Posted by Cheryl Nichols, Contributor and Photographer for Nats News Network

MLB celebrates Father's Day today. No blue bats, however, at every game played this Blue Sunday, players, managers, coaches, trainers, umpires and groundskeepers will don blue wristbands and ribbon uniform decals, all clubs will use a special blue dugout lineup card.

"Major League Baseball is pleased to support the efforts of the Prostate Cancer Foundation through the Home Run Challenge to help generate increased awareness for prostate cancer and the urgent need to find a cure," said Commissioner Bud Selig. "Prostate cancer has affected many members of the Major League Baseball family, and we hope to draw attention to this disease as we reach out to our players, fans and communities to support the search for a cure."

The Home Run Challenge, the keynote of this ongoing effort with one Major Leaguer representing each club, will come to its conclusion for another year on Sunday as well. Now in its 13th year, the Challenge enables fans to make monetary donations to the Prostate Cancer Foundation at http://www.pcf.org/ for each home run hit during MLB games from June 11-21, including all games played on Father's Day. Major League Baseball Charities has committed $50,000 to PCF as part of the "Home Run Challenge" program.

Nationals representatives in the Home Run Challenge are Nick Johnson and Ryan Zimmerman.

Bill Ladson did a nice story about Nationals acting General Manager Mike Rizzo following in his father Phil's footsteps.

Kristen Hudak spoke to Adam Dunn and Ryan Zimmerman's biggest fans (their proud fathers).

Posted by Cheryl Nichols, Contributor and Photographer for Nats News Network

MLB celebrated Mother's Day yesterday. Pink bats have become annual Mother's Day symbols as part of MLB's "Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer" initiative to raise breast cancer awareness, with proceeds earmarked for Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Think Pink Day was about much more than just pink bats. Players also wore pink wristbands, some wore pink cleats, and the pink ribbon symbol for breast cancer awareness was prominent on all uniforms. Managers made out their lineups on official pink lineup cards.

Nationals celebrated in Arizona**. Adam Dunn, Willie Harris, Nick Johnson and Wil Nieves used pink bats and went a combined 8-for-19 with two home runs, three RBIs and four runs scored. Adam Dunn's pink bat worked doubled time -- his first multihomer game since last July 30.

Manager Manny Acta thanked his mother in a special postcard (you can see other team's postcards as well).

Former Nats paid special tributes. Endy Chavez, now with the Mariners, remembered his sister that he lost to cancer almost two years ago and Jamey Carroll, now with the Indians, honors his aunt and mother.

Click here to see how other teams celebrated.

Fans will play the next big role in this process, because attention will move now to the MLB.com Auction and the gradual arrival of game-used pink bats, home plates, logo bases and lineup cards. Fans also can purchase their own personalized "Mother's Day 2009" pink bats right now for $79.99 apiece at the MLB.com Shop, with $10 from the sale of each one going to Komen.


**The Nationals will honor Mary Eno, Honorary Bat Girl winner, during a pregame ceremony on Sunday, May 17, before the team plays the Phillies. She will have an opportunity to meet with some of the players, and will receive an engraved pink bat and a jersey from Major League Baseball.

Press Release:

The winner of the ‘Honorary Bat Girl’ contest for the Washington Nationals is Mary Eno. Mary was diagnosed with breast cancer in December of 2007. Determined to beat the disease that had taken her mother 30 years earlier, Mary had a bilateral mastectomy in January of 2008, followed by several months of chemotherapy. Upon realizing that her chemotherapy treatments would begin right around the opening of Nationals Park, Mary worked with her oncologist to ensure she wouldn’t miss Opening Night. A 20-game Season Ticket Holder, Mary was able to attend a few games in 2008, staying for only a few innings each time. Each game she attended made her more determined to win the battle against cancer. She would proudly remove her cap for the National Anthem – even though she had lost her hair. Mary has completed the first phase of reconstruction surgery and hopefully will complete her treatment later this year. She is ready to enjoy the Nationals 2009 season, staying for every pitch and removing her cap to reveal a full head of hair, along with her husband, family and friends who have been so supportive during her battle. Mary’s husband has a tattoo of a pink ribbon, for Mary and everyone who has been affected by this disease, as a reminder to live life one pitch at a time.

Celebrate Survivors and Supporters in the Fight to End Breast Cancer

MLB is looking for one Honorary Bat Girl or Boy per MLB team to be recognized on the field on Mother's Day 2009. The Nats play in Arizona on Mother's Day so an alternative date will be chosen. (Must be 18 or older to enter).

