Celebrities to support Project ALS
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Stars such as Billy Baldwin, James Gandolfini, Chris Rock and Luke Perry will help raise awareness about A.L.S., also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, by reading the Yankee Hall of Famer’s speech before each game.
“(The celebrities) realize, like baseball does, the importance of raising awareness and reaching out, and it's for a very worthy cause,” said Tom Brasuell, MLB director of community affairs.
Gehrig originally made the speech on July 4, 1939, as he retired from baseball, due to his failing health. Instead of focusing on his misfortune, he called himself “the luckiest man on the face of the earth” for being able to associate himself with the game for 17 years. Gehrig died on June 2, 1941 at the age of 38.
Brasuell said supporting A.L.S. research is close to MLB’s heart because Gehrig “is certainly an icon of the game.”
“Both Major League Baseball and our clubs support these types of initiatives all the time, in particular A.L.S.,” he said.
Project A.L.S. is a non-profit organization that helps raise funds for A.L.S. (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) treatment and research.
“We want to really create awareness and help Project A.L.S. create awareness about the disease and what work is being done in the area of both funding for treatment and research,” said Brasuell.
Following the reading of Gehrig’s speech, Project A.L.S.’s toll-free phone number, (800) 600-0990, will be displayed on scoreboards and screens in stadiums.
“The number will appear on the stadium if people want to get involved, or make a contribution or just find out what they can do and get information about ALS,” he said.
Project A.L.S. has raised more than $9 million for research since its inception in 1998. Theater and film producer Jenifer Estess developed the project after she was diagnosed with A.L.S. five years ago. Project A.L.S. has made many promising advances in research for treatments of A.L.S.
“Baseball wants to support those projects and foundations that support research and raise awareness and raise funds to help people get treatment for these types of diseases,” Brasuell said. “And also if they are raising money for research, to hopefully one day prevent these diseases altogether.”
Major League Baseball Project A.L.S. Day
Celebrity appearances
Celebrity appearances
| Baltimore Orioles | Jesse L. Martin |
| Chicago Cubs | Chi McBride |
| Cincinnati Reds | Luke Perry |
| Cleveland Indians | James Vanderbeek |
| Detroit Tigers | Jason Priestley |
| Florida Marlins | Matt Dillon |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | Chris Rock |
| New York Yankees | James Gandolfini introduced by Katie Couric |
| Philadelphia Phillies | David Morse |
| San Diego Padres | Blair Underwood |
| San Francisco Giants | Brooke Shields |
| St. Louis Cardinals | John Goodman |
| Tampa Bay Devil Rays | Scott Wolf |
| Texas Rangers | William Baldwin |
Christie Cowles is an Editor/Producer for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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