Oakland A’s, Jonny Gomes set charitable example
Each year, MLB teams that make the playoffs are rewarded with primetime games, celebrations from their thrilled fans and of course, a bit of extra money for earning more playing time than the majority of the league. This season, MLB awarded approximately $65 million of postseason shares among the 10 teams that made it to the postseason.
Teams then distribute a certain amount of money they receive to the players. The Oakland Athletics, who received $2.1 million for making it to the divisional series, gave players full shares of $34,325. But the A’s didn’t just reward players and employees; the team also gave a full playoff share of $34,325 to charity.
According to a report from Aaron Gleeman, new Red Sox and former A’s DH/OF Jonny Gomes convinced the team to use some money for charitable purposes. The A’s donated to multiple charities, including giving $5,000 to Hurricane Sandy relief, $10,000 to Players Trust (a charity created by MLB players to help them service the communities of the cities they play for), $2,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters and $2,000 to the United Way.
According to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, Gomes suggested donating a share to charity before the beginning of the postseason and the team unanimously supported the idea. Gomes has reportedly asked other teams he has played for to do the same with their postseason money but the charitable act is rare in baseball.
Now that Gomes is a Red Sox, fans will surely back his giving ways, and if he and the Red Sox finally make it back to the postseason next season, it won’t be just the charities that are grateful.
