Missouri Governor Jay Nixon (R) along with St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III and third baseman David Freese unveil a new logo in Joplin, Missouri on June 8, 2011, that will be used for the upcoming I-70 series between the Cardinals and the Kansas City Royals in St. Louis on June 17-19. The events will benefit victims of the devastating May 22 tornado that destroyed thousands of homes and businesses and killed 141 people in Joplin, Missouri. UPI/Bill Greenblatt
The St. Louis Cardinals announced this afternoon that they are teaming up with the Kansas City Royals, Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association to help the Joplin community recover and rebuild after one of the most destructive tornadoes in Missouri history.
The team announced that their upcoming three-game series at Busch Stadium (Friday June 17 – Sunday, June 19) with the Kansas City Royals will be dedicated to Joplin. At a press conference on a baseball field at the Joplin Athletic Complex this afternoon with Governor Jay Nixon, the team unveiled a special commemorative “Teams Unite for Joplin” jersey patch that will be worn by the Cardinals and Royals during each of the weekend’s three games.
“While we may be rivals on the baseball diamond, we are united in our commitment to help the people of Joplin,” said William DeWitt III, President of the St. Louis Cardinals.
“We are proud to partner with the St. Louis Cardinals and other Missouri sports franchises in order to offer as much assistance as possible as we help to rebuild this very proud community,” said Dan Glass, President of the Kansas City Royals.
“It is exciting that our two professional baseball franchises, two of the most prominent and visible organizations in our state, are stepping up to the plate to bolster our Joplin relief efforts,” Governor Nixon said.
Fans will have multiple opportunities to assist with the Joplin recovery efforts, as both teams plan a variety of fundraising initiatives. Fans will be able to purchase the special “Teams Unite for Joplin” commemorative patch at Busch Stadium and Kauffman Stadium, as well as have the opportunity through the team’s web site to bid on game-used and autographed items that include commemorative “Teams Unite for Joplin” baseballs, game-used bases and line up cards. The team will also conduct an auction of once-in-a-lifetime VIP fan experiences on the team’s television and radio broadcasts. Fans at Sunday’s game may purchase a scratch off ticket for a chance to win an autographed game-used jersey from the weekend series autographed by the Cardinals player.