The Los Angeles Dodgers took time to make the dream of seven children possible this week. While fans don’t actively make decisions or possess any substantive role in the day-to-day operations, they are the lifeblood of any organization, especially one with the legacy, heritage, and tradition that the Dodgers built since their inception back in 1883. 142 years makes them the second oldest continuously playing team in the sport’s history.
Basically, through two cities, on opposing coasts, and several generations of fans, the organization crafted a fan base whose history predates the majority of any other team in every other major sport.
Now, the team gives back to a special demographic.
Dodgers Honor Make-A-Wish Children with One-Day Contracts
At its core, Major League Baseball consists of adults making millions playing a kid’s game. The majority of players started on dusty fields, learning the basics. From Tokyo to Caracas to Syracuse and all points in between, little kids lace up their shoes and run out onto the field. For some, they dream of a day, playing in front of thousands in the stands and millions on television.
Foreign players will sacrafice all they have and know to travel to America, a land where they don’t know the language or customs, just to achive their dream. While some players are fortunate enough to achive these big league dreams, some kids aren’t fortunate enough to even start achiveing them.
Unfortunatly, some kids can’t even begin to achive these goals due to illnesses. So, it’s great that some organizations out there do their best to make sure every child has a chance to realize their dreams.
One of the more popular charitable organizaions that work with sick children is the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They grant the wishes (or dreams) of children with serious illnesses. Earlier this week, the foundation made the dream of seven kids come true.
A few more from yesterday’s Dodgers and @Fanatics event at Dodger Stadium for seven Make-A-Wish kids, who got to be a Dodger for the day and throw out the first pitch: pic.twitter.com/ifHJMAvzuL
— Rowan Kavner (@RowanKavner)
Baseball remains America’s national pastime. The sport knows no political affiliation or socio-economic standing, breaking barriers and tearing down walls. The newest Dodgers can take that contract as one of the better memories of their young lives. Despite their struggles in this world, they enjoyed a big moment.
Many view professional sports as adults maiking a lot of money to play a kid’s game. The move wasn’t a public relations maneuver. Instead, it allowed children, essentially the heart and soul of the game, to live out a dream that they would not ordinarily see fulfilled. And at a time where the Dodgers have some headaches, it’s moments like these that remind you why you love the game.