Orioles To Honor Jackie Robinson, Events in the Community

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 24, 2012

ORIOLES TO CELEBRATE
JACKIE ROBINSON DAY AT CAMDEN YARDS

In recognition of the 65th anniversary of Jackie Robinson becoming the first African-American player in Major League Baseball, the Orioles will honor a Jackie Robinson Foundation scholar in a special pre-game ceremony before their game Tuesday, April 24 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Matthew Robinson, a student at Howard University from Chicago, IL, will be presented with a #42 jersey by Orioles OF ADAM JONES. Robinson is one of over 1,300 young men and women who were able to attend college thanks to the Jackie Robinson Foundation, Major League Baseball and the Orioles.

On Sunday, April 15, all Orioles uniformed personnel wore #42, Robinson’s number, during the game against the Blue Jays in Toronto, joining all other major league teams in honoring Robinson’s historic achievement. Each player’s authenticated game-worn and autographed #42 jersey is currently being auctioned at www.orioles.com to benefit the Baltimore Orioles Charitable Foundation and the Jackie Robinson Foundation. The auction concludes tonight at 11:59 P.M.

IN THE COMMUNITY

BRIAN MATUSZ TO VISIT PEDIATRIC PATIENTS AT SINAI HOSPITAL
Pitcher BRIAN MATUSZ will visit with pediatric patients at the Herman and Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai on behalf of the Casey Cares Foundation on Wednesday, April 25. The Casey Cares Foundation is a charity that provides uplifting programs for critically ill children. This visit is not open to the public or to media coverage.

CHRISTIAN YOUTH ATHLETICS VISIT CHRIS DAVIS
First baseman CHRIS DAVIS will visit with children from the Christian Youth Athletics program on Saturday, April 28 from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Davis will speak to the children and then throw out the first pitch before the league’s opening game. This event is not open to media coverage or to the public.

ORIOLES REACH COMMUNITY BOOTH

During each home game the Orioles provide a community booth for charitable, non-profit organizations to distribute information, sell raffle tickets, register participants or conduct health care screenings for Orioles fans. The following groups will be at the community booth, located near Gate D, during this homestand:

DATE                     ORGANIZATION      

Tue, April 24               Pets on Wheels

Wed, April 25              Basset Rescue of Old Dominion

Thu, April 26               Promises for Parkinson’s

Fri, April 27                 Notre Dame of Maryland University School of Pharmacy

Sat, April 28                GoldHeart Golden Retriever Rescue

Sun, April 29               Pets on Wheels

ORIOLES REACH GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE PROGRAM

This season, OriolesREACH will again host thousands of underprivileged youth as part of the OriolesREACH Gameday Experience Program. Group members receive game tickets, concessions vouchers, an Orioles t-shirt, a cap and transportation to and from the game. Tickets are provided courtesy of Orioles players. Players participating in the program this year include ROBERT ANDINO, JAKE ARRIETA, WILSON BETEMIT, WEI-YIN CHEN, KEVIN GREGG, JJ HARDY, TOMMY HUNTER, ADAM JONES, NICK MARKAKIS, BRIAN MATUSZ and TSUYOSHI WADA. The following organizations will attend games at Oriole Park during this homestand, courtesy of these Orioles players:

DATE/ORGANIZATION/SIZE/PLAYER SPONSOR

Tue, April 24/George Washington Elementary /150/Kevin Gregg

Wed, April 25/The Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship/50/Robert Andino

Wed, April 25/The Salvation Army/150/Robert Andino

Thu, April 26/Mars Estates Elementary School/150/Brian Matusz

Fri, April 27 /Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School/ 150/ Jake Arrieta

Sat, April 28/Peoples Community Health Centers/150/Nick Markakis

Sun, April 29 /Chase Elementary/150/Adam Jones

About the Author: Kevin Lynch

Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, father of three, amateur pizza chef, skateboarder, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Kevin@InceptMM.com and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin.