On Mother’s Day, Major League Baseball players will be using pink bats to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer. As part of a weeklong campaign the pink breast cancer ribbon behind the logo of MLB will be noticeable on commemorative home plates, pink wrist bands, dugout lineup cards, and uniforms of players and staff.
Derek Jeter, David Eckstein and Marcus Giles are among hundreds of players will be hoisting the pink bats on Sunday. The AP reported that “Kevin Mench was among several Texas players who wanted their mother’s names burned on the bats, and he also planned to use a bat for his grandmother, who died from breast cancer.” (use the AP link to see a cool photo of the bats and their inscriptions)
The best part is the bats, home plates and lineup cards used in each ball park Sunday will be autographed and auctioned online at MLB Auctions to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. . .
Major League Baseball statistics have shown that 46% of all Major League Baseball fans are comprised of females.
Other ways baseball will communicate the Breast Cancer Awareness message: A special Komen Foundation PSA and scoreboard and PA announcements will be broadcast instadium by each Club playing at home on Mother’s Day. Fans also will be able to receive informational brochures about breast cancer awareness by visiting the guest services area at each ballpark. MLB.com will feature stories on MLB players and their mothers. Major League Baseball will also run a full-page, 4-color ad in the May 12 issue of USA Today honoring Mother’s Day and promoting breast cancer awareness.
May 19 UPDATE: The pink bats were a big hit , with more than 100 players using them.