Mariners celebrate African American Heritage Day

SEATTLE -- Former SuperSonic Gary Payton took the mound Sunday to toss the ceremonial first pitch to former Mariner Ken Griffey Jr. before the series finale with the Angels. The Seattle Hall of Famers were two of seven men honored for African American Heritage Day at Safeco Field.
Those honored included Dr. Benjamin Danielson, who has been the medical director of Odessa Brown Children's Clinic in Seattle's Central District since 1999 and works tirelessly to help low-income families, and Jim Wigfall, a vice president at Boeing's Shared Services Group and an active member of several community organizations.
Chase Henderson, the son of former Mariners outfielder and broadcaster Dave Henderson, was joined behind the mound by former SuperSonics stars Spencer Haywood and Fred Brown. Chase Henderson has the rare neurogenetic disorder Angelman Syndrome, and his father was a huge supporter of research on the disorder before his death last year.