Thank you America for Supporting Strikeouts for Troops!

Welcome to Strikeouts For Troops! Since we introduced Strikeouts For Troops in April 2005, we’ve raised nearly one million dollars from player contributions, fundraising events, fan donations and corporate partnerships with wonderful companies like Fox Sports Radio and USAA Insurance.

This year marks our fourth season to help provide “comforts of home” to America’s war wounded as they return from their missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and assignments around the globe. The support we've received from fellow major league baseball players, and you the fans, has been tremendous. Being a part of Strikeouts For Troops has been an indescribably rewarding experience and has introduced us all to some of the most incredible and brave Americans!

Strikeouts For Troops is simply about Americans helping our fellow Americans in need. I never want an American soldier to think that his or her sacrifice goes unnoticed or unappreciated. The real heroes in our country are the women and men in uniform who make the ultimate sacrifice on a daily basis keeping us safe and free.

The money we're raising is beginning to make a difference in the lives of thousands of our service members, and you can read some of the stories on the testimonials page. We try to assist wherever we can to help ease the mind of our wounded so they can focus on their recovery.

Contributions to the Strikeouts For Troops fund has kept loved ones near during the most difficult of times, provided individual grants to help with immediate needs, paid for air flights and lodging, purchased adaptive equipment for an easier transition at home, helped to fund the Gold Star Family Support Center at Fort Hood, provides backpacks filled with toiletries and other necessities to those who arrive at the hospital with often just the clothes on their back, support morale building events nationwide, purchased holiday gifts for military children, provided Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, supplied telephone and gift cards, and have paid for baby sitting so families can stay close.

For 2008, I’m pledging $500 for every strikeout I record to go along with the contributions of my fellow Strikeouts For Troops teammates and the great contributions from fan donations on www.strikeoutsfortroops.org.

Please join me in saying thank you to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines for their service to our country and let them know how much we care.

Keep your emails, testimonials, and pictures coming. I read them all and do my best to answer in a timely manner.

Thank you.