to help communities in need, and 2015 efforts included visiting children in hospitals,
rebuilding schools and conducting environmental clean-ups.
The Baseball Assistance Team is a unique
nonprofit organization created to help members of
the baseball family who are in need. For 30 years,
the charity has provided individuals with medical,
financial and psychological assistance, thanks to
corporate, foundation and individual funding.
In 2015, MLB players contributed $2.64
million to the Baseball Assistance Team. B.A.T.
has awarded more than $32 million in grants
since its inception,
benefiting more than
3,400 participants. All
aid provided by B.A.T.
is strictly confidential,
allowing those in need to
receive help discreetly.
Welcome Back Veterans (WBV),
a partnership between Major
League Baseball Charities and the
Robert R. McCormick Foundation,
launched in 2008 to support
military veterans returning from
duty and their families. The
initiative supports the efforts of
seven academic medical centers
to expand access to highquality mental health care for
veterans suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder, anxiety
and traumatic brain injuries.
Mental health care is a critical
component in helping vets and
their families reintegrate into
their communities.
According to RAND
Corporation research, WBV
partners have provided clinical
services (screenings, referrals
and treatment) to nearly 5,000
individuals with military
and veteran affiliations,
and conducted training and
workshops for more than
22,000 individuals.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Welcome
Back Veterans
9
Giving
We Shall Not
Forget
10
Major League Baseball and its
Clubs commemorated the 14th
anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001,
with on-field tributes at all Major
League games. As part of the
league’s ongoing effort to honor
those whose lives were lost or
affected on that tragic day, home
Clubs marked the anniversary
with pregame ceremonies, which
included a moment of silence and
the use of special lineup cards and
base jewels. All on-field personnel,
including players, coaches and
umpires, wore caps embroidered
with an American flag patch.
New York Cares Winter Wishes
Since 2002, Major League Baseball has participated in the New York Cares Winter Wishes
program. MLB employees granted the holiday wishes of more than 100 kids from the
Children’s Aid Society – East Harlem Boys & Girls Club in 2015. As part of the program, the
Major League Baseball offices treated 50 boys and girls from the Club to a night of fun and
holiday spirit, including dinner and a photo opportunity with the World Series trophy. The
youth were also treated to a magic show and a safety talk from the New York City Police
Department. Santa Claus and his elves, along with Mr. Met, distributed presents.
New York Cares Coat Drive
The New York Mets and Major League Baseball supported
New York Cares’ 27th Annual Coat Drive. Both organizations
collected jackets — the Mets did so through their annual
“Warm-Up” Coat Drive at Citi Field — that were then
distributed to disadvantaged men, women and children
throughout New York City.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
11
Commissioner’s Award for
Philanthropic Excellence
MLB and Commissioner Manfred presented the San Francisco Giants with the 2015
Commissioner’s Award for Philanthropic Excellence. The Giants were recognized
for Junior Giants, a free program that provides character development and baseball
instruction for boys and girls ages 5–18, as well as a safe environment in which they
can challenge themselves, connect with mentors and acquire life skills. Junior Giants
fosters character development, academic achievement and healthy lifestyles among
underserved youth, with an additional focus on bullying prevention.
Administered through the Giants Community Fund, which received a $10,000
grant from Major League Baseball Charities as part of this recognition, the program is
the largest of its kind managed by an MLB Club, with more than 25,000 participants in
91 leagues across California, Nevada and Oregon. Giants players and alumni are integral
to its success, and catcher Buster Posey serves as the Junior Giants Commissioner.
Health
Mother’s Day
“Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer” is a Major
League Baseball initiative supported by charitable
partners Stand Up To Cancer and Susan G. Komen.
Each year on Mother’s Day, MLB and all 30 Clubs
recognize individuals who have been affected by
breast cancer and have demonstrated a commitment
to the cause through the Honorary Bat Girl program.
Introduced in 2009 to raise awareness, the program
has fielded thousands of unique testimonials, and
millions of fans have voted to select an Honorary Bat
Girl for each team.
To commemorate the day, players and on-field
personnel wear a symbolic pink ribbon decal on
their uniforms, and some also don pink wristbands.
Commemorative base jewels and dugout lineup
cards are also pink. Pink bats by Louisville Slugger,
the Official Bat of Major League Baseball, are
stamped with the MLB breast cancer awareness
logo. Last season, MLB.com auctioned a number
of these pink products to benefit the fight against
breast cancer, with proceeds benefiting Stand Up To
Cancer and Susan G. Komen.
Stand Up To Cancer
Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at accelerating
innovative cancer research and bringing new therapies to patients quickly.
SU2C brings together the best and the brightest researchers and encourages
collaboration among the entire cancer community to save lives now.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
13
Father’s Day
As a founding donor of SU2C, Major League Baseball has committed
approximately $40 million through 2015. MLB also raises awareness via instadium promotions and fundraising events. For more details, see the All-Star
Game and World Series sections of this report, or visit MLB.com/SU2C.
Major League Baseball again teamed with
the Prostate Cancer Foundation last June for
baseball’s annual effort to raise awareness of
the disease and generate funds for research. On
Father’s Day, MLB players, managers, coaches,
trainers, umpires and groundskeepers donned
blue wristbands and blue ribbon uniform decals
to call attention to the cause.
The 2015 season also marked the 20th
annual Prostate Cancer “Home Run Challenge,”
in which fans made monetary pledges for each
home run hit during MLB games from June 15–21.
Since its inception, the Challenge has raised
approximately $45 million.
Health
14
ALS
Throughout August 2015, MLB and all 30 Clubs again participated in the ALS Ice Bucket
Challenge in partnership with the ALS community. Each Club completed a challenge before
issuing a challenge to another franchise and two local individuals or organizations.
As part of this effort, MLB donated $100,000 to The ALS Association. The funds will
be used to further collaborative efforts among several ALS organizations. Challenge cofounders Pete Frates and Pat Quinn, both of whom are courageously fighting the disease,
launched the challenge at Fenway Park, where the Red Sox — who signed Frates to an
honorary contract earlier in the season — led off the MLB-wide effort.
Play Sun Smart
Autism Awareness
MLB and all 30 Clubs again teamed with Autism Speaks, the world’s
leading autism science and advocacy organization, to raise awareness
about the disorder during a home game in April. Select ballparks
designated “Quiet Zones,” where members of the autism community
could enjoy games in a sensory-friendly environment. They also had
the opportunity to attend health fairs; throw out first pitches; sing
the National Anthem, “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and “God
Bless America;” and announce “Play ball!” before each game. A
portion of selected Clubs’ ticket sales benefited Autism Speaks.
TM
Each season, Major League Baseball and the American Academy of
Dermatology (AAD) team up to raise awareness about skin cancer
prevention and the importance of sun safety. MLB and the AAD
celebrated the 17th anniversary of this partnership in 2015, and
again provided free skin cancer screenings for all 30 MLB Clubs.
Nearly 2,600 individuals, including players, on-field personnel and
Club employees, took advantage of these screenings in 2015.
