CHICAGO - The Chicago White Sox will celebrate the organization's commitment to diversity and inclusion this summer through events, activities and programming in a fan campaign called "BasebALL: One Game for All."
"The game of baseball has a storied past of driving progress and making a difference in the lives of those who love the game," said Brooks Boyer, senior vice president of sales and marketing. "Whether you're watching, cheering or playing, baseball is for everyone. As an organization, we want everyone to have the opportunity to get in the game and share the baseball experience in a welcoming and enjoyable way."
The White Sox will highlight their ongoing events and activities in addition to new ones. "BasebALL" celebrates culture and heritage through theme nights at the ballpark as well as special events, such as the Game Changers event series that focuses on the advancement and contributions of various communities.
"BasebALL" also will emphasize the importance of being kind to others, accepting individual differences and preventing bullying among youth through sports. This season, the White Sox teamed up with Major League Baseball, ESPN and No Bully as one of several Shred Hate clubs, supporting the adoption of curriculum designed to reduce incidents of bullying in schools. As part of the partnership, a Shred Hate public service announcement featured White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, who shared messages and tips about how to address bullying.
In addition to Shred Hate, the school programming starring the team mascot, Southpaw, addresses bullying in a new show called "Southpaw Strikes Out Bullying." The interactive school show features appearances from play-by-play announcer Jason Benetti as well as coaches and players sharing lessons focused on four main points: P - Practice confidence; A - Always use your voice; W - Walk away; and S - Stand up for others.
An overview of "BasebALL" activities, events and programs include:
• Events, including specialty group nights and heritage nights, such as Dominican Heritage Night, Hispanic Heritage Night, Greek Heritage Night and Pride Night, Double Duty Classic and Game Changers event series
• Offerings and amenities, including ballpark sensory tours, seating and parking
• Community outreach and partnerships with agencies like You Can Play
• Chicago White Sox Charities support for partners including Girls in the Game, Special Olympics, Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities, among others
• Diverse business initiatives, including suppliers and workforce
For the latest information about activities and events related to "BasebALL," please visit whitesox.com/inclusion.