MLB Umpires Laz Diaz and Bill Welke welcome Matt, Trinidad, Michael, and Jose to AT&T Park as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program. Matt, Trinidad, Michael, and Jose are mentor/youth matches with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area.

GUEST COMMENT (Michael Sanchez) - "Many thanks to Laz Diaz and Bill Welke for hosting Jose and me and Matt and Trinidad (Big Brothers Big Sisters Bay Area) at the Giants vs. Rockies game on Sunday. Jose was wide-eyed as Laz and Bill greeted him and escorted him to the field to watch batting practice. The sound of the ball hitting a wooden bat was unique to Jose as Laz explained that big leaguers use a different type bat than little leaguers (aluminum). Then the umpires created a special meet and greet with Steve Finley of the Rockies and he introduced himself and gave hitting tips to the boys...he was great with the kids and it was unique to experience the professional relationship between player and umpire. Needless to say, they were excited to meet a big league player and we when returned to the umpires' room for a final goodbye, the umpires gave sound advice to the boys to stay in school, do their homework and work hard. To cap off the day, Steve Finley pinch hit in the later part of the game and hit a foul ball which I caught and presented to Jose as a memento of our day and capped off celebrating the one-year anniversary of our "Big" and "Little" relationship. Thank you for the wonderful experience!"

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like Matt and Michael!

THANK YOU! - Erin Reilly/Bobby Baksa (Giants Community Relations) and Neepa Patel/Dawn Kruger (Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area) for your role in making this a wonderful experience for everyone.

MORE Photos: 2007 BLUE Crew Ticket Photos
ABOUT Big Brothers Big Sisters: http://www.bbbs.org/

Labels: bbbs, crew, diaz, mlb, sf, welke

MLB Umpires Ted Barrett and Mike Estabrook welcome Jim, Bryan, Hank, and Joe to RFK Stadium as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program.

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like Jim and Hank!

THANK YOU! - Barbra Silva (Nationals Community Relations) for helping make this a memorable baseball experience for these incredible mentor/youth matches.

MORE Photos: 2007 BLUE Crew Ticket Photos
ABOUT Big Brothers Big Sisters: http://www.bbbs.org/

Labels: barrett, crew, estabrook, mlb, was

MLB Umpires Marvin Hudson and Ed Montague welcome Jennifer, Nikki, Carlos, and Demetrius to McAfee Coliseum as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program. Jennifer, Nikki, Carlos, and Demetrius are mentor/youth matches with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area.

GUEST COMMENT (Jennifer Milton) - "I wanted to send a huge thanks to you for facilitating this wonderful opportunity for the kids! Nikki and I had an absolutely fantastic evening!! Also wanted to know if you could pass on a massive 'Thank You' to umpires Marvin Hudson and Ed Montague who took time out of their busy schedules to meet Nikki and to take us down on the field. Their kindness and overall demeanor rendered Nikki (and myself) speechless. On the field we chatted with the umpires and looked around at all the A's and Giants players walking around. She did not express her excitement and gratitude right at first as I think she was so overwhelmed and not sure how to react. But if you could please pass on to the umpires that they truly made her day (I mean that in the fullest sense of the meaning) I would be most appreciative! They really did...she was SOOOOO excited about being able to be a part of the whole experience."

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like Jennifer and Carlos!

THANK YOU! - Detra Paige (Athletics Community Relations) and Neepa Patel/Dawn Kruger (Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area) for your role in making this a wonderful experience for everyone.

MORE Photos: 2007 BLUE Crew Ticket Photos
ABOUT Big Brothers Big Sisters: http://www.bbbs.org/

Labels: crew, hudson, mlb, montague, oak

Major League Baseball (MLB) Umpires Bob Davidson and Sam Holbrook visited pediatric patients at Johns Hopkins Children's Center on April 13, 2007. They offered words of encouragement and distributed Build-A-Bear Workshop stuffed animals to children of the Johns Hopkins School Age Medical Surgical Unit. Bob and Sam were assisted by Kerri Chase of Bright Start Learning Center, Heather St. John of Market Connections, Inc. and Andy Young.

Annie Woods, Child Life TV & Special Events Coordinator for Johns Hopkins sent the following in a letter to the group:

Dear Bob, Sam and Wonderful Volunteers:

I cannot tell you how much we appreciated your visit to Johns Hopkins Children's Center to enhance the experiences of our 4th floor patients and families. You were so flexible, generous, sincere and personable in your interactions with the children and families.

Bob's humor and warmth and Sam's gentle and patient understanding partner fabulously. As a pediatric clinical staff member, I know that this experience is what we always hope for when guests like you come to visit our patients; I hope that this provides you with a foundation for many future similar experiences, as I know children in hospitals across the country would benefit from and enjoy your visits.

I hope you will consider us anytime you come back into town and that you enjoyed this experience as much as we did!

Thanks again! Sincerely,

Annie Woods (Broadway, to Bob)
Special Events and Child Life TV Coordinator

Labels: bal, davidson, holbrook, reach

MLB Umpires Bob Davidson, Sam Holbrook, and Hunter Wendelstedt welcome Andre, Morgan, Audra, and Billy to Safeco Field as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program.

GUEST COMMENT: (Andre Milbrandt) - "Morgan and I had a great time meeting Mr. Davidson, Mr. Holbrook, and Mr. Wendelstedt at the Mariners vs. Yankees game today. Thanks for making this possible for us! The umpires put Morgan at ease right from the beginning. As you can see on the first picture they had him put on umpire pads and mask, which Morgan loved After meeting up in the locker room they took us out to the field where we made the second picture. That was quite an experience in itself (the game was sold out). The person that sat next to Morgan is actually Matt Wolcott's mom. Matt himself put together a big bag of Mariners goodies for Morgan (including a Mariners base cap, wool cap, t-shirt, baseball, towel and much more). The seats we got were great too -- right behind home plate in row 20! I never saw a game against the Yankees and it was quite a thrill to see the Mariners beat Jeter, Rodriguez and co."

