Biloxi Shuckers make major community impact in 2017

Here is a link to the original story on the team’s website.

BIBiloxi ShuckersLOXI, MS – In a season marked by several on-field accomplishments in the third year of Minor League Baseball on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the Biloxi Shuckers are most proud of their various community outreach efforts. From theme nights to jersey auctions, the Shuckers have made a financial and symbolic impact on their community throughout the 2017 season.

The Shuckers were nominated by the Minor League Baseball Community as a finalist for a prestigious “Golden Bobblehead” award for the “Best Community Promotion or Event” after helping with the Hattiesburg/Petal tornado relief efforts and William Carey vs. Biloxi Shuckers exhibition game. Shuckers’ employees traveled to Petal, Mississippi to assist cleanup crews. The tornado caused damage to the campus of nearby William Carey University, so the Shuckers scheduled a benefit exhibition game against the school’s baseball team before the first road trip of the season. The game raised $6,090 for the university’s tornado recovery efforts. This effort coupled with numerous other initiatives garnered the recognition.

Watch: Youtube Video

In addition to the recognition by Minor League Baseball, the Shuckers were also a finalist for the Southern League’s Community Service Award.

Shuckers’ front office members laid the groundwork for a successful season with several other community initiatives. Employees laid sod at an athletic complex in Moss Point, Mississippi to revitalize the area’s youth baseball program.

Watch: Youtube Video

In partnership with Walmart, the inaugural Shuckers “Hit the Books” reading program brought Schooner the Seagull to 17 schools and over 10,000 students to incentivize reading with Shuckers tickets as a reward.

Watch: Youtube Video

Since their inception, the Shuckers have had a strong relationship with nearby Keesler Air Force Base and the substantial military presence on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. That trend continued in 2017, as every Monday became “Military Monday” with special discounts for active and retired members of the armed forces. Special camouflage jerseys, worn every Monday and designed with input from Keesler staff, and were auctioned off at the end of the season with proceeds benefiting local military causes.

Throughout the season, the Shuckers have partnered with several charitable organizations to raise money and awareness for deserving local causes. Three additional jersey auctions earlier this season have brought in money for the March of Dimes, Mississippi Center for Autism, and Favre4Hope breast cancer research.

Watch: Youtube Video

The Shuckers have also hosted a Christmas in July toy drive for the Uplift Foundation, Seatbelt Safety night for the K&J Foundation (started by team photographer Brian Pearse), and Skin Cancer Awareness night in partnership with the MiLB Charities Sun Safety Initiative.

Youth outreach was not limited to the “Hit the Books” program. The Shuckers turned their two “Education Day” games into vocational field trips, with visits from Biloxi Fire and Police, NASA, the Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, Department of Marine Resources, University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, and Mississippi State University’s Coastal Research Extension.

Former New York Mets catcher and Biloxi native Barry Lyons was formally invited into the Shuckers organization as an ambassador prior to the 2017 season, and the team assisted him in the creation of the first series of Shuckers Kids Clinics for local youth. In addition, the “Field of Dreams” program allowed more than 100 young baseball and softball players from the area to take the field alongside Shuckers players for the national anthem.

In partnership with the Knights of Columbus, the Biloxi Shuckers collected 765 lbs of food/product during a food drive on Sunday, July 30th for them to distribute in the community.

In addition to these widespread efforts, the Shuckers have also made numerous player and mascot appearances in the community over the course of the season. The Shuckers in-kind donations and in-stadium fundraising initiatives have raised $155,455.91 for over 100 charitable organizations. The Biloxi Shuckers understand the responsibility that comes with their platform in the community and are determined to make a positive impact on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

In addition to monetary contributions, the Biloxi Shuckers front office staff have logged 265 community volunteer hours thus far in 2017. Those hours have been spent working with area schools, NCBC’s Child Development Center, Humane Society of South Mississippi, VA Medical Center, Loaves and Fishes and cleanup efforts from Hurricane Harvey.

The Shuckers open up their 2018 season on the road at Montgomery before their home opener against Mississippi on April 11. More information on the fourth season of Biloxi Shuckers baseball will be available at biloxishuckers.com as the offseason progresses.

