An October Message of Thanks from the President of the PawSox
As October's sun sets on a season of PawSox and Red Sox baseball, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for participating so enthusiastically in our season. The PawSox provided 20 players to the Red Sox, who once again went from worst to first in the American League East. When the PawSox' season concluded, we were so proud to see so many familiar faces in the Red Sox dugout. And what's more, we were so proud of the people in that dugout.
Our passionate plea to our players at the start of the season was to recognize the importance of baseball to children. We cautioned our players that we might raise their eyebrows with the degree of emphasis we were going to place on welcoming kids to PawSox games. To their credit, the players embraced this philosophy. They understood that baseball must use its many gifts to help children fall in love with the game, just as their mothers and fathers and grandmothers and grandfathers have fallen in love before them.
Today, however, so many options vie for the attention of children. Other sports attract them, even if we believe none is better than our beautiful game. Electronic games and activities attract them, even if we believe that fresh air and interpersonal interaction are healthier for their development. These competitors for time and attention make us even more eager to show children the pure fun and joy of playing ball and of enjoying a day at the ballpark. Our players, our coaches, and Manager Kevin Boles were wonderful participants in this effort.
When we introduced the "PawSox Lunch Box," in which a child and a friend could come early on a Saturday afternoon and have lunch with a player, the players responded with kindness. When we introduced the "High Five Tunnel," to give children the experience of standing on the field before the game and having the team take the field while slapping their hands, the players cooperated. And on one of the most touching days, when the Challenger Clinic brought children with disabilities onto the field to play, the interaction would have melted even the most jaded of crusty cynics.
Our players were also terrific in their community outreach. Visiting hospitals, visiting schools, and visiting community gatherings, these young men showed their heart. If any one person was the epitome of what you would hope for, it was southpaw Robby Scott. While many players said yes to requests, Robby would proactively ask, "Anything I can do? Anything you need?" And that's why, when his dream came true and he got the call to Boston, the happiness for him was exceptional.
Our broadcasters were equally embracing. When we introduced the "PawSox Junior Announcer" program, bringing a young person into the booth for a dream-come-true inning of play-by-play, Josh Maurer and Will Flemming could not have been more gracious. These days matter.
On October 14, the Providence Business News announced that the PawSox were receiving this year's Community Involvement Award. Serving the community is a privilege, and we were honored to be honored. It is what we love to do. It enhances the value of baseball in our society.
In this first year of new management of the PawSox, we have sought to emulate the traditions of community involvement fostered by Ben Mondor and Mike Tamburro. We have sought to take that involvement to even higher levels. That is why our players and mascots have made more than 120 appearances this year, three times more than 2015. That is why we created "My Hero Mondays," saluting the unheralded good deeds that surround us. That is why we established "In Debt to a Vet," so that a member of our military could stand on the field, often with her or his family, and feel the chills that come when PawSox fans give a standing ovation of gratitude, together with the players and the umpires. It is quite a sight. And that is why our September 5K Walk & Run was "A Veterans Home Run." And our September 11 Blood Drive garnered a club record 71 units. And we will send children from Pawtucket's Boys & Girls Club to the World Series.
And that is why we hope to soon announce an initiative from the PawSox/Skeffington Charitable Foundation that provides educational opportunities for children in our area.
In the meantime, we will savor the memories of an enjoyable summer, and we will seek to perpetuate that joy by inviting families to McCoy Stadium for events throughout the autumn and winter. On Saturday, October 29, a "BallYard Sale" will provide an Open House to see the sights and stroll the warning track. On Halloween, parents can bring the little ones to the park for a touch of "Trick or Treat." Come November, we hope to salute our heroes on Veterans Day and welcome children from the neighborhood for a Thanksgiving Luncheon. We hope to again dot the calendar with days that bring warmth to winter, and that remind us all of why and when and where and how we fell in love with baseball-and we fall in love again.
Thank you once again for joining us.
Dr. Charles A. Steinberg