With their second day off this week, it was a very nice day for the Yankees to hit the golf course and it was even more important to do it for charity.
So a number of current and former Yankees today participated in the Second Annual Hank’s Yanks Golf Tournament at Trump Links at Ferry Point in the Bronx.
“Ray Negron started it years ago with one team,” said Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner. ” Now we are up to many teams. It was for kids in the area with different age groups for little league to present them in an opportunity, especially in areas that don’t have a lot of little league action. It helped develop players, but mostly for fun.
“Eventually when they get older, obviously they are not all going to play major league baseball, but it’s to help with college and give advice on colleges. We have kids that we helped get into college and we have had players drafted. It’s just for the kids, real youngster or high school age. It gives them an outlet to be associated with the Yankees. It was Ray’s idea to be associated with the youth. ”
Today’s event raised approximately $60,000 for the charity which supports seven teams, including a team made up of special needs children.
“It does take some money and I have contributed in the past and some players have,” Steinbrenner said.
According to its website: “The funds raised for Hank’s Yanks will support both the baseball activities as well as the community outreach work of the outstanding young athletes involved with Hank’s Yanks, the youth baseball teams backed by New York Yankee owner, Hank Steinbrenner. They are a dedicated bunch of kids that come from all walks of life and not only play at a high level of travel baseball, but also perform both individual and group community service projects throughout the year. Many come from tough areas, and baseball is a way to keep them going in the right direction.”
Participating today were CC Sabathia and Carlos Beltran from the current team and past Yankees included Jim Leyritz, Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, David Cone, Mickey Rivers, Bucky Dent and Stick Michael.
Hank’s Yanks Baseball Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 charity.
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