ABOUT THE BILOXI SHUCKERS: The Biloxi Shuckers are the Double-A Southern League Affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. The Shuckers play at MGM Park in Biloxi, Mississippi. For more information please visit biloxishuckers.com and follow us on Twitter @biloxishuckers and at facebook.com/biloxishuckers.com.

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

Chasers Nominated for John Henry Moss Community Service Award

The Pacific Coast League has announced that the Omaha Storm Chasers’ franchise is the circuit’s nominee for Minor League Baseball’s John Henry Moss Community Service Award. Each league in Minor League Baseball nominated an organization, with the overall winner announced at the annual Baseball Winter Meetings in Orlando, Florida in December.

“A truly great organization is one that shows a high level of commitment to its own community,” stated Omaha Storm Chasers President and General Manager Martie Cordaro. “We are proud to be representing the Pacific Coast League with this nomination, which is a testament to the time and commitment of our front office staff, as well as the Kansas City Royals organization, to the Omaha Metro community.”

Over the course of the 2017 campaign, Chasers Charities, the charitable arm of the Omaha Storm Chasers, donated $808,182 to local charities, setting an all-time record in charitable giving for the fourth consecutive year. The Storm Chasers assisted over 1,500 different organizations, and were also visible in the community with over 420 mascot and player appearances. Front office employees also donated 740 hours of community service throughout the year.

73 different organizations were provided a platform at Werner Park at the Sprint Community Organization of the Night. Over $18,000 was raised through the McDonald’s and Huber Chevrolet Hurl the Pearl promotion for the Ronald McDonald House, while more than $21,000 was raised for various local charities including Methodist Hospital Founation and Moving Veterans Forward via four Jersey Auctions. Initiatives also included Hy-Vee Canned Food Sundays, with nearly 5,000 items donated to Heartland Hope Mission, in addition to Chasers FUNdamentals, with Chasers Charities teaming with DREAM to put on baseball clinics introducing youth to baseball.

Chasers Charities also offered the Chasin’ Dreams Grant, donating a total in excess of $9,000 to help non-profit organizations that operate youth softball/baseball programs make major renovations. Two Jackie Robinson Athletic Scholarships worth $1,000 each were also awarded through Chasers Charities and The Weitz Company, while partnering with the Nebraska State Treasurer’s Office for the 15th annual Why I Want To Go To College Essay Contest.

The Storm Chasers also held their third annual Chasers Community Week presented by Summit Dental, which included the Jirschele Family Memorial Golf Outing to help benfit the Muscular Dystrophy Association, as well as player appearances at Children’s Hospital and the Southwest YMCA and hosting Bellevue Buddy Baseball at Werner Park. The nine-day event culminated in hosting The Wall That Heals, an exhibit that featured a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington D.C. The exhibit was open 24 hours a day from August 3-6 at Werner Park, with the Storm Chasers’ Military Appreciation game preceded the exhibit’s closing ceremonies.

Werner Park also served as a site for local organizations to use the stadium as a venue to host large-scale fundraisers. Those special events included the “Boxer 500” to benefit the Great Plains Colon Cancer Task Force, the “Walk to Defeat ALS”, SHARP Race towards Brain Aneurysm, Heart Heroes Run, and Nebraska 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb.

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

DeGraaf Wins Jays Community Service Award

Dunedin Blue Jays starting pitcher Josh DeGraaf had a memorable season on the field, establishing himself as Dunedin’s ace in the second half and helping to pitch the team to a share of the Florida State League’s Championship. While his impact was great between the white lines, DeGraaf made many more memories for members of our local Dunedin community off the field. For his continued efforts to support the local community, DeGraaf was recently honored as the Blue Jays 2017 Community Service Award winner.

The Blue Jays Community Service Award has been given annually since 2012 to the Blue Jays player who best exemplifies the team’s commitment to enriching the Dunedin community through a variety of outreach programs that promote education, healthy lifestyles, and charity. Throughout the 2017 season, DeGraaf represented the Blue Jays in the community through numerous appearances away from the ballpark, supporting and encouraging local children, students, and families.

