RubberDucks inspired by pediatric cancer night
Designing a baseball jersey is one of the things Minor League teams often treasure. But Double-A Akron takes that concept to the next level during its tribute to pediatric cancer patients and their families. The Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Celebration, an annual tradition as long
Designing a baseball jersey is one of the things Minor League teams often treasure. But Double-A Akron takes that concept to the next level during its tribute to pediatric cancer patients and their families.
The Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders Celebration, an annual tradition as long as Akron's Canal Park has been in existence, features activities for the patients, an on-field parade and the crown jewel of the night -- a patient-designed jersey worn by the players.
“It’s just one of those nights that is incredibly meaningful to us as an organization to be able to provide this,” said Jim Pfander, the president of the RubberDucks. “It is an amazing event, an emotional event and it’s really really cool.”
The activities began well before the start of the Guardians affiliate's Sept. 1 game against the Bowie Baysox. The patients gathered in a park near the stadium and enjoyed a mini-festival with all the essentials -- a DJ playing music, snow cones, face painting, and of course, ice cream. The group lined up for their big entrance at 5:45 p.m.
“We do a march to the game,” Pfander said. “So all the patients and their families parade from the hospital, which is literally behind the left-field wall, I mean it’s just a perfect spot to the stadium.”
The parade continued across the warning track and was followed by a ceremony honoring the patients. Edward Fink, the president of the Fearless Fighters Foundation – an Ohio organization dedicated to funding pediatric cancer research – then presented a $40,000 check to the Akron Children’s Hospital.
After the check presentation, Akron paid tribute to Carson Hutzell, a 19-year-old cancer patient whose design was chosen out of hundreds of entries as the alternate jersey for the night.
“He had actually just gone through chemo treatment and his mom was worried that he wouldn’t be strong enough to go to the field, and he did, he was there, and he had a huge smile on his face, so it was a really cool moment,” Pfander said.
For the jersey design, Hutzell included encouraging statements such as “Together We Fight” and “Cancer Ducks,” with the latter word's usual first letter "S" crossed out and replaced with a "D."
To cap off the event, the RubberDucks had another unique activity prepared for the end of the third inning, the "Home Run for Life."
“We stop play and we have both teams line their respective baselines, the umpires come out as well and we give two pediatric cancer patients who have just finished treatment a chance to run the bases,” Pfander said.
This year’s participants were Hallie Deiters and AJ Jones. After rounding the bases, the pair crossed home plate to an eruption of fireworks and the roar of the crowd.
“It is one of the greatest moments,” Pfander said. “Every year I know it’s coming, and every year, I think everyone in the ballpark ends up with misty eyes.”
To end the night on the perfect note, Akron took home a 6-5 victory.
The RubberDucks conduct dozens of promotional events throughout the season, but for Pfander, this one hits the closest to home. His daughter, Ella, was diagnosed with leukemia when she was 2 years old, and so the night has affected him on a personal level for the past eight seasons.
“This night is incredibly special for our family, as our daughter, Ella, is part of those patients that are honored before the game starts. We participated in the parade and all the activities,” he said.
Through the experience, Pfander has forged relationships with other patients’ families and learned their perspectives on going through similar difficulties.
“These kids are heroes,” he said. “It’s just fun to celebrate them and their families for everything they’ve gone through.”
Brendan Samson is a contributor to MiLB.com.