Former player Carone fighting cancer with BP

1472512817585

SAN FRANCISCO — Shortly after Rick Carone was diagnosed with Stage IV pancreatic cancer in 2013, Adam LaRoche, then a member of the Nationals, knew his friend needed some sort of inspiration.

LaRoche’s idea, according to Carone: “Come out and hit with them and be a part of their club.”

So Carone, a Minor League catcher from 1993-96, joined the Nationals when they came to Wrigley Field in ’13 and enjoyed “a day in the life” as a Major League baseball player. Carone, a Cary, Ill., native, said that it boosted his morale for his upcoming chemotherapy treatment. 

And when LaRoche and the Nationals came to play the Cubs in Chicago in 2014, he asked Carone to join them again.

That same year, Carone met Jake Peavy, then a member of the Boston Red Sox. Peavy and other players began asking, “Why don’t you come hit with us?” Carone realized at that point that his participation in batting practice with Major League clubs could turn into something much more worthwhile. About two years later, it has.

BP For A Cause! Taking hacks to #ShutDownChildhoodCancer It’s about that time again! Details coming soon. #kcancer pic.twitter.com/lVWVDD9DKq

— Rick Carone (@rickcarone) June 11, 2016

BP For A Cause! Taking hacks to #ShutDownChildhoodCancer It’s about that time again! Details coming soon. #kcancer pic.twitter.com/lVWVDD9DKq

Carone, with help from Giants relief pitcher Hunter Strickland, launched the first “Shut Down Cancer BP” at AT&T Park in 2015, and he has since participated in batting practice with multiple organizations. Through these events, Carone and his charity, the Team Carone Foundation, have raised money for multiple cancer charities across the country.

The first event in San Francisco raised $32,255 in donations for the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, St. Jude’s Hospital and the Team Carone Foundation. As a result, Carone’s foundation was linked to Major League Baseball and the Giants’ “Strike Out Cancer” initiative in 2016.

“I’ve got to give back as long as I still feel well enough to hit and get out there,” said Carone. “It not only is helping raise money for …

continue reading in source mlb.mlb.com

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *