June 27 , 2006

Barry Zito Earns The Sporting News No. 1 Major League Baseball Good Guy Award

Zito Honored For His Strikeouts For Troops Program

OAKLAND, CA (June 27, 2006) – The Sporting News has named Oakland Athletics pitcher Barry Zito its No. 1 Major League Baseball Good Guy for his on-going fundraising work aimed to assist America's war-wounded and their families.

The Sporting News recognized three co-winners for its overall No. 1 Good Guy Award. Quarterback Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts, running back Deuce McAllister of the New Orleans Saints and guard Chris Duhon of the Chicago Bulls earned top honors for their works in the relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina. John Lynch of the Denver Broncos was recognized as the No. 1 NFL Good Guy and forward Andrei Kirilenko of the Utah Jazz earned the No. 1 NBA Good Guy Award. Zito, along with the other athletes who have earned the award by having a positive impact on the community outside of sports, will be featured in the July 7 issue of The Sporting News, which will be on newstands beginning on June 28.

Zito founded Strikeouts For Troops™ in April of 2005 in the hopes of assisting America's war-wounded and their families during the soldier’s rehabilitation process. In addition, contributions have funded holiday dinners at military hospitals, bought Christmas gifts for families of patients unable to afford them and helped build a hospital children's center where kids can stay while their parent’s tended to their medical needs.

“I am truly honored being named to “The Sporting News No. 1 Major League Baseball Good Guy Award” and thankful to my fellow teammates and players throughout baseball, as well as the public, for joining me in Strikeouts For Troops. Together we are starting to make a difference in the lives of our wounded soldiers and their families. We want our service members to know how much we respect and honor their bravery, sacrifice and service to our country,” said Barry Zito.

Since its inception, Strikeouts For Troops has raised a total of $190,836.50 through Zito’s own contributions and those from over 30 players from the A's and other Major League Baseball clubs, fundraising events, and fan donations through strikeoutsfortroops.org. This season, Zito pledged to donate $200 for each strikeout he records and continues to add new players from around the league to make contributions based on various statistical categories.

Other players from various teams joining in the Strikeouts For Troops effort include: Jake Peavy and Shawn Estes, San Diego Padres, Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees, Jermaine Dye, Chicago White Sox, Manny Ramirez and Curt Schilling, Boston Red Sox, CC Sabathia, Cleveland Indians, Tim Hudson, Chipper Jones and Horacio Ramirez, Atlanta Braves, Chad Cordero, Washington Nationals and numerous members of the Oakland A’s including Nick Swisher, Huston Street, Joe Blanton, Eric Chavez, Mark Kotsay, Jason Kendall and more.

Strikeouts For Troops is a national project funded by contributions to the "Strikeouts For Troops Fund" at The Community Foundation For the National Capital Region.
For more information on Strikeouts For Troops, please visit www.strikeoutsfortroops.org