All 30 Clubs also spread the Play Sun Smart message, reaching
525,000 fans in ballparks across the country.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
15
PLAY
Through the PLAY Campaign, Major League Baseball aims to spread a positive message about the benefits
of an active and healthy lifestyle. In conjunction with MLB Charities and the Taylor Hooton Foundation, the
Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS) established the campaign in 2004.
In 2015, 28 teams hosted PLAY Campaign events, and more than 40 Major League players participated.
Messaging reached more than 2,500 children, as well as thousands of parents. Each PLAY event features a series of
educational components: a “Hoot’s Chalk Talk” with the Taylor Hooton Foundation about the dangers of steroid
abuse; strength and conditioning; injury prevention and nutrition stations; and a Q&A station with participating
Major Leaguers. All children received goody bags after the event, which were stocked with information about how
they can remain active, make smart life choices and avoid performance enhancing drugs.
PBATS and the PLAY Campaign joined forces with The Arc to support individuals with intellectual and
developmental disabilities at select events. The Henry Schein Cares Foundation also played a major role in the
PLAY Campaign, educating local youth about oral health and overall hygiene.
Youth
Play Ball
In June, Major League Baseball and USA Baseball
announced the launch of Play Ball, a new initiative
that encourages widespread participation in all
forms of baseball activities among every age
group, particularly youth. The program, which
Commissioner Manfred has espoused, highlights
the many ways baseball can be played, whether
within or outside of traditional, organized leagues
and tournaments. Some suggested activities
include playing catch, stickball and WIFFLE Ball, or
participating in skills competitions.
The initiative also provides players, parents
and coaches with information and guidelines to
facilitate proper play and instruction. PlayBall.org
gives parents, coaches and kids information about
how to participate in Play Ball activities, links to
youth-related news and events, and searchable
maps to find local leagues. Health and safety
resources, including MLB’s Pitch Smart and Play
Sun Smart programs, are also available.
The initiative also received support from the
U.S. Conference of Mayors, which announced
August as Play Ball Month and hosted various
activities to engage citizens, families and city
departments in baseball-focused events.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
The 2015 campaign marked Boys & Girls Clubs’ 19th year as the official youth
charity of Major League Baseball. MLB/BGCA alumni include Hall of Famers
Tony La Russa, Joe Morgan and Frank Robinson, plus All-Stars Dee Gordon,
Adam Jones and Jimmy Rollins. Tampa Bay Rays ace Chris Archer appeared in a new MLB Boys & Girls Clubs
PSA, which played in all Major League Ballparks and on-air. MLB annually provides more than $20 million to
Boys & Girls Clubs in direct and indirect support, which includes broadcast, print and online advertising.
The Hank Aaron
Chasing the
Dream Scholarship
Program, which is
supported through
contributions from
MLB, annually
distributes
grants to Boys
& Girls Clubs of America members
in honor of Hall of Famer Hank
Aaron. Club members receive up to
$2,500 each year, with the specific
award determined by the recipient’s
development plan created by his or her
local Boys & Girls Club. More than 40
Boys & Girls Clubs members received
scholarships in 2015 for disciplines
including baseball, photography,
robotics, music and filmmaking.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Hank Aaron
Chasing
the Dream
Scholarship
Program
17
18
Youth
RBI World Series
For the second consecutive year, the Texas
Rangers hosted the RBI World Series. The
August 2015 event included meet-and-greet
opportunities with current and former Major
Leaguers, including Chris Archer, Adrian Beltre,
Yovani Gallardo and Darren Oliver; Rangers Hall
of Famer and 14-time All-Star Ivan Rodriguez;
and Hall-of-Fame player and manager Frank
Robinson. Former UCLA All-American catcher
Jen Schroder addressed the softball participants
at the opening banquet and led the players
through their workout day. Players also met
former American Idol winner Scotty McCreery.
The 2015 RBI World Series included a
service component, in which all participating
teams served as clinicians for a day at a Play
Ball event with Dallas-area youth. Participants
also visited the George W. Bush Presidential
Library and Museum.
Dominican Republic North RBI won the
Junior Baseball Division Championship, while
Miami Marlins RBI walked away victorious in
the Senior Baseball Division Championship,
both of which were played at Globe Life Park in
Arlington. Cleveland RBI claimed the Softball
Championship at Allan Saxe Field at the
University of Texas-Arlington.
Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) participated in USA
Baseball’s 2015 National Team Identification Series (NTIS) for
the 13U division. NTIS is a comprehensive player identification
program that facilitates access to USA Baseball National
Team opportunities. RBI held three regional 13U Invitational
tournaments (Central: Indianapolis, Ind.; South/Southeast:
Vero Beach, Fla.; Mid-Atlantic/Northeast: Prince George’s
County, Md.), as well as additional tryouts and evaluations
across the country. The Major League Scouting Bureau
evaluated RBI players for the RBI national team.
RBI for RBI Scholarship
The RBI for RBI Scholarship Fund provides financial support to college-bound
RBI participants. Scholarship recipients are selected based on academic record,
demonstrated leadership, participation in school and community activities, and
financial need. MLB has awarded 88 college
scholarships to RBI program participants
since the fund was established in 2008. The
2015 recipients were recognized at the RBI
World Series.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
RBI 13U Invitational
19
Youth
20
National Pro
Fastpitch
National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) is the professional
women’s softball league that showcases the
country’s best former Olympians and college
stars. As an Official MLB Development Partner
since 2002, NPF has worked with MLB to promote
a love of diamond sports with fans across the
world, particularly girls ages 12–17. Spurred by
Commissioner Emeritus Bud Selig’s Initiative on
Women and Baseball, NPF and MLB have jointly
staged player appearances, clinics and programs
at MLB games and league events, such as the RBI
World Series, All-Star Game and FanFest. NPF
players are talented athletes dedicated to serving
as female role models and discussing the benefits
of healthy nutrition to their on-field performance.
Both Major and Minor League ballparks have
hosted NPF games. For information, including
team schedules and rosters, go to profastpitch.com.
Breakthrough Series
Established in 2008 as a joint effort with USA Baseball, the Breakthrough Series
provides a free instructional showcase to facilitate professional or collegiate
playing opportunities while eliminating economic barriers. The 2015 Breakthrough
Series welcomed nearly 200 high school prospects at Pirate City (the Pirates’
training complex in Bradenton, Fla.) and the Urban Youth Academies in Compton,
Calif., and Cincinnati. More than 15 current or former Major Leaguers served as
instructors or guest speakers. Nearly half of all Breakthrough Series participants
have gone on to be drafted by MLB Clubs, including 30 alumni in 2015.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
21
Little League
Elite Development Invitational
Building upon the success of the Breakthrough Series, MLB, USA Baseball and the
Players Association teamed up to develop the Elite Development Invitational. The
inaugural event welcomed 160 players ages 12–17 to Historic Dodgertown in Vero
Beach, Fla., for two weeks of intensive baseball instruction. More than 30 MLB
alumni, including Jerry Manuel, Maury Wills, Tom Gordon, Lee Smith, Marquis
Grissom and Endy Chavez, served as instructors, while Commissioner Manfred,
Joe Torre, Harold Reynolds, Dusty Baker and Dee Gordon stopped by to share
their knowledge and experiences. The program created a Spring Training–like
atmosphere for aspiring pro players, whose days consisted of individual work,
games, situational play, “chalk talks,” and nightly seminars about the industry.
