PRIDE Night Returns To PK Park On June 25

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PRIDE Night returns to PK Park on June 25 as the Emeralds celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community on a night that will include a PRIDE flag giveaway for fans and a game-worn Emeralds PRIDE jersey auction benefitting the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The special evening is proudly sponsored by our friends at Kendall Auto Group and KLCC NPR.

PRIDE Night is nothing new to PK Park. In 2019, the Emeralds became the first-ever affiliated Minor League Baseball organization to don PRIDE jerseys in-game**,** a landmark moment that hadn’t even occurred to Emeralds General Manager Allan Benavides at the time.

“We weren’t aware that we would be the first [affiliated] team,” he told MiLB.com. “It wasn’t a factor. We thought it was important that as an organization, we were committed to doing a PRIDE night. We had some people in the community give us some ideas on what we could do and how we should do it properly.”

The evening was also highlighted by a pregame Q&A panel with activist Candace Gingrich, a raffle of the game-worn jerseys that benefitted the HIV Alliance, and every Emeralds gameday employee decked out in PRIDE merchandise.

Asked to reflect back on that night in an interview with the Washington Post earlier this month, Benavides recalled, “there were a lot of people in the stadium who felt comfortable holding hands, hugging each other. A lot of people wearing PRIDE colors. Just very comfortable, and that continued. It wasn’t just that one game.”

On June 5, the San Francisco Giants, the Major League affiliate of the Eugene Emeralds, became the first-ever Major League franchise to sport PRIDE jerseys in-game.

This year’s PRIDE Night will be highlighted by an Emeralds PRIDE flag giveaway thanks to Kendall Auto Group. On June 25, the first 1,000 fans that enter the home plate gate at PK Park will receive a free Emeralds PRIDE flag.

 

Additionally, the Emeralds will once again don specially designed Emeralds PRIDE jerseys on June 25. The game-worn Emeralds PRIDE jerseys will be available for sale via online auction. Information regarding the online jersey auction will be available later in the week at www.EmeraldsBaseball.com.

Proceeds from the Emeralds PRIDE jersey auction will benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation, a nonprofit founded by the parents of the foundation’s namesake, Dennis and Judy Shepard.

The foundation was established following the death of Matthew Shepard who, as a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming, was brutally attacked and tied to a fence in a field where he was left to die. Matthew tragically succumbed to his wounds, but his memory lives on through the foundation his parents created using education, outreach, and advocacy programs to inspire individuals, organizations, and communities to embrace the dignity and equality of all people.

Tickets to Eugene Emeralds home games are available for purchase at www.EmeraldsBaseball.com or by calling (541) 342-5367.

Stay up to date with the Emeralds by following the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Community Spotlight: Lyllye Reynolds-Parker

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Lyllye Reynolds-Parker was born at Sacred Heart hospital, in 1946. She is an elder in our community, and a child of Eugene.

In the 1940s, exclusionary laws prevented Black people from buying or renting within city limits. Because of this, her family lived in the “Ferry Street Village” community, near present-day Alton Baker Park. When she was three years old, the Lane County Commissioners ordered that the neighborhood where she and her family lived be bulldozed so that the Ferry Street Bridge could be placed there. Her family was displaced and lived many years out West 11th.

Redlining was alive and well in Oregon into the late 1970s. This racist practice created an inability for black people to access loans to buy a house, in order to purchase homes in an area where their home would increase in value and send their children to high quality school. Most importantly, this practice did not allow for Black families to build generational wealth that could be passed along through generations.

Ms. Lyllye worked for 17 years at the University of Oregon. She came into contact with countless students of color, and she helped them find comfort in a community and a system that wasn’t made for them. The Eugene Emeralds are thrilled to have Ms. Lyllye, and her family, join us at the ballpark on June 19th. Before the game, Ms. Lyllye will throw out a first pitch and receive a custom Emeralds jersey to thank her for her service to the community.

Ms. Lyllye has a dream of purchasing a home for her and her older sister to live in, and the community is determined to help her see that dream come true. To help raise funds for this dream, the Eugene Emeralds will be selling special Black empowerment shirts featuring Ms. Lyllye on the back with her message of unity. “I chose Unity because we are such a fractured society right now. I just want us to realize we are in this together, be it COVID, White Supremacists, gun violence, civil unrest around the world, whatever it may be, it affects us all. We must come together in unity. We may not agree on everything, and compromise can be painful, but we can do it.”

