I am so excited to announce a fabulous partnership and October promotion with The Arizona Fall League. Fate has turned it’s hand once again and great things lie ahead. The week of October 26th is being named Aneurysm Awareness Week, in honor of The Joe Niekro Foundation. Dad had his aneurysm on 10/26/06 and was kept alive on life support until the following morning at which time he was pronounced brain dead, so the starting date signifies the day of Dad’s aneurysm. Throughout the week of 10/26, $36 will be donated to The Joe Niekro Foundation, for any strike-outs from a pitcher wearing a uniform from one of the teams He played for during his career. #36 signifies the number Dad wore during the majority of his 22 year baseball career. These teams include Chicago Cubs, SD Padres, Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, NY Yankees and Minnesota Twins. At all games throughout this week, microphone announcements will be made throughout each game detailing the promotion and reason behind it. The announcements will give a total that has been raised to-date on each day, which also gives spectators the chance to hear about the # of strike-outs and who the pitchers were, which is a great way to showcase the player’s talents. In addition, we will have informational brochures that will be handed out at each game during that week and then I have chosen two night games (6:35) and one day game (12:35P) in which I will be on location to address the crowd and throw out the first pitch. Those games are:
10/26 – Peoria Sports Complex -6:35P
10/30 – Scottsdale Stadium – 6:35P
10/31 – Good year -12:35P
Here’s the real kicker…on November 7th (which also happens to be my Dad’s birthday), there is a nationally televised game on MLB Network at 6:15P in Surprise, which will be the game that we will do the check presentation.
I am so excited to partner with MLB on this concept and hope that this will be an annual event with the AZ Fall League. Now, if I could just get this to be something seasonal…that would be a dream come true! Wish me luck!
