Major League Baseball will again team up with the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) to increase awareness and early detection of prostate cancer this Father's Day. In an effort to emphasize the impact of a disease that strikes 1 out of every 6 American men, all Major League Baseball games played on Sunday, June 21, will communicate invaluable health information regarding the disease and raise funds towards the search for a cure.

On-field personnel including players, managers, coaches, trainers, umpires and groundskeepers will wear blue wristbands and blue ribbon uniform decals symbolizing prostate cancer awareness. The blue ribbon logo also will appear on the official dugout lineup cards, which will be blue.

"Major League Baseball is pleased to support the efforts of the Prostate Cancer Foundation through the Home Run Challenge to help generate increased awareness for prostate cancer and the urgent need to find a cure," said Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "Prostate cancer has affected many members of the Major League Baseball family, and we hope to draw attention to this disease as we reach out to our players, fans and communities to support the search for a cure."

One of the key components of the Father's Day initiative is the "Home Run Challenge," a program supported by all 30 Clubs and their players. Now in its 13th year, fans are able to make monetary donations to the Prostate Cancer Foundation at www.pcf.org for each home run hit during MLB games from June 11 - June 21, including all games played on Father's Day. Major League Baseball Charities has committed $50,000 to PCF as part of the "Home Run Challenge" program.

Each Major League Club has at least one player representative who is publicly supporting the "Home Run Challenge." Since its inception, this initiative has raised more than $31 million toward prostate cancer research. Money raised through the "Home Run Challenge" goes directly toward prostate cancer research. MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, will support the Father's Day program with content featuring Major League Baseball players and their fathers. Major League Baseball will run a full-page ad in USA Today in honor of Father's Day and to promote prostate cancer awareness.

In support of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, MLB Network will air a Father's Day-themed promo clip featuring MLB players and highlight the Father's Day initiatives within its daily highlight show Quick Pitch on Sunday, June 21.

Prostate cancer strikes 1 out of every 6 American men. In 2009, it is projected that 192,000 new cases will be diagnosed and more than 27,000 American men will die from the disease.

Major League Baseball Health Initiatives
The Prostate Cancer Foundation Home Run Challenge on Father's Day is one of several cancer-related initiatives supported by Major League Baseball. Other initiatives include Stand Up To Cancer, an organization whose mission is to establish and fund focused and intense cancer research in an effort to effect cancer advances as rapidly as possible through a new and unique funding scientific funding model; the Mother's Day "Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer" program to help increase awareness of prostate cancer and raise money towards the search for a cure; the "One A Day Men's presents MLB Strikeout Prostate Cancer Challenge" is a joint initiative between MLB and Bayer HealthCare's One A Day Multivitamins, who donate $10 for every strikeout thrown throughout the regular and postseason to the Prostate Cancer Foundation; and Play Sun Smart, a league-wide, season-long skin cancer awareness program in conjunction with the Major League Baseball Players Association and the American Academy of Dermatology. For more information on Major League Baseball Health Initiatives visit www.mlb.com.

About The Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world's largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research focused on discovering better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer. Founded in 1993, the PCF has raised nearly $370 million and provided funding for more than 1,500 research projects at nearly 200 institutions worldwide. The PCF also advocates for greater awareness of prostate cancer and more government research funds. PCF advocacy has helped produce a twenty-fold increase in government funding for prostate cancer since 1994. More information about prostate cancer and the PCF can be found at www.pcf.org.

This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.