The ALS Association Thanks Major & Minor League Baseball for Their Ongoing Support in the Fight Against Lou Gehrig’s Disease

As baseball season wraps up with the  Detroit Tigers and San Francisco Giants vying for the championship in the 2012 World Series, Major and Minor League Baseball teams across the U.S. joined forces with The ALS Association and its chapters to spread ALS awareness in ball parks during the regular season through the 4ALS initiative. The 4ALS initiative is a League-wide effort to raise awareness and support for the fight against Lou Gehrig’s Disease. 

Chapters of The ALS Association participated in various baseball-related activities throughout the spring and summer.  During these games, some teams recognized our service men and women living with ALS. Others played public service announcements on the Jumbotron promoting the chapters’ Walk to Defeat ALS®  events. 

“The support we have received from Major and Minor League Baseball has allowed us to spread ALS awareness to both large cities and small towns,” said The ALS Association President & CEO Jane H. Gilbert. “We thank the teams’ players and owners for their willingness to partner with our chapters to inform the public about the impact this disease has on families throughout the nation.” 

Treg Charleton throwing out the first pitch at the Royals/Tigers game. Image courtesy of the Keith Worthington Chapter

At a Kansas City Royals game, onetime resident Treg Charleton, who is living ALS and works with The Association’s Keith Worthington Chapter, threw out the first pitch before the Royals defeated the Detroit Tigers. The Boston Red Sox hosted ALS Awareness Day at Fenway Park on May 30, which was attended by staffers and volunteers from the Massachusetts Chapter. Game announcers introduced people with the disease who are working with the chapter as well as with other area ALS organizations.

Chicago Cub David DeJesus filmed a Public Service Announcement for the Greater Chicago Chapter in honor of a family friend with Lou Gehrig’s Disease and to promote “ALS Day at Wrigley Field” in July.  The event, which raised more than $28,000 for the chapter, along with his fundraising activities for other organizations in the Windy City, helped the celebrated outfielder garner a nomination for the Roberto Clemente Award. This annual award is given to a Major League Baseball player who "best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual’s contribution to his team.”

Philadelphia Philly Chase Utley with Ron Wenger and his grandson at the Phillies Phestival. Image courtesy of Rodney Atienza

Since 1984, the Greater Philadelphia Chapter has joined forces with the Philadelphia Phillies for the Phillies Phestival, an annual event where the team’s fans gather for an autograph and auction party. Funds raised from the Phestival go toward local patient programs for those living with ALS. To date, this event has raised more than $13.5 million. This year’s event brought in $858,340. 

Minor League teams also supported these endeavors. The Arizona Chapter partnered with the Tucson Padres for a “Tribute to our Military Heroes” game. For unknown reasons, veterans are twice as likely as the general public to die from Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Chapter employees gave out baseballs with The Association’s logo when patrons arrived at the city’s Kino Stadium on August 12. 

St. Louis area Minor League teams united with the St. Louis Regional Chapter to educate their constituents about the disease. These teams include the Gateway Grizzlies, River City Rascals, Southern Illinois Minors and Peoria Chiefs. The latter two teams have hosted Walk to Defeat ALS events in their communities for several years. Similarly, the Upstate New York Chapter partnered with the Rochester Red Wings, the Buffalo Bisons and the Binghampton Mets during June and July and publicized the chapter’s Walks to Defeat ALS in those markets. 

A night at the ballpark with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats. (L-R) David Mindlin, Bruce Mindlin, Bernie Herron, Josh Mindlin Image courtesy of the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

The ALS Association, along with other national ALS organizations, has worked with Major and Minor League Baseball teams via the 4ALS initiative for the past several years to tell baseball fans about ALS.  The League honors baseball legend Lou Gehrig, who played for the New York Yankees for nearly 16 years. Throughout his life, Gehrig exemplified grace and courage on and off the field. During the famous “farewell speech” he made on July 4, 1939, Gehrig proclaimed himself “the luckiest man on the face of this earth,” due to the support he received from his family, friends, and fans. Gehrig gallantly battled the disease that bears his name from 1939-1941.