There are currently four stories from Nats fans so vote for your favorite.


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2009

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE® LAUNCH CAMPAIGN TO FIND “HONORARY BAT GIRL” FOR EACH CLUB MLB Fans Have the Opportunity to Share Inspirational Experiences in Their Fight Against Breast Cancer

Major League Baseball (MLB) and Susan G. Komen for the Cure® have collaborated to launch a search to find an “Honorary Bat Girl” for each Club in celebration of Mother’s Day in stadiums around the country. Lasting until May 1, MLB.com will host a contest providing fans an opportunity to share stories of “going to bat” against breast cancer in their daily lives. The initiative is aimed to raise additional awareness and support for the annual ‘Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer’ program, a joint partnership between MLB and Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer organization. Winners will be selected on May 1 by a celebrity panel consisting of MLB Network’s Mitch Williams and Dan Plesac, New York Yankees OF/1B Nick Swisher, Houston Astros 1B Lance Berkman and Baltimore Orioles OF Nick Markakis. Men and women 18 and older can submit stories and vote for their favorites on www.mlb.com/honorarybatgirl.

During the registration period, Baseball fans can share their stories of inspiration and hope of how they are supporting the fight against breast cancer in their daily lives and why they want to be an “Honorary Bat Girl” for their MLB home team. Testimonials can be submitted by breast cancer survivors, advocates or supporters of the cause.

“Major League Baseball is excited to launch this new campaign recognizing the incredible lives of our fans who are leading the fight against breast cancer,” said Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President, Business, Major League Baseball. “It is an honor to expand our partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure. We are committed to using the popularity of Major League Baseball to help Komen raise funds and awareness for this important cause.”

On Mother's Day (May 10, 2009), Major League Baseball players will wear pink wristbands and the symbolic pink ribbon for breast cancer awareness will be displayed on player uniforms, as well as on all on-field personnel. Additionally, Louisville Slugger, the Official Bat of Major League Baseball, has produced pink bats stamped with the MLB breast cancer logo, which will be available for players’ use on Mother's Day weekend. In addition, dugout lineup cards will be pink. The Louisville Slugger pink bats will be auctioned off at a later date to raise additional funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Several players will individually represent their teams on Mother’s Day, and most have personally experienced the effects breast cancer (and other cancers) have had on their families. These players include Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim P Jered Weaver (mother survived breast cancer), Berkman (aunt survived breast cancer), Markakis (mother survived breast cancer) and Los Angeles Dodgers P Jason Schmidt (mother passed away from brain cancer).

“Major League Baseball’s partnership and support over the years has been a vital part in enabling us to move forward in our promise to save lives and end breast cancer forever,” said Katrina McGhee, Vice Rresident, Global Partnerships at Komen for the Cure. “The introduction of Honorary Bat Girls is exciting because the passion and the personal stories of breast cancer advocates are what keep us going.”

Prior to each Mother’s Day game, each “Honorary Bat Girl” will be invited to participate in pre-game on-field activities, will be publicly recognized during an on-field ceremony, will receive a ticket to the game and will be given special baseball pink product. All 30 Clubs will be represented in this initiative—visiting teams on Mother’s Day will select another date in May to honor their “Honorary Bat Girl.”
The celebrity panel consisting of MLB players and MLB Network talent will select each “Honorary Bat Girl.” New York Yankees 1B/OF Nick Swisher is an advocate of fighting all forms of cancer. In 2007, Swisher grew his hair out to donate it to create free wigs for women dealing with hair loss from cancer treatment. Today, Swisher continues to participate in the on-field activities of MLB’s “Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer.” MLB Network analyst Mitch Williams’ mother survived breast cancer and he is still involved in helping charities associated with the disease. MLB Network analyst Dan Plesac’s mother was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, we have invested more than $1.3 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

Major League Baseball Health Initiatives
The Mother's Day “Going To Bat Against Breast Cancer” program is one of several cancer-related initiatives supported by Major League Baseball. Other partnerships include Stand Up To Cancer, an innovative charitable campaign designed to raise philanthropic monies for accelerating ground-breaking research; the Prostate Cancer Foundation Home Run Challenge which helps increase awareness of prostate cancer and raise money towards the search for a cure as part of Major League Baseball Father's Day activities; the Commissioner's Initiative for Kids supports the CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation; and Play Smart When it Comes to the Sun, a league-wide, season-long skin cancer awareness program in conjunction with the Major League Baseball Players Association and the American Academy of Dermatology.