MLB Umpire Sam Holbrook welcomes Jonathan, Bryan, Michael, and Evan to Safeco Field for a game between the White Sox and Mariners. Jonathan and Bryan are mentors with Big Brothers Big Sisters Puget Sound.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of the most effective youth mentoring organizations in the United States. BLUE for Kids recognizes the direct and lasting impact that adult mentors have in the lives of young people. Through the BLUE Crew Tickets program, umpires provide memorable sports experiences to strengthen the mentor/youth relationship. About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Comments from Jonathan Bach:

I wanted to express my gratitude to BLUE for Kids for giving Michael the experience of meeting Mr. Holbrook. BLUE for Kids allowed Michael to have a once in a life time opportunity along with being able to share it with his best friend Squeal. Thanks again for your positive outreach to the city of Seattle.

Comments from Bryan Moran:

I just want to thank you for the opportunity to go on the field, meet the umpires, and enjoy the Mariners game. Evan and I had a great time and the Mariners won!

Special thanks to:

• Matt Wolcott and the entire Mariners community relations staff. The Mariners are in a unique position to connect the team with worthwhile endeavors, community partners and fundraising activities that make significant contributions to the Pacific Northwest. Mariners Community Overview


• Mentors Jonathan Bach and Bryan Moran for serving the all important role of youth mentor.
  
• Rianna Berkowitz of Big Brothers Big Sisters Puget Sound for identifying two deserving matches for this unique baseball experience.

Labels: bbbs, crew, holbrook, mlb, sea

MLB Umpires Sam Holbrook, Bruce Dreckman, Gerry Davis, and Brian Gorman welcome Matthew, Joshua, Josh, and Markell to Dolphin Stadium for a game between the Padres and Marlins. Matthew and Josh are mentors with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is one of the most effective youth mentoring organizations in the United States. BLUE for Kids recognizes the direct and lasting impact that adult mentors have in the lives of young people. Through the BLUE Crew Tickets program, umpires provide memorable sports experiences to strengthen the mentor/youth relationship. About Big Brothers Big Sisters

Guest Comments:

"On Saturday, May 4, my little brother Markell and I, along with mentor Matthew Haggman and his little brother Joshua, were given the experience of a lifetime courtesy of BLUE for Kids and host umpire Sam Holbrook. We received star treatment at the Florida Marlins - San Diego Padres game.

Our day started with a brief tour of the inner stadium that led to the umpires' dressing room where we met with Sam Holbrook and the rest of the umpiring crew. It was amazing to see this side of a baseball game.

Sam and the umpires talked to Markell and Joshua and gave them a bag of goodies. Both boys were filled with excitement and smiles and Matt and I were pinching ourselves to make sure this experience was real.

Sam Holbrook then escorted us to the field and we got to spend about 10 minutes soaking up the atmosphere of being on a major league diamond. Markell and Joshua stared and stared at the breathtaking view that none of us had ever experienced. Then we were escorted to our seats which were right behind home plate -- the best seats in the house. Wow.

It was a great game -- especially because the Marlins won 10-2. Markell and Joshua enjoyed drinks, hotdogs, and snacks, and watched their first baseball game from up close. It was one of the most memorable experiences of our lives.

Thank you BLUE for Kids for your support of Big Brothers Big Sisters and for giving Markell and Joshua an experience few have had and one that definitely broadened their horizons forever." - Josh Young

"Thank you very much for a great day at the ballpark. Joshua and I had a fantastic time. Thank you! In fact, afterwards Joshua wanted to go play baseball, which we did at a park not far from his house. We are enormously grateful to you, the Florida Marlins, and all of the umpires. " - Matthew Haggman

Additional Photos:



Special thanks from the umpires to:

• Angela Smith and the entire Marlins community relations staff. The Marlins promote educational, athletic, health, social and community service programs with a particular focus on South Florida's youth. Marlins Community Overview


• Mentors Matthew Haggman and Josh Young for serving the all important role of youth mentor.
  
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami for identifying two deserving matches for this unique baseball experience.

Labels: bbbs, crew, davis, dreckman, fla, gorman, holbrook, mlb, mlbpaa, naso, neweracaps

MLB Umpire Sam Holbrook welcomes Connie, Liz, Charles, and Johnetta to Busch Stadium for a game between the Giants and Cardinals. Connie and Liz are Wendy's Wonderful Kids (WWK) recruiters for Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition in St. Louis. They both work to move children in the St. Louis area from foster care into permanent, loving adoptive homes.

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids is the direct-service signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption that combines the fundraising of Wendy's and its customers, aggressive grants management of the Foundation, and the talent of experienced adoption recruiters throughout the nation and in Canada to move children from foster care into permanent, loving adoptive homes. Learn More about the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program

Guest Comments:

"Mr. Holbrook, the kids loved their experience and being able to see the umpires behind the scenes...all of the umpires and Mark Taylor (Cardinals Community Relations) were very engaging and friendly. Most important, the kids were made to feel very comfortable and special and will be able to keep these memories for a lifetime. Johnetta asked “when can we come back?” and Charles stated that he had a great time and loved having great seats to watch the game. Thank you so much!" - Liz Johnson

Additional Photos:



Special Thanks From The Umpires To:

• Mark Taylor, St. Louis Cardinals Community Relations for taking part in BLUE Crew Tickets. Learn more about what the Cardinals do for nearby communities. Cardinals Community Overview


• Connie Doty and Liz Johnson of Foster and Adoptive Care Coalition for helping provide an enjoyable day at the ballpark and for all that you do to find loving homes for children in the St. Louis area.


• The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA) for your dedication toward dramatically increasing the adoptions of the more than 140,000 children in North America’s foster care systems waiting to be adopted. Learn More about DTFA

Labels: crew, holbrook, mlb, mlbpaa, naso, neweracaps, stl, wwk

MLB Umpires Bob Davidson and Sam Holbrook welcome Chad, Marcus, Richard, and Ore to U.S. Cellular Field as a part of BLUE Crew Tickets. At right, Chad and Marcus join the umpires before the game.

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like Chad and Richard. Big Brothers Big Sisters matches caring adult mentors with at-risk youth. Read more about Big Brothers Big Sisters at http://www.bbbs.org/.

GUEST COMMENT:

"Marcus and I had a great time. I thank you all for allowing us to have this special moment." - Chad Simmons

SPECIAL THANKS TO:

• Danielle Disch and the entire White Sox Community Relations team for assistance at the ballpark.
• Christy Livingstone of Big Brothers Big Sisters for coordinating things from BBBS! Christy, you've been a huge help all year!
• Chad and Richard for taking the time to be a mentor.

Labels: bbbs, crew, cws, davidson, holbrook

MLB Umpires Bob Davidson, Sam Holbrook, and Hunter Wendelstedt welcome James, Langston, Yolanda, and Tyshonia to RFK Stadium as a part of the BLUE Crew Tickets Program.

Want to make a difference in your community? Be a mentor like James and Yolanda!

THANK YOU! - Barbra Silva (Nationals Community Relations) for your continued support of the BLUE Crew Tickets program.

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

Labels: bbbs, crew, davidson, holbrook, mlb, was, wendelstedt

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

Major League Baseball (MLB) Umpires Bob Davidson and Sam Holbrook visited pediatric patients at Johns Hopkins Children's Center on Friday, April 13, 2007. Here they share a few minutes with AJ. Looking good buddy!

MORE PHOTOS: Big League BLUE Reach - Baltimore
PRESS: MLB.com article about event

Labels: bal, davidson, holbrook, mlb, reach