Helping hands spread altruism across game

Thanks to the Cubs and Indians for Game 7 of the World Series, to all those award winners who were just recognized for their hard work, to San Diego for a sunny and satisfying All-Star Week, to David Ortiz for the best farewell season in history, to Vin Scully for every spoken word, to close plays at the plate, to the pitching masterpieces and the walk-offs and the humdrum blowouts alike over 162, to the family outings and the vendors and another 73 million-plus through the turnstiles.

Thanks also to Josh Tomlin and the Indians for serving dishes to people in need, to the Dodgers for donating 10,000 free turkeys to underserved families, to the Phillies for handing out 2,000 dinner baskets for 12,000 people citywide, to Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson and fellow Mets who distributed 25 full Thanksgiving meals and 700 turkeys, to A’s general manager David Forst for serving Thanksgiving meals at a community center, to the Marlins for getting 1,000 turkeys into the right hands, to Yankees players for handing more than 2,500 food vouchers to Bronx residents this week and to all of the other clubs that have been doing much the same this week.

Baseball’s Giving Spirit

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On this Thanksgiving, there is much to be thankful for as a Major League Baseball fan, not just inside the park but outside of it as well. If you go to MLBcommunity.org and explore all the programs and community events, you will see examples year-round. There is a good chance that you are part of those unified initiatives in some way, just as the players are themselves, and in that case, thanks goes to you as well on this special day.

“Baseball is committed to making a difference year-round,” said Tom Brasuell, MLB’s vice president for community affairs. “Commissioner Rob Manfred, our clubs, current and former players and our fans are fully invested in improving the lives of children and families through our great game.”

“When you put on a uniform, you hope to wear it as long as you can, but it becomes a platform for you to elevate and bring to light so many other things that are in life and are far more important than playing the game of baseball,” said Hall of Famer John Smoltz, the MLB Network/FOX analyst. “So many guys have been able to utilize that as a platform and utilize their stance and notoriety to bring attention to their causes. There is a great opportunity for taking note of the guys who have been ambassadors of our game both on and off the field.”

In 2016, MLB celebrated the 20th anniversaries of its partnerships with Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life. Thanks to Sharon Robinson, …

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