The Giants have been very philanthropic of late. The team has heavily promoted and supported The Bryan Stow Fund after a fan was beaten into a coma after an away game in Los Angeles. Lincecum donated $25,000 personally and Barry Bonds offered to pay for the college education of each of Stow's children. Brian Wilson has started a scholarship program at the Air Force academy in honor of his father. Affeldt is always creating awareness about human trafficking and clean water initiatives. It's good to see players giving back and taking leadership off the field.
Is there a place for social causes in baseball? Sure as long as it doesn't get political. It is not a secret that San Francisco has a large gay population and the team decided to give back to a community that doesn't receive a lot of recognition, especially in professional sports. It's a good cause and a smart marketing campaign for the team that is expanding it's fan base. (Not that they need it right now with the home attendance sell outs) I think each player should show off the field leadership and support a cause that is important to them. I almost want to say it's their fiduciary duty as professional athletes to step up to the plate.
The game of baseball is not foreign to social causes and ending social injustices. Jackie Robinson. Although I hate to admit it the Dodgers actually did something right. Brooklyn not LA. In 1947 Branch Rickey asked Robinson to join the Dodgers to become the first African American baseball player in the major leagues. Baseball began desegregation in the 1940s, now tell me that baseball hasn't played an important role in civil issues.
Here's the website for the It Gets Better Project. The Giants video is currently being promoted on the site's homepage. Here it is as well:
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