In 2015, MLB and Little League joined up with
ESPN for an initiative that promoted youth
baseball by bringing kids from local Little
Leagues to MLB ballparks for ESPN’s “Sunday
Night Baseball” broadcasts. At the ballpark,
participating teams had the opportunity to
interact with Major Leaguers, be on the field for
batting practice and appear on-air with ESPN
broadcasters. The program launched at Yankee
Stadium with youth from Harlem Little League.
Youth
22
Baseball Tomorrow Fund
Pitch, Hit & Run
The Baseball Tomorrow Fund (BTF) is a joint initiative between the Major League
Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball designed to promote the
growth of youth baseball and softball around the world. BTF awards grants to support
field renovation and construction, equipment and uniform purchases and coaches’
training materials, among other expenses. Since its inception in 1999, BTF has
awarded more than 800 grants totaling over $29 million to nonprofit and tax-exempt
organizations in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, South America, the Caribbean,
Europe, Africa and Asia. Each year, the fund collaborates with MLB Clubs to host
stadium equipment drives to benefit a local organization.
Scotts, the Official Lawn Care Company of MLB,
served as the presenting sponsor of Pitch, Hit &
Run for the third year. The Official Youth Skills
Competition of Major League Baseball reached
more than 640,000 kids ages 7–14 in 2015. The
program provides an integrated competition that
recognizes individual excellence in core baseball
and softball skills. The 24 national finalists
competed at Great American Ball Park.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
23
Urban Invitational
Urban Youth Academy
The Urban Invitational is an annual round-robin collegiate
baseball tournament that highlights Historically Black Colleges
and Universities (HBCUs), as they compete against traditional
Division I baseball powers. The New Orleans MLB Urban Youth
Academy and the University of New Orleans hosted the 2015 event,
and games were featured on MLB Network. Division I HBCUs
Alcorn State University (Miss.), Grambling State University (La.)
and Southern University (La.) participated alongside the host
college’s team. Each year, the event also features a college fair,
battle of the bands and youth clinics.
Currently, Major League Baseball operates five MLB Urban Youth
Academies. The first, in Compton (Calif.), was established in 2006.
Academies in Cincinnati, Houston, New Orleans and Philadelphia
complete MLB’s Urban Youth Academy roster, and all provide free,
year-round baseball and softball instruction to approximately
12,000 young men and women while reaching 20,000 more via
tournaments and programs. Forty-six Academy alumni have been
selected in the last four MLB Drafts, bringing the total to nearly
160 overall. Dillon Tate, a Compton Academy alumnus, was chosen
fourth overall by the Rangers in 2015.
Diversity
Diversity and Inclusion Symposium
In September 2015, Major League Baseball proudly hosted the fourth
annual Sports Diversity & Inclusion Symposium in partnership with
MiLB, MLS, NASCAR, NBA, NCAA, NFL, NHL, PGA, RISE, USOC &
Paralympics, USTA and WNBA. Sessions included the following:
Supplier Diversity Business Cases; Supplier Diversity and Strategic
Sourcing; Diverse Suppliers in Public Relations; Certification/
External Advocate Organizations; LGBTQ Engagement; Workforce
Analytics; Strategies for Creating a Competitive Diverse Pipeline of
Talent in Sports; Diversity & Inclusion — A Leadership in Business
Perspective; The Millennial Perspective; and Individuals with
Disabilities — Engagement at All Levels of the Game.
The symposium, which was held at Yankee Stadium and the
New York Mets’ Citi Field, provided a forum to discuss, evaluate and
create tangible solutions that foster greater diversity and inclusion
in today’s sport culture. Some of the most influential and prominent
leaders from Olympic, Paralympic, professional and amateur athletic
organizations across the country participated in expert panels,
roundtable discussions and general sessions.
Major League Baseball hired
Billy Bean as its first-ever
Ambassador for Inclusion
in 2014 and has since
promoted him to VP, Social
Responsibility and Inclusion.
Bean has visited nearly every
Major League Club to spread
a message of inclusion and
acceptance. Among his many
stops during the past year,
Bean has presented at the
Owners’ Meetings, MLB’s
annual Winter Meetings
and the Rookie Career
Development Program, and
he suited up during Spring
Training to interact with
players from four different
Major League Clubs. As a result
of his efforts, the number
of Clubs hosting an LGBT
activation during the season
has more than doubled.
At the close of 2015,
Outsports.com named Bean
its Hero of the Year. He
continues to write articles for
MLB.com about significant
news in the baseball
community, particularly as it
relates to LGBT issues.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
LGBT
25
All-Star Week
Legacy Projects
In partnership with the Cincinnati Reds and the
Reds Community Fund, Major League Baseball
supported one of the largest-ever community
All-Star efforts in 2015, which benefited children,
families and veterans, as well as local and
national community, civic and governmental
organizations. Legacy projects included the
Larry & Rhonda Sheakley Boys & Girls Club,
Tristate Veterans Community Alliance, Cincinnati
Public Schools and Cincinnati Children’s
Hospital, among others.
All-Star Technology &
Conference Room
The Tristate Veterans Community Alliance (TVCA)
provides services for the reintegration of veterans
throughout Greater Cincinnati. MLB and the Reds
created the All-Star Technology & Conference
Room for TVCA at CityLink Center, a campus where
many of Cincinnati’s finest social service agencies
offer comprehensive, holistic care. The new space
assists with in-processing, orientation, financial
planning, job readiness, peer coaching and
referrals to qualified community organizations.
Meinken All-Star Field
The City of Covington plays a major role in youth baseball and softball
in Northern Kentucky. Covington’s Meinken Baseball Field is home
to the Holy Cross High School and Holmes High School varsity and
junior varsity baseball teams, as well as Crosstown Youth Baseball.
Recent improvements to Meinken All-Star Field included a full
synthetic field, upgraded scoreboard, refinished fencing and netting,
and new batting cages, dugouts and lighting. These changes will
ensure that the facility can host more games, and that in the future,
playing opportunities will be extended to younger-aged teams.
Starlight Children’s Foundation
The Pediatric Primary Care Center (PPC) at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
provides routine check-ups and ill child visits to more than 15,000 low-income
children annually. In 2015, the Reds and MLB unveiled the PPC waiting room,
which includes innovative
physical and virtual spaces
that connect families
with leading community
organizations to help
mitigate social risks and
provide opportunities
and resources that are
beneficial to children’s
health.