Fans can also donate at any Oregon Community Credit Union (OCCU) branch. If you wish to donate with a check, they can be written out to new house for Lyllye Parker and write “1316973” in the memo line. You can also donate using a PayPal Pool: https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8xMymFhKhg.

Chris Singleton To Speak At PK Park On June 19

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EUGENE, OR – The Eugene Emeralds are thrilled to welcome back to former player, motivational speaker, and child book author Chris Singleton who will be on-hand at PK Park on June 19 to speak with fans and share his message of love, inspiration, and unity.

For the past six years, Singleton has been living proof that love is stronger than hate. In 2015, Singleton lost his mother, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church shooting in Downtown Charleston, South Carolina, an unthinkable tragedy that saw the lives of nine African Americans taken far, far too soon.

And yet, despite that tragedy, Singleton has refused to allow that dark moment define him or fill him with hatred and anger, instead choosing to forgive the shooter while inspiring thousands since with his message of resilience, forgiveness, and unity.

Prior to the Eugene Emeralds game on June 19, Singleton will be speaking with fans at PK Park to share that beautiful message with Emeralds fans, a message that ‘love is stronger than hate.’

Gates open at 6:00pm PST and fans are encouraged to arrive early to hear Singleton speak. Tickets are available at www.EmeraldsBaseball.com.

Also prior to the game, the Eugene Emeralds and Kendall Auto Group will be distributing copies of his book Different: A Story About Loving Your Neighbor to the first 500 children that enter PK Park. Different aims to teach children that differences – whether through race, nationality, gender or more – are something to accept and celebrate. Most of all, Different is a tribute to Singleton’s late mother, Sharonda Coleman-Singleton.

Different, the first of two books he has written, was a best-seller in its category and has been featured in numerous outlets, including by The Obama Foundation.

Fans can learn more about Chris, his two books – Different and Your Life Matters – and his inspirational message by visiting www.ChrisSingleton.com.

The Eugene Emeralds sincerely hope to see you at PK Park on June 19 for what will undoubtedly be a special night at the ballpark.

Information regarding tickets to Eugene Emeralds home games is available at www.EmeraldsBaseball.com or by calling (541) 342-5367.

Stay up to date with the Emeralds by following the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Emeralds Buy a Mask/Give a Mask Program

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Last month the Eugene Emeralds launched their online initiative to donate reusable, washable masks to local school districts. Through the Emeralds Buy a Mask/Give a Mask Program fans can purchase an adjustable face mask, or a gator, and the Emeralds will donate an identical mask to a local school district.

The Emeralds will distribute the masks through the Eugene Education Foundation, Bethel Education Foundation and the Springfield Education Foundation to go to the students, teachers and supporting staff. Although the re-opening of in person instruction is fluid, schools will be able to disturb the masks as needed and have them on hand when they are able to start in person instructions.

“It is so important for our students, teachers and support staff to have access to face masks,” said Anne Culhane, Director of Community Relations. “Masks are going to be an ongoing need for schools for the foreseeable future, and we want to make sure schools are able to provide PPEs to those who need them.”

The Emeralds have two options for fans to purchase from. The first one, a mask that has adjustable elastic ear loops. This mask is made of polyester super dry mesh fabric interior and has an interior pocket for a filter pad. Also available is a light weight and breathable gator. This standard fit (one size fits most) gator can be worn in any number of ways such as a headscarf, face mask or bandanna. These are not medical grade masks, but it has been proven to help reduce a person’s chance of spreading COVID-19 by up to 70 percent.

Fans interested in participating in the Buy a Mask/Give a Mask program can visit the Emeralds Team Store here, https://emeralds.milbstore.com/collections/buy-a-mask-give-a-mask. Fans who visit the site will also see the option to purchase a mask to given to schools. The program will run until January 2021.

The Ems Tip Their Cap to the 100th Anniversary of the Negro Baseball League

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This season the Eugene Emeralds were set to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Negro Baseball League at PK Park. This league was known for spotlighting some great sportsmanship. Although the pandemic has stopped the Emeralds season, we will move forward with recognizing some of the great players who played in the Negro Baseball Leagues.

Baseball had a prominent standing in African American society since the mid to late 1800s. Racist norms of the day prevented teams with black players from joining the Association of Amateur Baseball Players and this segregation was codified in the 1890’s by a “gentlemen’s agreement” among National League owners. Banned from the major leagues, black athletes and teams barnstormed in the US, competing against anyone who would play them.

