People with ALS Helped Each Time Umpire Yells
‘Strike Three!’ at Minor League Baseball Games
By Gary Wosk, Staff Writer
 When batters on visiting Minor League Baseball teams strike out in games held on Lou Gehrig’s Night, they should walk back to the dugout with their heads held high and feel a sense of accomplishment.
In the eyes of The ALS Association, which is a member of Minor League Baseball’s Charity Partners Program, these batters are Most Valuable Players because by striking out, their misfortune at the plate actually helps people living with ALS, The Association and the fans.
Ks for a Cure Club gives hometown fans an opportunity to pledge up to $25 per strikeout and win prizes and the satisfaction of knowing they are involved in their community. Proceeds from the promotion will be donated to The ALS Association for services and programs chapters offer to people with the disease and for research into better treatments and a cure.
Other highlights on Lou Gehrig Night, held to commemorate the June 19 birthday of the famed New York Yankee first baseman and raise awareness of ALS, may include a special on-field, pre-game birthday celebration capped by the playing of a portion of Gehrig’s farewell speech, a raffle and a silent sports memorabilia auction. In addition, public service announcements will be made on the radio and in the stadium and messages, which periodically ask ALS trivia questions, will be shown on the scoreboard.
“Everyone will bat one-thousand during Ks for a Cure Club and all events our two organizations sponsor at stadiums throughout the season,” said Gary A. Leo, the president and CEO of The Association. “There are only winners when ALS awareness increases and funds are raised for patient care and research.”
 Fans will be eligible to win three levels of prizes:
- $40 (minimum $5 per strikeout)
Receive a rally towel featuring the Ks for a Cure Club logo.
- $80 (minimum $10 per strikeout)
Receive a rally towel featuring the Ks for a Cure Club logo and a collector ball stand that includes a logo ball of the Minor League Baseball Charity Partners, the Ks for a Cure Club and a team ball.
- $200 (minimum $25 per strikeout)
Receive a rally towel featuring the Ks for a Cure Club logo and a collector ball stand that includes a logo ball of the Minor League Baseball Charity Partners, the Ks for a Cure Club and a team ball plus a special prize package designed by the home team that includes a baseball autographed by the pitching staff.
Dara Alexander, executive director of The Association’s Florida Chapter, believes that KS for a Cure Club has the potential to be one of the most successful events of the year when the Jacksonville Suns host the event.
“It is a great opportunity for chapters to get involved in our local communities with Minor League Baseball,” she said. “We have found that Minor League Baseball is really open and embracing of the chapter and patients we serve.”
At Ks for a Cure Club at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville on June 10, Peter Bragan, the president of the Suns, the Minor League Team of the Year in 2005, will wear a uniform with the number 4, the number Gehrig wore, which is something he has done at prior Lou Gehrig events. Bragan also recites Gehrig’s farewell speech and is accompanied by a person who dresses up as Babe Ruth.
“Lou Gehrig Night is something that the Suns and I have been doing for several years. It is a special event to me, not because I have any family or relatives with ALS, but because one of the Suns’ biggest fans, Mr. Rick Murray, has ALS,” said Bragan, who organized a team for the Walk to D’Feet ALS�, The Association’s national signature fundraising event. “I met Rick and listened to him try to make a speech at a game in 2003, and it broke my heart. He is my hero. I hope everyone can make it out to the park that day, especially Rick Murray.”
Having a great time is guaranteed for all who make it out to the ballpark.
“The patients love to attend events at the ballpark because it is an opportunity to be part of a great community of people that are interested in ALS and fighting for the cause,” Alexander said. “Besides, baseball is just a fun event.”
This is the third time The Association and Minor League Baseball have sponsored a league-wide promotion. In 2003, full-page ads commemorating the 100th birthday of Gehrig, one of Major League Baseball’s greatest players before he was diagnosed with ALS in 1939, appeared in game programs between opening day and the end of the season. A specially prepared public service announcement by Bob Costas was shown on scoreboards. In 2005, a portion of the sale of inscribed “It’s Fun to be a Fan” bracelets sold at stadiums and on the league’s Web site went to The Association.
“Ks for a Cure Club demonstrates how committed the managements and teams of Minor League Baseball are to the community as a whole in the fight against ALS, and it creates a fun environment for the fans,” said Mike Moore, the president of Minor League Baseball. “Fans can root for the pitchers to rack up a lot of Ks on this day and assist in a worthy cause.”
The Association joined the Minor League Baseball Charity Partners Program in 2004 and raised approximately $500,000 last year at stadiums across the nation. Additional funds are expected to be raised this year because of the promotions and because more teams are expected to host the Walk to D’Feet ALS.
“We’re building a stronger relationship all the time with the management of Minor League Baseball and all the teams,” said Nancy Venner, a community services director for The Association. Venner met with officials of Minor League Baseball at the Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, Fla., this past winter and made presentations inviting teams to become more involved. |
