Monday night's Spring training game at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers Florida, featured The Boston Red Sox facing off against the long time rival New York Yankees. It was a cool, clear evening, with Red Sox and Yankees fans cheering for their respective teams and exchanging some spirited early season baseball banter.
This writer was on hand as the teams took the field and the familiar voice of the Red Sox announcer made a special plea on behalf of the Red Sox and their Japanese players for donations to the victims of the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and the tsunami that struck Japan last Friday.
Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima lead efforts to help people of Japan
Red Sox pitchers Daisuke Matzusaka, Hideki Okajima, along with teammates Junichi Tazawa and Itsuki Shoda, asked fans at City of Palms Park to help relief efforts in their homeland before the start of the game and the message was repeated throughout the evening.
Prior to the start of this second Sox versus Yankees spring training match up, Red Sox Japanese players joined Sox staff at the gates of Fort Myers' City of Palms Park to collect donations from fans attending the games, according to press information from the Boston Red Sox. Players and team staff plan to do so again on Thursday, March 17th.
Red Sox Foundation pledges $50,000 to Red Cross Japan relief efforts
Additionally, The Red Sox Foundation has announced a pledge of $50,000 to help the people of Japan and urged fans who want to help Japanese quake and tsunami victims to donate to the Red Sox Foundation as well.
“One hundred percent of the donations” will be given to the Red Cross relief efforts now underway in Japan, according to the Red Sox organization. “Our thoughts are with the victims and for those workers still fighting to avert further devastation,” said the Boston Red Sox Front Office.
Red Sox players Matsuzaka and Okajima make video on behalf of Japan quake and tsunami victims
Video available featuring personal pleas from Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hideki Okajima (below)
Though Matsuzaka and Okajima rarely speak publicly, the two Japanese players made a video together on behalf of their country. The videos and donation details are available on the Club's official website at and on the charity's website.
How Red Sox fans can help Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts
Red Sox fans can donate to the Red Sox Foundation, the official team charity of the Boston Red Sox. Fans can log on to Red Sox Foundation site to make a tax deductible donation via credit card online or by mail via check/money order.
Checks should be made out to "Red Sox Foundation/Japan Relief" and sent to Red Sox Foundation, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston, MA 02215. Team officials noted that 100% of donations received will support the Red Cross relief efforts in Japan.
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