In 1920, Andrew “Rube” Foster, the managers of one of these teams and a former pitcher, met with 7 of the owners of similar teams in Kansas City, MO and created the Negro National League, comprised of eight teams from the Northeast and Midwest. This Negro National League is generally recognized as the first of the Negro Leagues, and it provided a spotlight on some of the best baseball players of the era.

From the beginning the league had many hardships. In addition to racism, Jim Crow laws, and tough economic conditions, most teams played in ballparks owned by white teams which were only available when the white team was out of town. Games were sometimes cancelled when a profitable exhibition against a white team became available. Wide disparity in the quality of teams exasperated financial woes and led to a number of team failures which, in turn, led to league failures. Despite the hardships, the decades between 1920 and 1950 always included at least one active league.

World War II led to an improvement in the economic situation of many African Americans, which in turn lead to a great improvement in the leagues. Similar to MLB, many teams lost players to the armed forces, but the leagues continued to put a quality product on the field. Teams became a linchpin for economic development in black communities. Games drew crowds of over 5,000 and black business men and women started to build their businesses around the game of baseball. They saw the chance to offer goods, services and entertainment to the players as they would come through town for games. Cities began to see hotels, restaurants, night clubs, barbershops and barrooms being created to cater to players and their crowds.

The integration of Major League Baseball that started in 1947 with Negro League alumnus Jackie Robinson led to a slow but irreversible gutting of talent of the Negro Leagues. Teams were not able to compete financially and did not want to stand in the way of African Americans playing in the Majors. Quality of play declined and finances suffered. Teams tried to stay relevant by signing white players as well as women, but it wasn’t enough and the last one folded in the 1960’s.

Many outstanding players started their playing careers in the Negro League and the Eugene Emeralds will be highlighting some of the players over the next week. Be sure to watch the Emeralds Facebook page as we learn more about founder Rube Foster, Josh Gibson, James Bell and Toni Stone. You can also visit the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum e-museum (http://www.nlbemuseum.com/ to find out more about the League and its players. Please join us as we tip our cap to honor the Negro Leagues in its centennial year.

Emeralds and Kendall to Host Be a Hero Drive

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On Wednesday, August 19th the Eugene Emeralds and Kendall Toyota are inviting the Eugene/Springfield community to become superheroes through their Be a Hero Drive. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. community members will be able to donate blood, join the bone marrow registry and learn about organ donation. They will be joined by members from American Red Cross, Be the Match and Donate Life NW at Kendall Toyota of Eugene.

The American Red Cross Blood Mobile will be on site to collect blood donation. Donating blood products is essential to community health and the need for blood products is constant. Additionally, the Red Cross is testing all blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The Red Cross has added safety precautions to the drive to ensure the health and safety of all who attend. This will include a temperature screening, enhanced disinfecting of areas and social distancing wherever possible. They are also asking donors to sign up for a pre-scheduled appointment at redcrossblood.org/give, instead of walking in, as to adhere to the social distancing guidelines. All blood types are needed, and people who have never donated before are encouraged to donate. Donors must be 17 years old or older, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in general good health.

Seventy percent of blood cancer patients requiring a marrow transplant are waiting for a match through the Bone Marrow Registry. It is normally 1 in 300 of those who register will be matched with those in need. Be the Match, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program, manages the largest and most diverse marrow registry in the world. They will be on site collecting volunteers to be listed as a potential blood stem cell donor, ready to save the life of any patient in need of a transplant through a quick cheek swab.

Another way members can Be a Hero is to register to be an organ donor through Donate Life NW. Of the almost 120,000 Americans waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, more than 3,000 live in the Pacific Northwest.

“This was an event we had planned for one of our games this summer,” said Anne Culhane, Director of Community Relations. “These are three amazing, lifesaving programs that rely on volunteers so we wanted to move forward with this drive.”

Individuals not feeling well or who are exhibiting any symptoms, which include fever, tiredness and dry cough should stay home. Donors will be asked to wear a mask while attending this event.

Help our MiLB CommUNITY

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The Eugene Emeralds are proud to be a part of the MiLB CommUNITY First Initiative for the month of May. This national initiative was developed in conjunction with Feeding America, to raise funds for local food banks and to honor individuals risking their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emeralds fans are encouraged to visit the CommUNITY First website through May 31st to help MiLB, and the participating teams, raise money for local food banks. Once on the site, fans can choose their donation amount and the Emeralds as the recipient of their donation to direct funds to the Oregon Food Bank and FOOD for Lane County. By selected the Emeralds for the donation, you will ensure that the money will go to support local food banks. If a team is not selected, funds will go to the Feeding America COVID-19 Response Fund which is providing food assistance and supplies to communities most affected by the pandemic.