“We could always count on Josh. Hands down, no one was more eager to participate and help out throughout the season,” Blue Jays Community Relations Manager Kathi Beckman said about DeGraaf. “He was a leader and an advocate for our programs in the clubhouse all year. He was so personable with fans and the community and was an absolute natural with children and students.”

DeGraaf helped lead the 2017 Blue Jays Bookin’ It To The Ballpark Reading Program, the largest community outreach progam in the franchise’s history, reaching five hundred elementary school students in 14 Pinellas County schools. DeGraaf visited local elementary schools to support the program and promote literacy, reading to local students, answering their questions, and encouraging them in their studies. Over the course of the six-week program, local students read for 146,035 minutes, over 101 full days of reading.

DeGraaf was also active at the 2017 Blue Jays Bowling Tournament, an event that raised $12,820 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay. Prior to the event, he volunteered to paint pottery to be raffled at the event and then helped raise nearly $1000 selling raffle tickets to fans at the event.

DeGraaf also took to the shopping mall to help out local families, participating in the Blue Jays Here We Grow and Toys For Tots Shopping Drives. During the Here We Grow Shopping Spree, he helped purchase school supplies and clothing for local students in need. During the Toys For Tots drive, he joined teammate Ryan Cook in selecting $1000 worth of toys and presents to be given to local children during the upcoming holiday season.

Reflecting on the myriad of events he participated in throughout the year, DeGraaf noted the time he spent with local students during the Reading Program as particularly memorable.

“I loved the kids’ questions. They always had really funny questions and sometimes very surprisingly good questions about baseball, about reading, and about life. It was fun hearing those and laughing with them. They may have been early mornings, but I enjoy working with kids.”

DeGraaf joins an impressive list of past Dunedin Blue Jays Community Service Award winners.

2012: Danny Barnes
2013: Matt Newman
2014: Taylor Cole
2015: L.B. Dantzler and Jorge Saez
2016: Tim Mayza

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

Baysox to Hold Online Auction to Aid Hurricane Harvey Relief

BOWIE, Md. – In conjunction with Minor League Baseball Charities, the Bowie Baysox are participating in an online auction to provide relief to the MiLB communities that have been affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Minor League Baseball Charities is collecting funds on behalf of Minor League Baseball’s 160 teams to provide relief to those communities affected by Hurricane Harvey. MiLB will match all donations provided by its teams, up to $10,000. 100% of the proceeds from these auction items will help those clubs whose communities are affected.

Items the Baysox have up for bid through our website (or directly through Baysox.milbauctions.com) include a 2017 team autographed authentic game jersey signed by Orioles #2 prospect Austin Hays, Ryan Mountcastle, Cedric Mullins, Eastern League wins leader Yefry Ramirez, Tanner Scott and Eastern League MVP Garabez Rosa. There are also Eastern League baseballs signed by Hays, Mountcastle, Mullins, Scott and DJ Stewart that are up for bidding.

The auction runs through 3:00 pm on Thursday, September 15.

The 2017 Bowie Baysox season is presented by Money One Federal Credit Union. Single game playoff tickets are for the Western Division Championship Series vs. the Altoona Curve are available at www.baysox.com.

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

Donation Drive for Hurricane Harvey Cleanup Efforts at Dell Diamond Sunday

ROUND ROCK, Texas – Wish For Our Heroes will be at Dell Diamond for the 9th annual Reckless Kelly’s Celebrity Softball Jam this Sunday collecting donations to aid in Hurricane Harvey cleanup efforts.

The non-profit said the biggest need is for cleaning supplies, garbage bags, rakes, tarps, tools and gift cards to home improvement stores. Additionally, they will collect new and gently used sports equipment and musical instruments to take to those in the affected areas that lost their gear or instruments in the storm and its aftermath.

All proceeds from the Celebrity Softball Jam are going straight to help with Hurricane Harvey relief efforts through Rebuild Texas. There will be a silent auction on the concourse featuring an autographed Josh Beckett jersey, a Willie Robertson autographed baseball and more. Proceeds from the auction will also go to Rebuild Texas.