Major League Baseball and the Cincinnati Reds, in conjunction
with Starlight Children’s Foundation, donated a Fun Center to
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Starlight Fun Center mobile
entertainment units are equipped with the latest gaming systems,
which make bedside
entertainment
accessible and bring
the healing power
of play to pediatric
patients. For children
enduring surgery, long outpatient treatments or loneliness after
hospital visiting hours have ended, Starlight Fun Center units
provide a comforting break and fun distraction.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Pediatric Primary Care Center
27
Boys & Girls Clubs
MLB and the Cincinnati Reds unveiled an activity center in the new
Larry & Rhonda Sheakley Boys & Girls Club. The center includes
a multi-sport surface, batting cages and bleacher seating, and is
accessible to all members.
All-Star WIFFLE Ball Tournament
MLB hosted the inaugural All-Star WIFFLE Ball Tournament in
2015, featuring teams of 10- to 12-year-olds from Cincinnati-area
Boys & Girls Clubs. The P&G Cincinnati Reds MLB Urban Youth
Academy hosted the quarterfinals, the semi-finals took place on
the T-Mobile All-Star FanFest Diamond, and Great American Ball
Park hosted the finals. The victorious Marge Schott–Unnewehr Club
was recognized on All-Star Sunday and MLB Network.
Ceremonial Ball Delivery
Maryah Sullivan of Central Florida,
the 2014–15 Boys & Girls Clubs of
America Youth of the Year, delivered
the game ball to the mound before the
86th MLB All-Star Game.
All-Star Week
Legacy Projects
Howell All-Star Field
In its quest to find a new home field for Chaminade Julienne High
School, the City of Dayton Recreation Department targeted Howell
Field, the site of the first NFL game (Oct. 3, 1920). The field needed
extensive work to make it a premier place to play, and Legacy
Project improvements were made to regrade the field, update
outfield fencing, add a new scoreboard, restore old bleachers, add
an ADA access path, and upgrade the press box and concession area.
The Chaminade Julienne varsity and junior varsity teams can now
call the newly named Howell All-Star Field home.
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Withrow All-Star Complex/Ron Oester Field
The Cincinnati Recreation Commission Withrow High School
Complex is home to the school’s baseball and softball teams,
and Cincinnati Knothole youth baseball. Renovations improved
irrigation, created a grass infield, and added fencing, batting cages,
dugouts and a scoreboard.
Queensgate All-Star Field
Seven Hills/Dyer Field
For the past five years, the Reds Community Fund has partnered
with Procter & Gamble on the “Community Makeover” initiative,
in which more than 400 volunteers from one community complete
a daylong project that had been vetted and planned for six months.
As part of the 2015 Legacy Projects, MLB pledged additional support
to expand the program dramatically and pave the way for the Seven
Hills Community Center and Dyer Fields’ biggest project to date.
The overall makeover helped revitalize the West End Community
and will provide a safe and welcoming environment for kids to
learn, grow and play ball.
With the assistance of Scotts, the Official Lawn Care Company
of Major League Baseball, Queensgate All-Star Field received
upgrades to its bleachers, dugouts, outfield fencing, scoreboard and
landscaping. Thanks to the improvements, the field is now a fitting
new home for the Taft High School baseball teams.
Don Johnson All-Star Field
Don Johnson All-Star Field at the P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth
Academy received numerous upgrades during All-Star Week,
including the installation of a turf infield and reconstruction of the
outfield and irrigation system. MLB joined the Reds Community
Fund and the Club in honoring Johnson, a Cincinnati native who
played in the Negro Leagues, at the field’s dedication. Chuck
Harmon, the first African-American player in Reds history, was also
recognized, as a statue of his likeness was unveiled at the Academy.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
29
Largest Game of Catch
Major League Baseball, the Cincinnati Reds, Chevrolet and
Guinness World Records joined together to set the Guinness
World Record for the Largest Game of Catch during MLB
All-Star Week in Cincinnati. The event was open to the
general public and welcomed more than 1,000 participants.
All registrants received a T-shirt, baseball and snacks, and
immediately following the record-setting event, the Cal Ripken
Sr. Foundation conducted an instructional youth clinic.
All-Star Week
Breaking Barriers
All-Star Youth Hitting Challenge
30
The MLB Play Ball All-Star Youth Hitting Challenge provided boys
and girls ages 10–16 the opportunity to showcase their hitting skills
in a fun-filled event. The University of Cincinnati’s baseball stadium
proved to be a fitting locale for these budding stars.
Play Catch with Cal
Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr., special advisor to the Commissioner
on youth programs and outreach, played catch with one lucky
winner of the Play Catch with Cal sweepstakes during MLB AllStar Week at Great American Ball Park. In addition to the lucky
winner, three children receiving treatment at Cincinnati’s
Children Hospital were also selected to Play Catch with Cal.
Major League Baseball hosted Malcolm Venable, the 2015
Breaking Barriers Essay Contest grand prize winner, and
his family during All-Star Week. MLB recognized the New
Orleans native in an on-field ceremony prior to the Home
Run Derby. Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life, is a multicurricular character education program developed by MLB
and Scholastic Inc. Using baseball as a metaphor for life,
the curriculum is based on the values espoused by Jackie
Robinson: determination, commitment, persistence,
integrity, justice, courage, teamwork, citizenship and
excellence. The contest gives students of all backgrounds in
grades 4–9 the chance to submit an essay about barriers they
have faced or are facing, and how they have used the values
exemplified by Robinson to confront those obstacles.
The Breaking Barriers Essay Contest, which is supported
by Church & Dwight Co., Inc.,
makers of ARM & HAMMER™ and
OxiClean™, an official sponsor of
Major League Baseball, fielded more
than 18,000 entries in 2015.
The Miracle League’s mission is to provide children with mental
and/or physical challenges an opportunity to play baseball in
an organized league. Last summer, MLB and the Reds hosted a
Miracle League Game at Great American Ball Park. Teams from the
Cincinnati Recreation Commission Miracle League and the Great
Miami Valley YMCA Youth Miracle League participated, and each
child got a chance to take one at-bat and play the field. Baseball
Fantasy Camp for Kids outfitted all players with jerseys.
TEAM Coalition
Jr. RBI Classic
MLB, the Reds, Budweiser and TEAM Coalition encouraged
fans to be responsible through “Responsibility Has Its
Rewards,” a sweepstakes that rewards one
randomly-selected fan who pledged to be a
designated driver during the season with a trip
to the All-Star Game. A record 569,000 fans
made the pledge in 2015, and Laurie Bosch from
Milwaukee was chosen as the winner. She was
recognized on the video board during the game.
The seventh annual Jr. RBI Classic came to Cincinnati for 2015 All-Star
Week. Eight baseball and four softball teams comprised of 11- and 12-yearolds played in the tournament. They also attended
T-Mobile All-Star FanFest, Taco Bell All-Star Sunday, the
SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, the Taco Bell All-Star
Legends & Celebrity Softball Game and the Home Run
Derby, and participated in FanFest Legends Clinics and
the Guinness Largest Game of Catch. The P&G Cincinnati
MLB Urban Youth Academy hosted all games.
