B.A.T. raises $1.5 million for baseball family
More than 800 players show generosity to organization
For the seventh consecutive year, representatives from the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) embarked on a Spring Training tour to raise funds for members of the baseball family in need.
The tour kicked off with visits from B.A.T. representatives to the 14 Major League teams in the Cactus League, a number of teams participating in the World Baseball Classic and 16 Grapefruit League clubhouses, where B.A.T. received tremendous support.
Read the Full Story »
Gonzalez, Thorne elected to B.A.T. board
This year's election for the 2009 Baseball Assistance Team's board of directors was very exciting as Luis Gonzalez and Gary Thorne began two-year terms on the board beginning in January.
Both are widely respected and deeply experienced individuals who bring great added strength to the organization. B.A.T. wishes the newly elected members of the board of directors success.
Read the Full Story »
B.A.T. dinner honors work of fundraisers
Event features fan festivities, generous donations
The Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) hosted its 20th Annual "Going to Bat for B.A.T. Dinner" on January 27, honoring the memories of Yankee Stadium and Shea Stadium, both of which had completed their final seasons of play four months earlier.
To that end, former Yankees and Mets stars Whitey Ford, Willie Randolph, Graig Nettles, Chris Chambliss, Bud Harrelson, John Franco, Cleon Jones, Rusty Staub and Lee Mazzilli were in attendance.
Read the Full Story »
B.A.T. creates Bobby Murcer Award
Former B.A.T. chairman Bobby Murcer passed away last year, but his legacy will remain in baseball for years to come. The Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) made one of the first official announcements in that regard at the 20th Annual "Going to BAT for B.A.T. Dinner" in January.
B.A.T. announced the creation of the Bobby Murcer Award, which will be presented to the American League and National League teams with the highest contribution level to B.A.T. through the Major League Baseball Player Payroll Deduction Program. The award will be presented by Kay Murcer, Bobby's wife, during the 2010 Annual B.A.T. Fundraising Dinner.
Read the Full Story »
Awards handed out at B.A.T. dinner
Saberhagen, Smith, Brett, Coleman, Gonzalez receive honors
View Photo gallery »
Back when the Baseball Assistance Team (B.A.T.) was beginning its mission of helping former ballplayers,
Major League Baseball's Commissioner's office -- thinking it a grand idea -- decided to pay the overhead
costs of salaries and office space.
Through such generosity, B.A.T. grew, then blossomed, then reached the point where it wanted to help international
players, too. So the Major League Baseball Players Association, thinking that an equally grand idea, picked up the tab for that.
All of which means that when B.A.T. holds an event like the 20th annual "Going to Bat for B.A.T. Dinner,"
not a dime goes to the organization itself. Instead, every dollar is shipped off to those in need, from struggling
former Major Leaguers to front-office personnel to the three dozen or so Negro Leaguers still alive.
Read the Full Story »
Baseball Stars shine brightest and win the Pro Sports Team Challenge
 Bret Saberhagen, Ozzie Smith, George Brett, Pro Sports Team Challenge Representative, Vince Coleman, and Jim Martin. (B.A.T. Photo)
|
The competition came down to the final hole before the baseball squad earned the victory in the first Pro Sports Team Challenge on June 8, 2008 at the Eagle Falls Golf Course in Palm Springs, California. Teams from four major professional sports - baseball, basketball, football and hockey - participated in the friendly competition to determine "which sport has the best golfers." Their main objective, however, was to earn funding for their designated charity.
The four player baseball team of Ozzie Smith, George Brett, Bret Saberhagen and Vince Coleman chose the Baseball Assistance Team as its charity. They took home first place in the event, resulting in a $100,000 donation to the Baseball Assistance Team which assists members of the "baseball family" in need.
The baseball team held off late challenges from the hockey team of Brett Hull, Mario Lemeiux, Pierre Larouche and Grant Fuhr and the football team of John Elway, Drew Brees, Michael Strahan and LaDainian Tomlinson. It wasn't until the final-hole birdie by Coleman in the final foursome of the day that the baseball team clinched the title.
The basketball team of Clyde Drexler, George Gervin, Jason Kidd and Kenny Smith lagged in fourth place.
The Baseball Assistance Team will recognize these four players by presenting them with the Big B.A.T. / Frank Slocum Award at the Twentieth Annual "Going to Bat for B.A.T." fundraising dinner on January 27, 2009 at the New York Marriott Marquis.
|
B.A.T. Board of Directors
Ted Sizemore, President/CEO
Bob Gibson, Vice President
Frank Torre, Vice President
Greg Wilcox, Vice President
Gary Thorne
Ruben Amaro, Sr.
Steve Garvey
Luis Gonzalez
Joe Morgan
Jim Pongracz
Process Development Corp
Robin Roberts
Cookie Rojas
Randy Winn
|
Advisory Board
Jay Bell
Bob Costas
Carl Erskine
Whitey Ford
Joe Girardi
Lou Gorman
Bos. Red Sox
Lou Johnson
Sandy Koufax
Willie Mays
Jim Palmer
Don Zimmer
|
Operations
James Martin, Executive Director
Thomas Ostertag, Secretary
Scott Stamp, Treasurer
Mark Letendre, Vice President
Sam McDowell, Consultant
Erik Nilsen, Coordinator
Dominique Correa, Administrative Assistant
Contact B.A.T.
Baseball Assistance Team
245 Park Avenue - 34th Floor
New York, NY 10167
TEL: 212- 931- 7822
FAX: 212- 949- 5433
www.baseballassistanceteam.com
BAT@mlb.com
|
Community
