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Baseball leading the efforts to raise money for victims

©Associated Press

© St. Petersburg Times,
published September 20, 2001

Major League Baseball and its players union contributed $5-million each on Wednesday to establish a relief fund to aid victims of last week's terrorism.

The MLB-MLBPA Disaster Relief Fund will distribute money after consulting with governmental and charitable relief organizations.

Many baseball teams and players are making separate contributions, along with the NFL, NBA, NHL and NASCAR.

"All of major-league baseball is deeply saddened by the loss of life and the terrible damage wrought by the terrorist attacks that struck our nation," commissioner Bud Selig said.

Union executive director Don Fehr said, "The events of Sept. 11 left all of us horrified, and none of us untouched. Baseball and America have always gone together, and now, as the country moves forward to relieve the suffering and heal the wounds, everyone in the baseball community wants to go along."

The New York Mets said manager Bobby Valentine, his coaching staff and the 34 players on the active roster would contribute their salaries from Friday's game against the Atlanta Braves to the New York Police & Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. The donation will be about $450,000.

Cincinnati players and coaches are donating $250,000, roughly equivalent to one day's pay, to the Heroes' Fund, established to help families of the New York firefighters, police officers and Port Authority employees killed in the attacks. Colorado players donated nearly $60,000.

The NBA is contributing more than $1-million, along with supplies and office space. The NFL is about to make a "major financial contribution," league spokesman Greg Aiello said.

NHL teams have raised more than $1.3-million for disaster relief funds, and the NHL Players Association donated $500,000 to help families of New York City firefighters and police officers.

NASCAR is pledging its help through a variety of paint schemes and donations. A total of 37 Winston Cup and Busch series drivers informed NASCAR on Wednesday of special patriotic paint schemes they will have on their cars this weekend in Dover, Del.

In addition, 12 drivers have joined Rusty Wallace's and Jeremy Mayfield's call to donate money for every lap they complete this weekend. The pledges range from $20 to $25 per lap.

The U.S. Tennis Association announced a $1-million donation to the World Trade Center relief effort.

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