The Jam features a celebrity softball game followed by a two-stage concert featuring over 30 acts. An all-star roster will take the field for an antic-filled celebrity softball game. Former Longhorns Ricky Williams, Cat Osterman, Quan Cosby, Kasey Studdard, Brooks Kieschnick and Greg Swindell will join MLB All-Stars Josh Beckett and Norm Charlton and more in the dugouts at Dell Diamond.

The packed musical lineup features Jack Ingram, American Aquarium, Randy Rogers, Roger Creager, Wade Bowen, Kevin Fowler, Cody Canada & the Departed, Midnight River Choir, Suzy Bogguss, Jamie Lin Wilson, John Evans, Charlie Robison, Rosie Flores, Jessie Dayton, Jason Eady, Mike and the Moonpies, Shinyribs, Bart Crow, Courtney Patton and more.

Since its inception, the Jam has raised over $350,000 through the Reckless Kelly Charitable Youth Foundation for area youth leagues, including the funding of a $150,000 renovation of Mabson Field in East Austin, TX.

Tickets for the 9th Annual RKCSJ are on sale now for just $25 and can be purchased online at RKCSJ.org. Tickets will go up to $30 on the day of the event.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit RKCSJ.org. For up to the minute event info, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Redband Jerseys Are Up For Auction

Spokane, WASH. – The Redband Jersey Auction has moved online and it’s now time to get your bids in for these authentic game-worn jerseys! The Redband Jerseys were worn six times by the Spokane Indians throughout the 2017 season in honor of the new Redband Rally Campaign that raises money for the native Redband Trout habitat.

The City of Spokane is the presenting sponsor of the campaign in an effort to bring awareness to the huge investment the city and its citizens have made in Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) tanks to help collect untreated water from entering the Spokane River.

Click here to bid on the Redband Jersey Auction

Part of the proceeds from the jersey auction will go directly to the Redband Rally Fund. The fund, which is professionally administered by the Inland Northwest Community Foundation, raises money for local organizations to conserve and protect the Spokane River and its native Redband Trout.

The auction will be open until October 1st at 5:00 PM.

Click here to bid on the Redband Jersey Auction

While the Redband Jerseys are only available through the auction, there are multiple new Redband items currently for sale at the Spokane Indians Team Store. $5 from all Redband merchandise sold will be donated to the Redband Rally Campaign.

New merchandise items for sale include:

RedbandSizeSwag

Adjustable Hat for Release 2

Fishing Shirt Blue Background

Redband Polo blue background

Redband-Waves-Navy
Reband-Light-Blue-Trout

The Spokane Indians are the Short Season Class ‘A’ Affiliate of the Texas Rangers. For more information, please visit SpokaneIndians.com or call (509) 343-OTTO (6886).

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

RoughRiders raise more than $30,000 for Hurricane Harvey relief

FRISCO, Texas (Sept. 6, 2017) – The Frisco RoughRiders Foundation raised $30,856 for Hurricane Harvey relief throughout the team’s final homestand of the regular season, which ended Sept. 4. The proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross.

“The outpouring of support for those impacted by Hurricane Harvey over the last week is truly inspiring,” RoughRiders Chief Operating Officer Scott Burchett said. “We’re so proud to witness the tremendous generosity of RoughRiders fans and their unwavering assistance for our neighbors along the southeast Texas coast.”

The RoughRiders, the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, employed several fundraising efforts during the seven-game homestand, including 10 percent from all sales at the Riders Outpost team store, proceeds from special Pass the Boot activities during games, cash donations at the RoughRiders Foundation table and auctions of RoughRiders items.

Riders Outpost also has limited edition “Texas Tough” T-Shirts available both in store and online for a minimum $10 donation to the American Red Cross’ Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. More than 1,000 t-shirts have been ordered and will continue to be available at roughriders.milbstore.com through Friday, Sept. 8.

Fans can visit www.redcross.org/donate/cm/friscorr-pub for more information and to continue to donate. Donations through the American Red Cross are welcome by texting HARVEY to 90999.

About the RoughRiders Foundation

The mission of the RoughRiders Foundation is to enhance the community we serve through charitable contributions, grants, and programming initiatives. The RoughRiders Foundation supports programs and organizations in our community that motivate and reward children and families in the areas of education, good health and community services activities.