Tickets for Kids Charities
Major League Baseball and the Reds demonstrated a
commitment to provide All-Star Week experiences to a
diversified audience by distributing 6,000 T-Mobile All-Star
FanFest tickets to local nonprofit organizations through
Tickets for Kids Charities. The nonprofit is committed to
enriching the lives of children through local arts, cultural,
educational, sporting and family entertainment events.
The charity donated tickets to more than 700 community
organizations, enabling
kids and their families
to enjoy many events
that they may not
otherwise experience.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
The Miracle League
31
All-Star Week
32
Rock and Wrap it Up!
After the All-Star Game Gala and Pregame
Celebration, Freestore Foodbank of Cincinnati and
Rock and Wrap it Up! collected and distributed
perishable food to the hungry. The Freestore
Foodbank is one of Ohio’s largest food banks,
distributing 20 million meals annually through
about 260 community partner agencies in 20
counties around Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
Launched in 2003, the Rock and Wrap It Up!
Sports Wrap! Program partners with MLB and
sports teams to fight hunger in their communities
through clubhouse and stadium food recovery.
RWU has recovered more than 100,000 meals
from MLB All-Star Games since 2006 and kept
80,000 pounds of CO2e out of landfills.
All-Star Green Team
In conjunction with 2015 All-Star Week, Major
League Baseball deployed All-Star Green Teams
comprised of students from the University of
Cincinnati and University of Minnesota. All-Star
Green Team members, who received hands-on
experience as part of their Sport and Sustainability
classes, traversed the aisles at Great American
Ball Park during events to collect cans and
bottles and promote
recycling awareness.
MLB has activated AllStar Green Teams during
All-Star Week for the
past eight years.
The Color Run
Major League Baseball and The Color Run once again collaborated to host The
Color Run MLB All-Star 5K presented by Nike. Participants of all ages made their
way through an All-Star themed course in downtown Cincinnati, where MLB
Major League Baseball sponsored a TeamSmile event at
the U.S. Bank Boys & Girls Club. With the help of Church
& Dwight Co., Inc., an official sponsor of Major League
Baseball, more than 100 children received a total of
$150,000 worth of free preventative care, education and,
when necessary, follow-up dental treatment.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
TeamSmile
33
Make-A-Wish
legends and mascots representing nine Clubs awaited. Runners were doused
in colored powder at each kilometer of the untimed race, after which a festival
complete with music, giveaways and contests took place. A portion of the
proceeds raised supported Boys & Girls Clubs and the Reds Community Fund.
Four children with life-threatening illnesses were
invited to attend All-Star Week as special guests of MLB
and the Reds through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
They enjoyed the Home Run Derby and the MLB AllStar Game from a luxury suite with their families.
The mission of Make-A-Wish is to enrich the human
experience with strength, hope and joy.
World Series
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Game 1
During his first World Series in the role,
Commissioner Rob Manfred attended
an event at the Thornberry Unit of the
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City
to demonstrate the game’s commitment
to youth. In an effort to get more
kids on the field and into ballparks,
Commissioner Manfred spearheaded the
Play Ball initiative in June 2015.
Also in attendance were Royals
Hall of Famer and three-time 20game winner Dennis Leonard; Whitney
Stewart, the Boys & Girls Clubs of
America National Youth of the Year;
Dave Smith, president of the Boys &
Girls Club of Greater Kansas City; Steve
Physioc, Royals broadcaster and emcee;
Royals mascot Sluggerrr; and members
of the Royals K-Crew.
35
Game 2
Starlight Foundation
Before Game 2 of
the World Series,
Kayla Savory, a
16-year-old from
Riverbank, Calif., and the ninth
grade grand-prize winner in the 2015
Breaking Barriers Essay Contest, was
recognized at Kauffman Stadium.
Savory’s essay described her courage,
determination and commitment
in overcoming the challenges of
having absentee parents, while
drawing parallels between her life
and Jackie Robinson’s.
MLB teamed up with the Kansas City Royals, New
York Mets and Starlight Children’s Foundation
during the 2015 World Series to support kids
and families in local communities. Together,
they donated one Starlight Fun Center mobile
entertainment unit each to Children’s Mercy
Hospital in Kansas City and Elmhurst Hospital
in Queens, respectively. Former team members
and MLB executives joined Starlight and hospital
staff in unveiling the new units, to the delight of
pediatric patients at each facility.
World Series
36
Game 3
Commissioner Manfred, Hall of Famer Tom
Glavine, Pirates All-Star Andrew McCutchen,
Mets legend Jesse Orosco, the 2015 World Series
umpiring crew and Stand Up To Cancer leaders
visited kids at the Tisch Cancer Institute and Kravis
Children’s Hospital at Mount Sinai in New York
before Game 3. The umpires brought Build-A-Bear
Workshop stuffed animals to the patients, made
possible by UMPS CARE Charities, a nonprofit
founded by MLB Umpires to enrich the lives of
at-risk youth and children coping with serious
illnesses. Commissioner Manfred, McCutchen and
others also visited a nearby wing to meet a young
man about to undergo a bone marrow transplant.
This community outreach was part of a
daylong series of events focused on pediatric
cancer research and awareness, which continued
with a Stand Up To Cancer moment of silence
after the fifth inning. During that tribute, David
Wright and Wilmer Flores stood beside a pair of
Make-A-Wish children.
Andrew McCutchen, the 2015 Roberto
Clemente Award winner, was also honored before
Game 3 at Citi Field. McCutchen is active among
community and nonprofit organizations in
Pittsburgh and Bradenton, Fla., the Pirates’ Spring
Training home. He and Pirates Charities founded
“Cutch’s Crew” in 2010 to mentor Pittsburgh’s
inner-city youth ballplayers and at-risk children.
U.S. Army National Guard Specialist Alek
Skarlatos was the Welcome Back Veterans
“Veteran of the Game.” Skarlatos had recently
finished his deployment in Afghanistan when he
thwarted a terrorist plot on a Paris-bound train.
He received the French Medal of Honor and was
honored by President Obama at the White House.
The “Dancing with the Stars” finalist was joined
at Citi Field by his dance partner, Lindsay Arnold.
Andrew McCutchen, the newly-minted Roberto
Clemente Award winner, was the star attraction at
Hinton Park outside Citi Field on the morning of Game 4.
He helped host a Play Ball clinic for hundreds of boys and
girls who participate in the Reviving Baseball in Inner
Cities program.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Game 4
37
TEAM Coalition
For the 12th consecutive season, MLB, Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management (TEAM) Coalition and
Anheuser-Busch supported designated driver programs at MLB ballparks, along with the “Responsibility Has Its
Rewards” sweepstakes, both of which promote traffic safety by encouraging responsible drinking and fan behavior.