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like Andre and Audra!

THANK YOU! - Matt Wolcott (Seattle Mariners) and Lindsey Bertsch (Big Brothers Big Sisters of King & Pierce Counties) for your role in making this a wonderful experience for the matches.

MORE Photos: 2007 BLUE Crew Ticket Photos
ABOUT Big Brothers Big Sisters: http://www.bbbs.org/

Labels: crew, davidson, holbrook, mlb, sea, wendelstedt

MLB Umpires Bob Davidson, Sam Holbrook, and Hunter Wendelstedt welcome Andre, Morgan, Audra, and Billy to Safeco Field as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program.

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like Andre and Audra!

GUEST COMMENTS: (Audra Black) - "Billy and I extend our sincerest appreciation to umpires Bob Davidson, Sam Holbrook, and Hunter Wendelstedt as well as Matt Wolcott with the Seattle Mariners. I think Billy may now be pursuing a career as an umpire after trying on the gear. The whole process was effortless and ran smoothly. A great big Thank You goes out to the umpires of Blue for Kids and the Seattle Mariners."

THANK YOU! - Matt Wolcott (Seattle Mariners) and Lindsey Bertsch (Big Brothers Big Sisters of King & Pierce Counties) for your role in making this a wonderful experience for the matches.

MORE Photos: 2007 BLUE Crew Ticket Photos
ABOUT Big Brothers Big Sisters: http://www.bbbs.org/

Labels: crew, davidson, holbrook, mlb, sea, wendelstedt

MLB Umpires Laz Diaz, Bill Welke, Wally Bell, and Mike Muchlinski welcome Julio, Samuel, Joseph, and Julian to Angel Stadium as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program.

THANK YOU! - Julio Leyva-Sainz and Lisa Marie-Kaye of the Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services for getting Julio, Samuel, and Joseph the chance to catch an Angels game!

THANK YOU! - Lindsay McHolm of Angels Baseball. You truly went above and beyond in support of the umpires. The pictures are fantastic and we'll see that each guest receives an 8x10 to remember their Angels game experience!

MORE Photos: 2007 BLUE Crew Ticket Photos

Labels: bell, crew, diaz, laa, mlb, muchlinski, welke

MLB Umpire Bob Davidson welcomes Michelle, Bennett, Joanna, and Roberto to Turner Field as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program.

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like Joanna and Michelle!

THANK YOU! - Ryan Mason (Braves Community Relations) and Gail Zieky (Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta) for your role in making this a wonderful experience for everyone.

MORE Photos: 2007 BLUE Crew Ticket Photos
ABOUT Big Brothers Big Sisters: http://www.bbbs.org/

Labels: atl, crew, davidson, mlb

MLB Umpire Eric Cooper welcomes Rafael, Trevor, Jack, and Ian to Baltimore's Camden Yards as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program.

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like Rafeal and Jack!

THANK YOU! - Kristen Ensor (Orioles Community Relations) for your role in making this a wonderful experience for everyone.

MORE Photos: 2007 BLUE Crew Ticket Photos
ABOUT Big Brothers Big Sisters: http://www.bbbs.org/

Labels: bal, cooper, crew, mlb

MLB Umpire Eric Cooper welcomes Rafael, Trevor, Jack, and Ian to Camden Yards as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program.

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like Rafael and Jack!

THANK YOU! - Kristen Ensor (Orioles Community Relations) for your role in making this a wonderful experience for everyone.

MORE Photos: 2007 BLUE Crew Ticket Photos
ABOUT Big Brothers Big Sisters: http://www.bbbs.org/

Labels: bal, cooper, crew, mlb

MLB Umpires Marvin Hudson and Ed Montague welcome Dan, Justin, Dave, and Joseph to Tropicana Field as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program.

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like Dan and Dave!

THANK YOU! - Cherie Lewison/Suzanne Murchland (Devil Rays Community Relations) and Kathleen O'Brien (Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay) for your role in making this a wonderful baseball experience for everyone.

MORE Photos: 2007 BLUE Crew Ticket Photos
ABOUT Big Brothers Big Sisters: http://www.bbbs.org/

Labels: crew, hudson, mlb, montague, tam

MLB Umpires Ted Barrett and Angel Hernandez welcome Abe, Kyle, Adam, and Keondre to Dolphin Stadium as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program.

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor!

GUEST COMMENT: (from Abe) "The BLUE for Kids program is one that hits the mark. The joy that the boys experienced was evident on their faces. Keep up the good work."

THANK YOU! - Angela Smith (Marlins Community Relations) and Gale Nelson (Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami) for your role in making this a wonderful experience for everyone.

MORE Photos: 2007 BLUE Crew Ticket Photos
ABOUT Big Brothers Big Sisters: http://www.bbbs.org/

Labels: barrett, crew, fla, hernandez, mlb

MLB Umpires Ted Barrett and Angel Hernandez welcome Abe, Kyle, Adam, and Keondre to Dolphin Stadium as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program. Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor!

GUEST COMMENT: (from Adam) "Thanks again for the opportunity for my Little and I to share this great experience at the ballpark."

THANK YOU! - Angela Smith (Marlins Community Relations) and Gale Nelson (Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami) for your role in making this a wonderful experience for everyone.

MORE Photos: 2007 BLUE Crew Ticket Photos
ABOUT Big Brothers Big Sisters: http://www.bbbs.org/

Labels: barrett, crew, fla, hernandez, mlb