For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders Foundation, contact Breon Dennis at breon@ridersbaseball.com or at community@ridersbaseball.com.

About the RoughRiders

The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their games at beautiful Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. The team was founded in 2003 and has finished first among all Double-A franchises in attendance in each of the last 12 seasons (2005-2016). In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. The new ownership group, together with the city of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise improvements over the past two seasons, investing nearly $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a new state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, InTouch Grille, Riders Outpost Team Store and the newest and biggest creation, the 174-foot Choctaw Lazy River. The upgrades made prior to the 2015 season earned the Riders and the City of Frisco “Best Ballpark Renovation” of 2015 by Ballpark Digest. The same publication also honored the Choctaw Lazy River as the best ballpark improvement over $1 million for the 2016 season. More than 140 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including All-Stars Chris Davis, Adrian Gonzalez, Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz, as well as current Rangers stars Elvis Andrus, Rougned Odor and Nomar Mazara. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders and Dr Pepper Ballpark, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact Art Garcia at AGarcia@RidersBaseball.com or Ryan Rouillard at RRouillard@RidersBaseball.com.

Intimidators to host raffle at playoff game to raise money for Hurricane Harvey relief aid

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (Sept. 6, 2017) – As the Kannapolis Intimidators, Class A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, prepare to open the 2017 post-season, the team has announced a special in-stadium raffle at Friday’s home playoff game to help raise money for Hurricane Harvey relief in conjunction with Minor League Baseball and MiLB Charities. Fans at the playoff game Friday, Sept. 8, can purchase raffle tickets to enter to win a team-signed Stars & Stripes Military Jersey, a team-signed bat, an autographed 2017 team card set, a Darryl Strawberry signed baseball, and more, and MiLB Charities will match all combined club donations raised, up to $10,000. Gates open at 6 p.m. for Game 2 of the Best-of-3 series against the Greensboro Grasshoppers, and first pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. at Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System.

**Online auction for team-signed Stars & Stripes jersey**

Fan unable to attend the game can participate in an online auction for a second team-signed Stars & Stripes military jersey to raise money for Harvey relief. The Intimidators are also accepting donations to send to the relief effort at the ballpark throughout Friday’s playoff game. Tickets to the South Atlantic League Northern Division Series in Kannapolis are available by calling the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or by visiting IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

The Intimidators begin the 2017 post-season tonight at Greensboro with Game 1 of the Best-of-3 series at First National Bank Field at 7:00 p.m. Kannapolis will host Game 2 on Friday at 7:05 p.m. as well as Game 3, if necessary, on Saturday at 7:05 p.m.

About the Intimidators
The Intimidators are currently playing the 23rd season of professional baseball in Kannapolis and 17th season as a Chicago White Sox affiliate. Since the team’s inception in 1995, a total of 98 players have gone from Kannapolis to the Major Leagues. The team plays at Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System located off I-85, Exit 63 in Kannapolis. Single-game tickets are available by calling the F&M Bank Box Office at (704) 932-3267 or by visiting IntimidatorsBaseball.com.

Chiefs to Raise Money for Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

PEORIA, IL – The Peoria Chiefs are partnering with Minor League Baseball Charities to raise funds for Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The Chiefs will hold a Mystery Ball & Bobblehead Grab Bag at Friday’s regular season finale with all proceeds going to the Hurricane Harvey relief efforts and the team will also hold an online auctionof game-used items and other memorabilia over the next week. MiLB Charities announced Thursday that they will match each Minor League Baseball team’s contributions to the fund, up to $10,000.

     Fans attending Friday’s fan appreciation night game at 6:30 against Quad Cities can purchase a mystery ball for $20. Every ball in the grab bag is autographed by a Major or Minor League player or by former Major Leaguers. Teams from around Minor League and Major League Baseball made donations to the Mystery Ball Grab Bag throughout the season. Fans could walk away with baseballs signed by: Kyle Schwarber, Mookie Betts, Rollie Fingers, Kolten Wong, Stephen Piscotty, Willie McGee, Lee Smith and team signed balls from various Minor League teams. Among the bobbleheads are Derek Jeter, Willie Stargell, Mariano Rivera, Lucas Giolito and a New York Yankees Hello Kitty bobblehead.