Heather Vengley, the Kansas City Royals Designated Driver for the season, was selected to attend Game 1 of the World
Series at Kauffman Stadium with a guest. The New York Mets Designated Driver for the season, Stephanie Fitzpatrick,
received two tickets to Game 3 at Citi Field. Vengley and Fitzpatrick were randomly chosen from the record 605,000
baseball fans who made a responsible, winning play by pledging to be designated drivers and ensuring safe rides home for
their friends and family during the 2015 season.
Boys & Girls Clubs Game Ball Delivery
The tradition of ceremonial game ball delivery continued in 2015, as Boys & Girls Clubs of America National
Youth of the Year Whitney Stewart, an 18-year-old freshman at the University of Pennsylvania from the
Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota County, brought the Game 1 ball to the mound at Kauffman Stadium. The game
ball for each subsequent contest was delivered by a local Boys & Girls Club member, along with a former
player from the host team.
Club Activities – Health
Arizona Diamondbacks
In support of Childhood Cancer Awareness
Month, the D-backs dedicated their Sept. 12
game against the Los Angeles Dodgers to
raising awareness and funds for pediatric
cancer. Throughout the game, childhood cancer
survivors participated in several activities. They
took the field with players, served as honorary
captains, and participated in the Legends Race
and Hot Dog Derby. In addition, the D-backs
presented cancer survivors Stephen Dwyer and
McKindree Patton with jerseys on the field prior
to the game.
For three days leading up to and including
the event, each tweet that included the hashtag
#DbacksGoGold generated a $1 donation to
Phoenix Children’s Hospital from the Arizona
Diamondbacks Foundation. The D-backs
presented a $100,000 check to Phoenix Children’s
Hospital Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
during a pregame ceremony on Sept. 12.
Atlanta Braves
The Braves “She Can Play” Fitness Festival
promotes a healthy lifestyle and positive
body image for girls ages 8–12. The initiative
encourages healthy eating habits and
demonstrates the importance of leading active
lifestyles through involvement in sports and
physical activity. Participants rotate through a
variety of high energy stations, including softball,
kickboxing, strength and agility drills, Zumba,
and hip hop dancing. Each girl receives nutrition
information, along with a t-shirt, a healthy lunch
and tickets to a Braves game.
In its sixth year, the program reached more
than 1,800 girls from organizations such as
Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, YMCA, City
of Atlanta Parks & Recreation, CHOICES, The
Salvation Army and Girls on the Run. The goal of
“She Can Play” is to boost self-esteem, increase
physical activity and generate a positive change
in the participants’ attitude towards exercise.
Baltimore Orioles
In an effort to promote health awareness,
specifically of cardiovascular disease research
and education programs, the Orioles have
partnered with the American Heart Association
(AHA). In 2015, the Orioles and the AHA cohosted a series of healthy living/active lifestyle
clinics, which benefited more than 250 Baltimore
youth. Orioles staff and former players taught
baseball skills, stationary calisthenics, mobile
drills and nutrition basics at each clinic.
Additionally, the Orioles hosted a special
partnership launch event for the AHA and
top donors on the Roof Deck in center field
at Camden Yards, and later served as mission
engagement chair for the 31st Annual Baltimore
Heart Ball. Together, the Orioles and the
American Heart Association raised more than
$679,000 for cardiovascular disease research,
education programs and advocacy efforts.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts
General Hospital Home Base Program are
dedicated to healing the invisible wounds of war
for service members, veterans and their families
through clinical care, wellness-based programs,
community outreach, education and research.
Red Sox Chairman Tom Werner implemented the
Home Base program after a team visit to Walter
Reed National Military Medical Center in 2008.
Home Base is the first program of its kind in
the country and represents a model partnership
between academic medicine and an MLB team to
benefit military veterans and their families.
Since the program’s inception, medical
professionals have treated more than 7,500
vets and their family members, and have aided
thousands more in Yellow Ribbon events around
New England. The Red Sox’s slogan — “They
served us. Now it’s our turn to serve them.” —
encompasses the program’s mission.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs On the Move fitness program
encourages inner city kids in Chicago to
participate in baseball programs and “Play
Every Day.” The program introduces kids to
baseball and seeks to improve their skills,
encourages them to play for 60 minutes daily
and provides them with the knowledge to live a
healthy lifestyle.
The Cubs On the Move Fitness Trolley
travels to schools to conduct fitness assemblies
and summer camps, while the Cubs On the
Move Fitness Challenge, an online contest and
curriculum, is available to more than 1 million
students and teachers throughout Chicago. Cubs
On the Move Fun Runs provide schools with
the resources to host a fundraising walk or run
to increase fitness. More than 1,000 students
attended Cubs On the Move fitness assemblies in
2015, and 200 more participated in the summer
program. Students recorded a total of 1,048 hours
of activity on their weekly fitness logs.
Chicago White Sox
The White Sox are dedicated to the fight
against ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s
Disease, and last year welcomed 28-year-old
Kris Grahnke, who was recently diagnosed
with ALS, as a special guest at their 2005 World
Series 10-year reunion celebration. Along with
his friends, Grahnke, a lifelong White Sox
fan and blogger, took a photo with the team,
attended batting practice, and enjoyed the
game from a luxury suite. The group also met
Manager Robin Ventura, as well as 2005 World
Series champs Jermaine Dye, Jon Garland and
Brian Anderson. This visit served as a special
moment for Kris in his journey with ALS.
39
Club Activities – Health
40
Cincinnati Reds
The Put Me In Coach (PMIC) fitness program
is designed to engage children in baseballrelated exercises that are fun, entertaining and
able to be performed in a group or individual
setting. Designed by Mary Beth Knight of
Revolution Fitness in Cincinnati, PMIC utilizes
four pillars of fitness — speed, strength, agility
and flexibility — to enhance the physical and
mental capabilities of children ages 4–17. PMIC
promotes confidence, health awareness and the
connection between body, mind and spirit. It
also focuses on personal health responsibility
and teaches kids that their physical health is
vital to success.
The Reds Community Fund utilizes PMIC
as a primary component of the Reds Rookie
Success League, which focuses on introductory
baseball, health and wellness, along with a
character education curriculum for underserved
kids ages 6–12. PMIC reaches upwards of 1,200
kids and coaches annually.
Cleveland Indians
On July 15 in the Terrace Club at Progressive
Field, the Indians hosted a TeamSmile event
for the second consecutive year. More than 250
youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater
Cleveland received critical dental care, while
more than 20 dentists and 100-plus volunteers
created a memorable experience for the
attendees. Kids enjoyed spending time with
the Indians’ hot dog mascots, as well as face
painting and safety training from the American
Red Cross, and danced to music provided by
Rock the House.
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies’ “Make an Impact”
program is a free, school-wide assembly that
brings character education to Rocky Mountain
Region students in grades K-6. The 50-minute
interactive program entertains and informs
children about how they can make an impact in
their own lives and communities. Educational
media include a video presentation, pre-recorded
player messages and an appearance by Dinger,
the Rockies’ mascot.
