| Major League Baseball Stands Up to Cancer |
By Sally Haase
September 11, 2010
The second edition of Standup2cancer aired on all four major networks and
several cable channels Friday night. The telethon started with an
introduction of celebrity cancer survivors stating “cancer doesn’t care…”
when actress Maura Tierney walked out and said “cancer doesn’t care that
it just took your father.” I felt like I was emotionally smoked in the ribs with a
96 mph fastball. A fitting analogy considering Major League Baseball was
the first supporter and donor of Standup2cancer in 2008. It was announced
Friday that Major League Baseball has contributed over 30 million dollars to
the Standup2cancer cause (it averages out to about 10 million per team). It
was also announced during the telethon that an innovative research grant
has been established in the name of MLB commissioner Bud Selig and his
wife Suzanne for their generous support of the organization. In a pre-
recorded segment, Dodgers manager Joe Torre stressed that the
importance of teamwork in baseball goes hand in hand with the teamwork
needed to help cure cancer. With all the support MLB gives to
Standup2cancer, it is too bad that the telethon airs during the baseball
season, limiting players’ involvement with the event.
When you hear about how much players are paid now, it is wonderful to
see the league give back. Players visit local children’s hospitals to
encourage and lift their spirits. Every Mother’s day we see players use pink
bats and wear pink wristbands to raise awareness and money for breast
cancer research. Every Father’s day, players wear light blue for prostate
cancer awareness and research. Money is donated to cancer research for
every home run hit on designated game days. Even right now as I am
writing this, the announcers for Fox sports are all wearing pink ribbons on
their shirts. Commissioner Selig says baseball is a social institution, and it
is very true. When World War II broke out, the league saw several players
leave their teams to join team USA to fight for their country. Now in 2010,
the causes have changed, but the players, managers, coaches, and owners
are still on the front lines for social causes.
September 11, 2010
The second edition of Standup2cancer aired on all four major networks and
several cable channels Friday night. The telethon started with an
introduction of celebrity cancer survivors stating “cancer doesn’t care…”
when actress Maura Tierney walked out and said “cancer doesn’t care that
it just took your father.” I felt like I was emotionally smoked in the ribs with a
96 mph fastball. A fitting analogy considering Major League Baseball was
the first supporter and donor of Standup2cancer in 2008. It was announced
Friday that Major League Baseball has contributed over 30 million dollars to
the Standup2cancer cause (it averages out to about 10 million per team). It
was also announced during the telethon that an innovative research grant
has been established in the name of MLB commissioner Bud Selig and his
wife Suzanne for their generous support of the organization. In a pre-
recorded segment, Dodgers manager Joe Torre stressed that the
importance of teamwork in baseball goes hand in hand with the teamwork
needed to help cure cancer. With all the support MLB gives to
Standup2cancer, it is too bad that the telethon airs during the baseball
season, limiting players’ involvement with the event.
When you hear about how much players are paid now, it is wonderful to
see the league give back. Players visit local children’s hospitals to
encourage and lift their spirits. Every Mother’s day we see players use pink
bats and wear pink wristbands to raise awareness and money for breast
cancer research. Every Father’s day, players wear light blue for prostate
cancer awareness and research. Money is donated to cancer research for
every home run hit on designated game days. Even right now as I am
writing this, the announcers for Fox sports are all wearing pink ribbons on
their shirts. Commissioner Selig says baseball is a social institution, and it
is very true. When World War II broke out, the league saw several players
leave their teams to join team USA to fight for their country. Now in 2010,
the causes have changed, but the players, managers, coaches, and owners
are still on the front lines for social causes.
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