Bluefish to host ‘Heroes for Heroes’ Legends Game to support Homes for the Brave as part of 2015 All-Star Week
(Bridgeport, Conn. – March 31, 2015) – The Bridgeport Bluefish today announced that they will host a ‘Heroes for Heroes’ Legends Game to support Homes for the Brave on Thursday, July 9th, as part of the team’s 2015 All-Star Week festivities.
CLICK HERE for tickets.
In this historic game, former Red Sox will take on former Yankees in a seven-inning charity contest. The Red Sox team will feature Ellis Burks, while the Yankees team will include Charlie Hayes. More players will be announced in the coming weeks.
Ellis Burks made his Major League debut with the Boston Red Sox in 1987. In his debut season, at age 22, he became the third player in Red Sox history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in one season. The same year he was also selected to both the Baseball Digest and Topps “All-Rookie” teams. In 1993, Burks joined the Chicago White Sox as a free agent. The next year, he signed a five-year deal with the Colorado Rockies. He then played with the San Francisco Giants and the Cleveland Indians for three seasons each, before returning to the Red Sox in 2004 and winning the World Series. During his 18 years in the Majors, Burks recorded a batting average of .291 with 1,206 RBI and 352 home runs. In both 1990 and 1996, Burks played in the MLB All-Star Game and won a Silver Slugger Award. In 1990, he also won the Gold Glove Award.
Charlie Hayes began his Major League career with the San Francisco Giants, making his debut in 1988 after being picked in the fourth round of the 1983 MLB draft. The next season, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies where he spent three seasons. Hayes spent his first season with the New York Yankees in 1992, before being traded the following year to the Colorado Rockies, back to the Phillies, and then to the Pittsburgh Pirates. He again joined the Yankees in 1996 where he helped lead the team to a World Series championship title. In 1998, he was again traded to the San Francisco Giants, then to the Milwaukee Brewers in 2000, before ending his Major League career in 2001 with the Houston Astros. During his 14 seasons in the majors, Hayes collected a batting average of .262 with 144 home runs and 740 RBI. His best season came with the Rockies in 1993, where he hit .305 with 98 RBI and 25 homeruns.
“We are honored to partner with Homes for the Brave to present the 2015 Heroes for Heroes Legends Game,” says Bluefish general manager Jamie Toole. “The Red Sox/Yankee rivalry is electric here in Southwestern Connecticut and we look forward to hosting these Heroes from baseball’s greatest rivalry to benefit our local Heroes.”
Proceeds from the Heroes for Heroes Legends Game will benefit ABRI/Homes for the Brave, a nonprofit based right here in Bridgeport that is dedicated to improving the lives of homeless individuals, especially Veterans.
“We have been looking forward to collaborating with our neighbors the Bridgeport Bluefish, and see this event as the perfect start to a lasting and meaningful relationship,” says Joy Kiss, CEO and Director of Homes for the Brave.
“I’m the son of a veteran,” says Bridgeport Mayor Bill Finch. “I recognize the importance of protecting our freedoms. I can’t thank those who served – and continue to serve – our country enough. The City of Bridgeport is committed to serving our veterans as well as they have served us. Homes for the Brave is an outstanding organization helping in our efforts to serve the veterans of the Park City. Thank you to the Bridgeport Bluefish for bringing together legends of baseball’s greatest rivalry for such an important cause. I encourage everyone to come to Bridgeport for an exciting night at the Ballpark at Harbor Yard.”
Game time on Thursday, July 9th will be 7:00 p.m. General Admission tickets will be sold for $15.00 in advance or $20.00 at the gate on the day of the game. Tickets are available by CLICKING HERE, calling (203) 210-BLUE, or going to www.bridgeportbluefish.com.
Sponsorship packages are available and include the opportunity to play on one of the Legends teams. For more information on becoming a sponsor, contact Bluefish General Manager Jamie Toole at jtoole@bridgeportbluefish.com or (203) 345-4800.
About ABRI/Homes for the Brave - Applied Behavioral Rehabilitation Institute, Inc. (ABRI), DBA Homes for the Brave, is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit whose mission reads “With an emphasis on Veterans, we provide the housing and services necessary to help homeless individuals return to a productive and meaningful life.” ABRI currently operates three programs, Homes for the Brave, a 42 bed transitional living facility for male Veterans and non-veterans who are homeless, the Waldorf Supportive Housing Program, a 9-unit permanent supportive housing program for male Veterans, and Female Soldiers: Forgotten Heroes, a 15 bed transitional living facility for homeless female Veterans and their children under ten years of age. ABRI provides housing, supportive, and vocational services to help individuals leave homelessness behind. To date, the organization has served over 930 homeless individuals. For more information about Homes for the Brave please visit www.homesforthebrave.org.
The Bridgeport Bluefish are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at The Ballpark at Harbor Yard. For further information, call 203-210-BLUE (2583) or visit BridgeportBluefish.com.