“Make an Impact” teaches children the
importance of staying in school, refusing
drugs, getting involved in extracurricular
activities and respecting their bodies through
healthy eating. The Rockies also help create a
dialogue between parents and children through
a take-home lesson.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Detroit Tigers
Through “Play Baseball Detroit,” the Tigers
encourage youth to be physically active by
playing baseball and softball in leagues around
the greater Detroit region. The multifaceted
program features interactive school rallies,
youth clinics and a competitive tournament
to develop the region’s young athletes into
baseball and softball stars of tomorrow. Tigers
players and coaches lend their expertise to
“Play Baseball Detroit” events and share tips
about training to be healthy athletes. More than
104,000 young ballplayers have benefited from
“Play Baseball Detroit” since 2008.
Houston Astros
The Astros partnered with the Candlelighters
Childhood Cancer Family Alliance, Ronald
McDonald House Houston, St. Baldrick’s
Foundation and the Sunshine Kids Foundation
for a full week of activities during Childhood
Cancer Awareness Month last September. Each
organization distributed information on the main
concourse of the ballpark, while the Astros’ front
office, broadcasters, grounds crew and guest
services staff wore gold ribbons provided by the
organizations to show their support. Activities
included ceremonial first pitches and player
meet-and-greets.
This initiative helped raise awareness for
childhood cancer organizations and highlighted
how children with cancer and their families
can receive educational, emotional and
group support. All of these childhood cancer
organizations provide services free of charge.
Kansas City Royals
Since 2012, the Kansas City Royals and Royals
Charities have partnered with Braden’s Hope for
Childhood Cancer in an effort to raise awareness
of childhood cancer and provide $100,000
grants to hospitals and research institutions.
Last season, the Royals again joined Braden’s
Hope to create A Year of Hope Royals Calendar,
featuring 12 Royals players interacting with 12
local childhood cancer heroes around Kauffman
Stadium. All proceeds from calendar sales benefit
childhood cancer research.
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Club Activities – Health
42
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
In partnership with the Orange County chapter
of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the
Angels annually host the Light the Night Walk at
Angel Stadium. Each year, the walk raises more
than $1 million to support blood cancer research
and serve patients. Hall of Famer Rod Carew and
Angels Chairman Dennis Kuhl co-host the walk
and spearhead a fundraising team in an attempt
to help find a cure while paying tribute and
bringing hope to people battling cancer.
For more than 60 years, the Leukemia &
Lymphoma Society has focused on aiding people
with blood cancers, and more than $250 million
has been committed to research across the
United States and 10 other countries.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Each season, the Dodgers honor those who
have committed their careers to battling cancer
during ThinkCure! Weekend. This initiative
unites Dodgers fans in the fight against cancer
and raises awareness about the importance of
research through fan interaction, fundraising
and pregame recognitions.
During ThinkCure! Weekend in 2015, the
Dodgers spotlighted special fans who shared
their experiences in overcoming cancer. In
addition to encouraging fans to donate money
to research, the Dodgers also recognized
the hardworking healthcare providers and
researchers who are on the front lines of the
fight against cancer. Outreach efforts also
included creating community booths to honor
family members or friends affected by cancer,
posting their names on boards around the
stadium, and inviting doctors and top fundraisers
to throw ceremonial first pitches.
Miami Marlins
Since 2012, the Marlins have partnered with
Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually
Impaired to provide free eye screenings to
students from the team’s local partner schools.
Front office volunteers, known as Marlins
Ayudan Blue Shirts, are trained to conduct initial
screenings. Students who don’t pass those
screenings receive a more thorough exam and,
if necessary, free glasses. In 2015, Blue Shirts
screened 1,163 students, and 298 received glasses.
The initiative is funded by the Marlins Foundation
and the Florida Heiken Program.
In addition, Marlins slugger Giancarlo
Stanton launched All-Star Smiles, which provides
dental screenings and procedures for students
in low-income neighborhoods. Sixty-plus kids
received dental work at Spodak Dental in 2015,
and more than $55,000 worth of care was provided
to children who, in some cases, had never visited
a dentist. Stanton also spent time with each child.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers and Brewers Community
Foundation hosted their sixth annual oneday dental event at Miller Park, facilitated by
TeamSmile. Approximately 300 children from
local nonprofit, youth-serving organizations
received a full complement of dental care. Each
child received educational information about oral
health, as well as X-rays, cleanings and other
services as needed. The Famous Racing Sausages
danced with children throughout the morning as
they sported their TeamSmile t-shirts.
Minnesota Twins
The Hennepin County Step To It Challenge
encourages residents to increase their physical
activity. Hennepin County communities use
Twins merchandise as an incentive to encourage
participation, and schools vie for the opportunity
to host an exercise session led by Twins trainers
and players. In 2015, participants in the Step To
It Challenge took an unprecedented number of
steps — more than 674 million!
New York Mets
The Mets partnered with the New York Blood
Center to host summer and winter blood drives at
Citi Field. As a thank you for their participation,
donors received a voucher for two tickets to a
Mets game, as well as discounts at the Mets Team
Store, at each of these events.
Since Citi Field opened in 2009, the Mets
have hosted numerous blood drives and collected
more than 5,000 pints of blood, which helps save
lives in hospitals throughout New York City.
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Club Activities – Health
44
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees High School Blood Donor
Championship was established in 1995 to address
the issue of a declining blood donor population.
Metropolitan area high schools utilized
incentives (tickets, promotional items, etc.) to
motivate staff and students 16 years of age or
older to donate blood and give the gift of life.
Those donors then encourage their peers to do
the same at their school blood drives. Annually,
500 local high schools host blood drives, and
schools with the most donations are invited to
attend a game at Yankee Stadium, before which
they are honored with an on-field ceremony.
The Yankees and the New York Blood Center
commemorated 20 years of partnership in
2015. More importantly, the season marked an
incredible milestone, as the New York Yankees
High School Blood Donor Championship
surpassed 1 million donations since its inception.
Oakland Athletics
The A’s hosted the 17th annual Breast Cancer
Awareness Day in September, and more than
350 local breast cancer survivors attended
a lunch reception before a special pregame
ceremony. During the ceremony, they formed a
symbolic human pink ribbon and released pink
balloons and white doves as symbols of strength
and hope. A breast cancer survivor then threw
the ceremonial first pitch.
More than $75,000 was raised to benefit
the American Cancer Society and the Cancer
Prevention Institute of California. A $5,000
“Gift of Faith” grant was awarded to the
Charlotte Maxwell Clinic, a local Bay Area breast
cancer support group.
Philadelphia Phillies
Phillies Phitness presented by NovaCare
Rehabilitation is a free program that educates
children about the importance of daily activity
and smart food choices in ensuring a healthy
future. Throughout the year, Phillies Phitness
travels to schools all over the Delaware Valley
and leads students in a Phitness session. In
2015, Phillies Phitness experienced a year of
firsts, during which the program visited a
local fire station, held a session outside of the
Mayor’s Office and hosted a group from the
Devereux Foundation, a nonprofit behavioral
healthcare provider, at Citizens Bank Park.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Pittsburgh Pirates
In 2015, the Pirates and Pirates Charities focused
a significant portion of their charitable efforts on
the fight to cure ALS. The Pirates Charities ROOT
Sports Auction raised more than $715,000 for the
ALS Certified Center of Excellence at Allegheny
Health Network, the ALS Association/Western
Pennsylvania Chapter and LiveLikeLou.org, all
of which provide care, research and treatment
for those living with ALS. Pirates President
Frank Coonelly and GM Neal Huntington hosted
another fundraiser, Red, White and Brew, to
help local nonprofits find treatments and a cure.