Ten dollars provides access to 30 meals to families and individuals in need. With school closures and rising unemployment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, FOOD for Lane County has seen a noticeable increase in the number of people seeking help with food for the first time. With the suspension of food rescue and food drives, the food supply for FOOD for Lane County has been drastically disrupted. The donations will go towards purchasing local food so they can offer a variety of food choices to the community.

Since April, the Emeralds front office has been volunteering with FOOD for Lane County once a week, stocking and creating produce bags for one of the four emergency mobile pantries the nonprofit has set up. By supporting the CommUNITY First Initiative, the Emeralds hope to help families and individuals across the country most impacted by the pandemic by making sure they are fed and cared for during these uncertain times.

In addition, for every $10 donation, the Emeralds will donate one ticket to a home game for either the 2020 or 2021 season to a local hero of the pandemic. Fans are invited to join the national campaign by donating and selecting the Eugene Emeralds at MiLB.com/CommUNITYFirst and use #MiLBCommUNITYFirst on social media to show your support.

Season In Review | Ems Go Above And Beyond To Benefit Local Community

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With another season of Emeralds baseball now officially in the rear-view mirror, we’re taking a look back at some of the special moments and memories created during the 2019 season. Today, we reflect on all the good that the Emeralds imparted throughout the Eugene/Springfield community.

Over the past decade, the Ems have made a concerted effort to ingrain the organization within the fabric of Eugene/Springfield through countless community efforts and initiatives. With almost too many donations, drives and events to keep track of, let’s go by the numbers to see exactly how the Emeralds made a positive impact in Lane County during the past season.

$7,451: Dollars raised to benefit local nonprofits through Good Karma Monday.

Good Karma Monday, presented by Yogi, is a weekly ticket promotion created in recent years with the goal of supporting local nonprofit organizations and initiatives. During every Good Karma Monday throughout the 2019 season, fans were able to purchase discounted box seat tickets ($10) with 50% of ticket sales directly benefitting a local nonprofit organization. All told, the Ems raised a combined $7,451 that together benefitted the Pearl Buck Center, Relief Nursery, A Family For Every Child, and Womenspace.

7: Community focus nights.

The Ems aim to use their influence to shine light on causes and efforts that are near and dear to the organization. During the 2019 season, a total of seven (7) different home games were used to highlight important (local) causes, efforts, and personalities: PRIDE, Climate Change, First Responders Appreciation, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics), League Of Her Own (Lois Youngen – former AAGPBL Player), Suicide Prevention, and Military Appreciation.

5: Community events.

Even when there aren’t ballgames happening at PK Park, the Emeralds are often still playing their part in helping support the local community. All told, the Emeralds hosted five (5) separate non-gameday events during the 2019 season to support local nonprofits and organizations: American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, Eugene Police’s National Night Out, Eugene Food Truck Fest benefitting Eugene Mission, Wham Bam Kendall Jam Car Show benefitting Relief Nursery, and the Boys and Girls Club‘s Field of Dreams.

$3,500: Dollars raised through specialty jersey sales during the 2019 season.

Every year, the Emeralds front office collaborates to design one-of-a-kind, specialty jerseys to be worn on a select night during the season. During each specialty jersey game, fans in attendance can bid on the game-worn jerseys via a silent auction, and the auction winners receive their jersey directly from the corresponding player immediately following the game.

Below, you can find the corresponding nonprofit beneficiary for each specialty jersey worn by the Ems this past season.

PRIDE – HIV Alliance

Climate Change – Our Children’s Trust

Star Wars – Children’s Miracle Network

Black Panther – Ems Community Fund

3: Collection drives hosted to benefit nonprofit organizations.

The Emeralds hosted three separate community collection drives during the past season: a book drive benefitting United Way, a cat/dog items drive benefitting Greenhill Humane Society, and a new socks/underwear drive benefitting Eugene Mission.

6,500: Tickets donated to local elementary school students and teachers through Sluggo’s Home Run Reading Challenge, presented by Oregon Medical Group and Wildish.

Year after year, Sluggo and the Emeralds staff spend the spring visiting countless Lane County schools in an effort to encourage reading among children. Participating schools and teachers decide on a reasonable reading goal for their students’ respective reading levels. Once the individual goal is reached by a student, they automatically receive two free tickets to one of the Emeralds Reading Program Redemption games.

This year, the Emeralds hosted a total of eleven (11) Reading Program Nights with more than 6,500 total tickets donated to local elementary school students and teachers.