The online auction will run through Friday, September 8 at Noon Central and all proceeds will be donated to the MiLB Charities Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Among the items up for online auction are: Stephen Piscotty’s game-worn and autographed Sunday Chiefs throwback jersey and navy blue road jersey from his 2017 rehab appearance, Kolten Wong signed replica Chiefs jersey (not game-worn), Kramer Robertson‘s game-worn 2017 Sunday Chiefs jersey, Dylan Carlson‘s game-worn Sunday Chiefs jersey, Houston native Jordan Hicks‘ game-worn 2017 Sunday Chiefs jersey, MWL baseballs signed by former Chiefs pitcher Greg Maddux, MWL baseball signed by Kramer Robertson and 2017 Chiefs posters signed by Kramer Robertson and Jordan Hicks.

All funds raised by the Chiefs and other Minor League teams will go to MiLB Charities and then sent to organizations selected by MiLB to help those impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

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

Round Rock Express Announces Additional Hurricane Relief Efforts

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Round Rock Express announced a handful of additional relief efforts to aid in the recovery from Hurricane Harvey. For all remaining games in 2017, hurricane evacuees will receive complimentary tickets.

Fans from the storm-affected counties can show their driver’s license or other proof of residency at the Dell Diamond ticket office and receive general admission tickets for them and their family.

The Express has also partnered with the United Way of Williamson County to host a donation drive Friday, September 1 – Sunday, September 3 to aid in the cleanup and relief efforts in South Texas. Fans will receive two general admission tickets to Monday’s season finale for their donation. A list of needed items can be found here.

Fans who missed specialty theme nights earlier in the season will have a “last chance” to purchase an Express-branded wine glass ($10), beer stein ($10), tiara ($5), superhero cape ($5) and dog toy ($5), while supplies last, starting Friday night. All net proceeds will be donated to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

Additionally, the team, along with Minor League Baseball Charities, will host a 50/50 raffle on Sunday, September 3. Fans can purchase raffle tickets from the time the gates open at 5 p.m. until the end of the 7th inning. The winner will receive half of the total funds raised. The other half will be donated to Minor League Baseball Charities, who will match donations from all MiLB teams this weekend, up to $10,000. All funds will go towards hurricane relief efforts.

Regular parking fees will still be in place for the remainder of the season.

The Express close out the 2017 regular season with this final homestand. The team will face Colorado Springs Thursday night before welcoming in the Oklahoma City Dodgers for four games.

For more information on the Express, visit www.RoundRockExpress.com or call (512) 255-2255. Keep up with the Express on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter!

Miracle Offer Free Weekend Tickets with SWFL Flood Donations

FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 31, 2017) – The Fort Myers Miracle, Advanced-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, are offering a free ticket to fans on Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3 when they bring in donation items to aid those affected by the recent flooding in Southwest Florida. The team will also wear special “Faux-back” jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game. With 100% of the jersey auction proceeds benefitting victims of Hurricane Harvey, Miracle ownership will be MATCHING the bidding total dollar for dollar.

“For those in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Southwest Florida that have been displaced or affected by the recent flooding, we hope the supplies donated over Labor Day weekend will help those that need it the most,” says Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer Ben Hemmen. “The Miracle have amazing fans, and we believe they will join us in this effort to assist our local community.”

Fans will receive one free general admission ticket to Saturday or Sunday’s game against the Jupiter Hammerheads, Advanced-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins, when they bring in any of the following:

  • One (1) case of bottled water
  • Twelve (12) canned goods
  • Twelve (12) pack of toilet paper

The team will start the collection process by donating one pallet of bottled water (2,016 bottles), six cases of canned goods (217 pounds of canned food) and over 500 rolls of toilet paper. All items collected over the weekend will be delivered next week to multiple organizations that need help.

Jersey auction bidding will begin on Saturday when gates open at 5:00 PM ET and will run through the bottom of the sixth inning. Player and coach jersey bidding will begin at $75 with a special “Buy It Now” price for $300. Three player and one team signed jersey will be available online for bidding starting at 1 PM ET on Saturday and run through Monday at 1 PM ET.

