July 3, 2005

Oakland A's Mark Kotsay, Eric Chavez, Along With Other A's Players, Team With Barry Zito In Strikeouts For Troops To Help Wounded U.S. Military

Encourage Other Major League Baseball Players to Help Provide “Comforts of Home”

Oakland, CA July 3, 2005 -- Oakland A's pitcher Barry Zito, founder of Strikeouts For Troops, has been joined by star outfielder Mark Kotsay, Gold Glove winner Eric Chavez and several other players from the Oakland A's in Strikeouts For Troops. Strikeouts For Troops is a national program designed to provide some comforts of home and also assist with family travel and housing expenses for wounded service members who are being treated at military hospitals.

The 10 new players on the Strikeouts For Troops roster also include outfielders Eric Byrnes and Nick Swisher; infielder Mark Ellis; catcher Jason Kendall and pitchers Rich Harden, Huston Street, Joe Blanton, and Kirk Saarloos. They team with other major league pitchers who are currently pledging funds for the troops: Chad Cordero, Nationals, Curt Schilling, Red Sox, CC Sabathia and Matt Miller, Indians, and Tim Hudson, Braves.

"I'm honored that so many of my teammates have stepped up to participate in Strikeouts For Troops. United together we are making a real impact for our men and women in uniform. But we won't stop there. My goal is to have at least one player on every major league baseball team pitching or hitting for the troops," said Zito.

"During our recent trip to play the Nationals, a group of soldiers recovering from injuries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center came to the ballpark in Washington DC and we visited on the field before the game," said Zito. "I continue to be amazed by their spirit and we all want them to know how truly grateful we are."

The effort is funded by contributions to the Strikeouts For Troops Fund at The Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. (www.cfncr.org). Contributions are distributed directly to the troops with help from Freedom Alliance, a national non-profit organization, tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the tax code.

Strikeouts For Troops was introduced on April 5, 2005 after Barry Zito visited with wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. Strikeouts For Troops is rapidly growing and now provides a way for position players to contribute. "Many of my friends in baseball who are position players asked how they can help, so we?ve established a way for everyone to participate by creating a category for hits, RBIs and home runs," said Zito.

For more information about Strikeouts For Troops please visit www.strikeoutsfortroops.org