The Pirates and Pirates Charities also provided a
platform for individuals impacted by the disease
to share their stories.
In an effort to encourage others to support
the cause, Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle, along
with players, coaches, executives and Club
front office staff, participated in Ice Bucket
Challenges.
San Diego Padres
Before every Sunday home game, fans are
encouraged to participate in the Padres’
FriarFit Instant Recess, a 10-minute exercise
session. Instant Recess is held in the Park at
the Park during Padres KidsFest, giving kids
the opportunity to get moving with the Padres
before the game. Led by the Pad Squad and
Padres all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman,
the video features nine “innings” of baseballrelated movements.
In 2015, the Padres introduced the Friar Walk
by Kaiser Permanente, a one-mile walking path
through Petco Park, to the FriarFit initiative.
Fans receive a detailed walking map and are
encouraged to walk a mile before the game
begins, following a path of footsteps around the
ballpark concourse. Those who complete the
walk receive a fitness-related gift courtesy of
Kaiser Permanente.
San Francisco Giants
The Garden at AT&T Park is a collaboration
between the Giants and their food service
partner, Bon Appetit Management Company.
The Garden, which provides fans a unique
gathering place and food experience, also serves
as an outdoor classroom, where students can
see the fruits, vegetables and herbs used in
the bistro menus before they are cultivated.
Through hands-on activities, children see
where and how their food grows, learn about the
importance of healthy eating, and roll up their
sleeves for cooking classes.
The Giants partner with community
organizations, including Boys & Girls Clubs,
YMCA of San Francisco and Junior Giants, to
help children, whose access to fresh fruits and
vegetables may be limited, make healthy and
environmentally-sound food choices. Annually,
more than 3,000 kids visit The Garden for tours,
educational field trips and special events.
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Club Activities – Health
46
Seattle Mariners
In 2015, the Seattle Mariners held the 30th
Annual CF Mariners Care Golf Tournament to
benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in its
continuing efforts to find a cure for the fatal
disease. The event raised more than $210,000
for CF research. To date, the CF Mariners Care
Golf Tournament, one of the longest running
charity golf tournaments in the country, has
raised more than $5.5 million.
In 1986, when the CF Mariners Care Golf
Tournament began, just 29.2 percent of patients
living with cystic fibrosis were 18 years or older,
and many children born with CF were still not
expected to live long enough to attend high
school. Today, thanks in part to the efforts of
the CF Foundation, there have been tremendous
advancements in research and care, doubling the
life expectancy of young CF patients.
St. Louis Cardinals
Through the Redbird Rookies, the Cardinals do
much more than simply teach local children
about the game of baseball. Rookies are
encouraged to attend one of the Redbird Rookies
Health Fairs, where about 1,500 kids each
summer receive vision and asthma screenings
and free bike helmets, and participate in a host
of activities. Each child may also participate in
the Schnucks Healthy Eaters Program, through
which upwards of 3,500 kids receive $10 worth
of free Schnucks coupons and have a chance to
win a $250 gift card and meet a Cardinals player.
Cardinals Care partners with a number of
organizations that provide valuable health and
nutrition tips and services to Redbird Rookies
participants and their families.
Tampa Bay Rays
More children accidentally drown in Florida than
any other state in the country, and in an effort to
change that statistic, the Rays and local YMCAs
partnered to create the “Be Water Smart from
the Start” program. This program, which aims
to raise public awareness and help participants
access learn-to-swim programs, educates
communities about the risks of drowning and
provides residents with additional resources.
The Rays Baseball Foundation donates
$100,000 each year to YMCAs in nearby
communities to support life-saving water
safety awareness and programming for children
and families, including free swim lessons.
More than 6,000 children benefited from this
program over the past two summers, and all
who received lessons improved their skills
and confidence in the water. More than 1,000
non-swimmers developed into “green band”
(proficient) swimmers.
MLB IN THE COMMUNITY ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Texas Rangers
In May 2011, the Rangers Foundation launched a
partnership with the Just Keep Livin Foundation
founded by Matthew and Camila McConaughey.
This after-school program is dedicated to
empowering high school students by providing
them with the tools to lead active lives and make
healthy choices for a better future. Three high
schools in North Texas — Eastern Hills (Fort
Worth), Pinkston (Dallas) and Sam Houston
(Arlington) — coordinate bi-weekly activities
that foster fitness, nutrition and self-awareness.
As part of the program, nearly 200 students
participate in numerous marathons and
community service initiatives throughout the
year, and have the chance to experience oncein-a-lifetime opportunities. Local program
supporters include Albertson’s, Cholula,
and Prince and Chanel Fielder, who serve as
spokespersons.
Toronto Blue Jays
Currently, just five percent of Canadians under
the age of 18 receive the recommended levels
of intense physical activity. But thanks to the
Jays Care Foundation, more than 7,000 Rookie
League participants across 137 communities are
afforded the opportunity to engage in 475,000plus hours of play.
Beyond the ballpark, the Toronto Blue Jays
visit elementary school classrooms each year to
discuss the importance of proper nutrition and
physical fitness. Blue Jays players also regularly
visit children’s hospitals in Toronto and across
Canada to offer additional support and muchneeded smiles to children who are undergoing
various medical treatments and their families.
Washington Nationals
Several years ago, diabetes experts at Children’s
National Health System in Washington, D.C.,
envisioned a world-class facility to address
the complex needs of children with diabetes
and their families. The Washington Nationals
Dream Foundation provided the lead gift of $2
million to make it a reality. In June 2013, the
Washington Nationals Diabetes Care Complex
opened its doors.
Since then, the facility has enabled
Children’s National to offer multidisciplinary
support with state-of-the-art outpatient
treatment rooms and an education center.
There, families can participate in simulation
labs and learn about proper nutrition and
physical exercise, which are crucial to diabetes
management. Exercise equipment is available
for patient use, and specialists in multiple
treatment areas are accessible to make
appointments easier and more efficient.
47
ROBERT D. MANFRED, JR.
COMMISSIONER
TONY PETITTI
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
JACQUELINE D. PARKES
CMO/SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
ADVERTISING AND MARKETING
THOMAS C. BRASUELL
VICE PRESIDENT
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
SHARON ROBINSON
CONSULTANT
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING
MELANIE LeGRANDE
DIRECTOR
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
KEVIN MOSS
COORDINATOR
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
JOHN SCHWARZ
COORDINATOR
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
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MLB IN THE COMMUNITY 2016