6: Monarcas games at PK Park this past season.

Starting in 2018, the Emeralds proudly joined “Copa de la Diversión,” or “Fun Cup,” a season-long event series specifically designed to embrace the culture and values that resonate most with participating teams’ local U.S. Hispanic/Latino communities. As such, the Emeralds created their own unique identity as Los Monarcas de Eugene, using the Monarch butterfly as a subtle and beautiful symbol for the migrant community. Every Sunday home game, the Emeralds transformed into los Monarcas by donning specially designed uniforms while also incorporating Latin-themed food, music, and decorations all throughout PK Park.

$6,850: Dollars raised through the 50/50 raffle for Eugene Little League and Boys & Girls Club.

25: Emeralds player outings and efforts within the community totaling more than 175 hours of volunteer work.

5: Days Emeralds players hosted baseball clinics during the season.

1: Guide dogs that the Emeralds helped train this season.

Last but not least, fans at PK Park likely noticed a new four-legged friend roaming the concourse during the 2019 season. Vegas, the Emeralds service dog in-training, joined the organization earlier this year under the direction of Anne Culhane, the team’s Director of Community Relations. Since his arrival, Vegas has been a (rapidly growing) staple at the Ems office and at PK Park, and thanks to Culhane’s guidance he’s also continued to take major steps towards his goal of one day becoming a service dog.

To learn more about The Joys of Living Assistance Dogs visit joydogs.org.

Stay up to date with the Emeralds by following the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Emeralds To Host UnderAWARE Drive In Support Of Eugene Mission

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Universally, socks and underwear are the most needed clothing item for emergency shelters across our nation but one of the least donated items. This month the Eugene Emeralds are hosting an UnderAWARE Drive to help provide the Eugene Mission with new underwear and socks for those they serve. From August 11th to the 22nd the Emeralds hope fans will bring in new socks and underwear for men, women and children.

Statistically, the Eugene Mission sees 700 people a day and allows them access to their free clothing rooms stocked with essential clothing. Over the last five months, they’ve distributed over 8,400 items, including over 1,000 pairs of underwear.

“Having a clean pair of underwear is something so simple we don’t really think much about it,” said Anne Culhane, Director of Community Relations. “It really is something that brings comfort and dignity to a person.”

Fans can drop their donations off at the Ticket Office or inside the ballpark at the Information Booth. To thank fans for their donations, the Emeralds will provide each donor with one coupon good for 20% off their next team store purchase.

“The Eugene Mission does amazing things for our community, we are just happy to be able to help them out with this collection drive,” said Culhane.

The Eugene Missions works to compassionately provide emergency services and long-time solutions to help our homeless neighbors transitioning back into the community with gainful employment, sustainable income and stable housing. The Emeralds hope fans will be able to help support the Eugene Mission.

Tickets to Emeralds home games are on sale now at www.EmeraldsBaseball.com or by calling (541) 342-5367.

Stay up to date with the Emeralds by following the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

Emeralds Set to Hit a Home Run in Reading

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The Eugene Emeralds are excited to announce they are once again partnering with Oregon Medical Group and Wildish for Sluggo’s Home Run Reading Challenge. Starting this week, the program is designed to motivate students to become better readers by completing reading assignments to earn free Ems tickets!

Last year, 56 schools signed up for the Reading Challenge and a record 11,528 completed the program. “The growth of the Reading Program over the 10 years here at PK Park has been incredible,” said Ems Assistant General Manager Matt Dompe. “It is one of our biggest community outreach programs year after year, and it’s a great way to kick off the Emeralds season with games filled with kids that completed the reading challenge.”

For 2019, the new and improved Reading Challenge assembly will take on a Super Hero theme as Sluggo travels faster than a speeding green bear all over Lane County to spread the joy of reading. At the end of the assembly, teachers will give their students a 10-task reading goal, which students will track with a Sluggo-themed bookmark.

Students who complete their bookmarks receive two free tickets to a Eugene Emeralds baseball game this summer. In addition to the tickets, students will be invited to go down onto the field at PK Park and have a chance to meet some of the 2019 Emeralds players!

“We are committed to helping build healthier communities, and the connection between literacy and health is strong. Oregon Medical Group is excited to once again be part of Sluggo’s Home Run Reading Challenge. It motivates kids to read, and it gets them out to a ballgame – that’s a pretty healthy combination.” says Josh Cox, Director of Marketing and Public Relations.

The Emeralds and OMG will be updating the progress of Sluggo’s Home Run Reading Challenge through social media posts all spring so be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.