By Isra Shah on
Former MLB legends and celebrities alike teamed up for the 21st Annual Joe DiMaggio Legends Game on January 24th at the Baltimore Orioles’ home for Spring Training, Fort Lauderdale Stadium. This year, the proceeds will help create a new oncology unit, complete with 20 new rooms, at the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.
Saturday’s lineup featured Hall of Famers and former All-Stars such as Orlando Cepeda, Brooks Robinson, Orestes Destrade, Andre Dawson, Alex Arias, Chris Hammond, Dick Allen, Paul Blair, Ron Blomberg, Dennis Boyd, Bert Campaneris, Rico Carty, Mike Cuellar, Alvin Dark, Tommy Davis, Al Downing, George Foster, Willie Horton, Al Hrabosky, Ed Kranepool, Bill Lee, Phil Linz, Dennis Martinez, Gene Michael, Minnie Minoso, John Odom, Amos Otis, Jimmy Piersall, Art Shamsky and Ron Swoboda. Former Marlins third-base coach and broadcast announcer Cookie Rojas and former manager Jeff Torborg were also in attendance.
Of the event, former Marlins star Orestes Destrade commented to the Miami Herald that ‘’This is a fun event. It brings in a good demographic of players." On a more serious note, he added that, "this [charity] is closest to my heart. [South Florida] is where I grew up.’’
Musician Max Weinberg, formerly of Bruce Springsteen's “E” Street Band and currently of NBC’s Late Night with Conan O'Brien, performed at the event.
Kevin Janser, the vice president and executive director of the hospital’s foundation, spoke about the importance of this annual tradition.
‘’The event has over a million dollars in sponsorships that is key in helping us build our new facility. We appreciate everyone coming out and having a great time at the ball game,’’ he said. "Over 45,000 kids get treated by our emergency department every year and 600 kids have been treated for cancer with 70 new kids every year.’’
Mr. Marlin Jeff Conine threw out the first pitch, and the National League beat the American League in a final of 14-3.
To learn more about the role of the Joe Dimaggio Children’s Hospital in the community, click here.
Copyright © 2009 Look to the Stars