“The Miracle want to do their part to help Houston and the surrounding areas cope with the catastrophic flooding and rain from Hurricane Harvey,” stated owner Jason Hochberg. “Having lived in Houston for three years, I know the community is compassionate, resilient and strong. Although it will take time for the area to recover, Houston has a bright future and better days are ahead.”

Once all money is collected for the “Faux-back” jerseys, Miracle Ownership will match the final auction total dollar for dollar and write a check to the American Red Cross – Hurricane Harvey relief.

To stay up to date on upcoming promotional nights, follow the Miracle online at Miraclebaseball.com or through social media; Twitter: @MiracleBaseball, Instagram: fortmyersmiracle, Facebook: Fort Myers Miracle, Snapchat: ftmyersmiracle. To purchase tickets, visit MiracleBaseball.com/tickets or call the front office at (239) 768-4210.

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

Chattanooga Lookouts to Auction Off Autographed Team Jersey to Benefit Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Today, the Chattanooga Lookouts have announced that they will auction off an Autographed Team Jersey to benefit Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The online auction is set to begin at noon on Friday September 1st and end at noon on Tuesday September 5th.

All proceeds from the auction will be given to Minor League Baseball Charities. MiLB Charities is collecting funds on behalf of Minor League Baseball’s 160 teams to provide relief to the MiLB communities affected by Hurricane Harvey. MiLB Charities will match all donations provided by its teams, up to $10,000, and will send the collective funds to organizations selected by the MiLB office and those clubs whose communities are affected.

Fans who would like to bid on the jersey can click here once the auction begins. The bidding will start at $150.

The Lookouts last action packed homestand of the year begins tonight! The upcoming homestand features MEGA Fireworks and the ZOOperstars! on Friday (9/1), College Football Night on Saturday (9/2) and College Kids Eat Free on Sunday (9/3).

This homestand is also the last chance for fans to exchange their unused 2017 tickets. For all five games fans can trade in their unused 2017 tickets at the RE/MAX Ticket Office for a general admission seat. If you don’t have any unused tickets, you can purchase tickets over the phone at 423-267-4TIX or visit Lookouts.com. Tickets for the team’s upcoming playoff games on September 6 and 7 are also available now!

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About the Chattanooga Lookouts

The Chattanooga Lookouts, a founding member of the Southern League in 1885, are the 2015 Southern League Champions and the Class AA affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. The Lookouts play their home games at AT&T Field, located on Hawk Hill in downtown Chattanooga. For more information, keep up with the Lookouts year-round at www.lookouts.com, or by following us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/Chattanooga Lookouts), Twitter (@ChattLookouts) and Instagram (@ChattLookouts).

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

Shorebirds to Auction Off Orange Friday Jerseys, 9/1

SALISBURY, Md. — The Delmarva Shorebirds, Class-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, will be auctioning off the Orange Friday Jerseys that the team has worn every Friday home game during the 2017 season on Friday, September 1st during the game against the West Virginia Power.

The Shorebirds brought Orange Friday back after implementing it during the 2016 season. The jerseys that the team has worn every Friday home game during the 2017 season are orange with white vertical pin stripes, along with the alternate Orange Friday logo with the full Shorebird above the word “Delmarva.”

The auction will be on the second level concourse and will last until the first pitch of the sixth inning, when it will turn into a live auction.

A portion of the proceeds from that night’s Orange Friday Jersey auction along with Launch a Ball sales on Saturday, September 2nd will go to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey through Minor League Baseball Charities.

First pitch against the West Virginia Power is scheduled for 7:05 PM on Friday, September 1st with gates set to open at 6:00 PM.

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The Delmarva Shorebirds are the Class “A” Affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Shorebirds are owned by
7th Inning Stretch, LLC, the same company that owns the Stockton Ports of the California League and the Everett AquaSox of the Northwest League.

The Shorebirds celebrated their 20th season in 2015, and have entertained over five million fans since beginning play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium in Salisbury, Md. in 1996. The team has captured South Atlantic League titles in 1997 and 2000 while successfully hosting the South Atlantic League All-Star Game in 1999 and 2011.

For more information on the Shorebirds, call 410-219-3112 or visit theshorebirds.com.

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

TinCaps Auctioning Jerseys to Support Hurricane Relief

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – In an effort to support those affected by Hurricane Harvey in Texas, the Fort Wayne TinCaps are auctioning off special game-worn jerseys and other memorabilia. All proceeds from the online auction at TinCapsJersey.com (running now through Friday night) will be donated to Minor League Baseball Charities, which is collecting funds on behalf of Minor League Baseball’s 160 teams to provide relief to the MiLB communities in need.

MiLB Charities will match the TinCaps’ donations up to $10,000. Additionally, the Midwest League will match up to $5,000 raised by the TinCaps.

The TinCaps will be wearing “fauxback” jerseys on Friday-the same ones they previously wore on ’70s Night (July 7). The auction will remain live through the sixth inning of Friday’s game against the Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers) at Parkview Field.

Auction winners who are at Parkview Field will receive their jerseys directly from players and coaches on the field after the game. Those who aren’t in attendance Friday can make other arrangements to get their jersey.

“This is just a small gesture on our part to help our brothers and sisters in Texas,” said TinCaps President Mike Nutter. “So many of our players and staff members over the years are from Texas, or have family and friends there, so it hurts even more to see what’s happening. We know they’re resilient, though, and we’re here to help however we can.”

The TinCaps have had several other jersey auctions this season supporting non-profit organizations. Friday was not originally scheduled to be one, but the team saw this as an opportunity to take action.

Fort Wayne’s roster features some of the top prospects in all of baseball, like pitchers Adrian Morejon and Michel Baez . Shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. donned this jersey (No. 23) in July, too, before the San Diego Padres promoted him to Double-A San Antonio.

The TinCaps are wrapping up the regular season with their final home series of the season against Great Lakes (Wednesday-Friday, 7:05 p.m.). The team then finishes the regular season on the road at West Michigan (Saturday-Monday). Fort Wayne is on the verge of clinching a Midwest League Playoff spot.

For more information, fans can visit TinCaps.com or call 260-482-6400.

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

Bandits to raise money for Harvey victims this weekend

DAVENPORT, Iowa – The Quad Cities River Bandits, Class-A Affiliate of the Houston Astros, will be fundraising for those affected by Hurricane Harvey during the team’s final homestand of the regular season, a three-game series with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers beginning Saturday, September 2. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the River Bandits will be collecting financial donations, clothes and needed supplies during all three games to help support the city and thousands of victims.

The River Bandits will donate all proceeds from the 50-50 raffle for all three games, with all money raised going to Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Additionally, the Bandits will host an online auction of River Bandits merchandise and memorabilia. The Bandits will also donate $1 from every ticket sold online to Sunday and Monday’s games when purchasers use the code “RELIEF” during checkout. In addition, anyone who donates $10 or more this weekend will receive a free general admission ticket to any Monday through Thursday River Bandits home game next April and anyone who donates $500 or more will be rewarded with a free suite rental to a Monday-through-Thursday River Bandits home game in April of 2018. There will be donation stands throughout Modern Woodmen Park during all three games this weekend. Minor League Baseball Charities will be matching all donations provided by its teams, up to $10,000.

“Our hearts and prayers are with the people of the Texas Gulf Coast during this challenging time. Whether it be money, clothes, or needed supplies, we are asking our fans throughout the Quad Cities to join us in helping our fellow citizens along the Gulf Coast,” said River Bandits owner Dave Heller. “And with Minor League Baseball Charities matching fans’ donations, we’re hopeful that the people of Quad Cities community will join us in our efforts to help the thousands of good people who have lost so much over this past week.”

A category-four Hurricane, Harvey has dropped nearly 50 inches of rain on southeast Texas which, according to the National Weather Service, is equal to the amount of rainfall reported annually at Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport. Nine continuous days of rain have pounded the Houston area with winds recorded up 130 MPH during the storm. With the River Bandits being a proud Astros affiliate and so many current and recent River Bandits players calling Houston home, the Quad Cities community has a strong personal tie to the greater Houston area.

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