Honorary Bat Girl contest winner Corrie Thornburgh from St. Johns to be recognized at Comerica Park

Major League Baseball has announced the 30 winners of the 2012 Honorary Bat Girl program, which recognizes baseball fans who have been affected by breast cancer and demonstrate a commitment to "Going to Bat" in the fight against the disease.  The winner of the Honorary Bat Girl Contest for the Detroit Tigers is Corrie Thornburgh, from St. Johns, Michigan. Corrie is a three- time breast cancer survivor and a big Tigers fan. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy for the third time in preparation for another extensive surgery. Even though cancer has attacked her body three times, she refuses to let cancer take control of her life. Corrie approaches everyday with a "don't give up" attitude, an inner strength and a smile on her face. She is determined to keep life as normal as possible for her two young children, her husband and the students in her high school science classes. During her extensive surgeries, radiation, and chemotherapy, she has continued to teach, because her students needed the stability and leadership that she provides. Between chemo treatments in 2011 she attended multiple Tigers games and she already has tickets for games this season even though she is again undergoing cancer treatment. Her love of baseball does not stop with the Tigers, she attended her son's baseball game only a few hours after a chemo treatment. Corrie is also the inspirational leader of multiple efforts that unite her family, friends and students to raise thousands of dollars to help in the fight against cancer. The Tigers will provide Corrie with complimentary game tickets for her and her family, recognize her, along with other breast cancer survivors, during an on-field, pregame ceremony, provide her the opportunity to watch batting practice from the field and she will throw the ceremonial first pitch prior to the Tigers' Breast Health Awareness game on May 16.

Corrie is one of the 30 winners, one for each MLB Club, who will take part in pregame activities, be honored and receive pink MLB merchandise. Each winner was selected by a Guest Judging Panel that includes MLB players and celebrities in addition to fan votes casted on HonoraryBatGirl.com.

Nine-time Grammy award winner Bonnie Raitt, who lost her brother and close friends to cancer, recorded a special video at the MLB Fan Cave to lend her support to the Honorary Bat Girl initiative and the ongoing fight to eradicate the disease.   

The Guest Judging Panel who helped select the 30 winners included MLB players Joe Blanton of the Philadelphia Phillies, whose mom is a breast cancer survivor; Jason Heyward of the Atlanta Braves, whose aunt passed away from lung cancer; Howie Kendrick of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, whose best friend's mom is a breast cancer survivor; and Barry Zito of the San Francisco Giants, whose mom was affected by cancer.  Also on the Guest Panel was MLB Network host Chris Rose, who has several close friends who have been affected by the disease; international soccer star Mia Hamm, supporter of the Honorary Girl Initiative with former MLB player and current ESPN analyst Nomar Garciaparra, whose grandmother passed away from breast cancer and actor James Denton of Desperate Housewives, who lost his mother to breast cancer.   

Also on Mother's Day, hundreds of MLB players are expected to use pink bats by Louisville Slugger, the Official Bat of Major League Baseball, stamped with the MLB breast cancer awareness logo. To further demonstrate their support for the breast cancer cause, players and on-field personnel will wear the symbolic pink ribbon on their uniforms along with pink wrist bands. Commemorative dugout lineup cards also will be pink.

The Honorary Bat Girl Contest was introduced in 2009 to raise additional awareness and support for the annual Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer initiative celebrated on Mother's Day. In 2006, Major League Baseball created the "Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer" program.  Since its beginnings, MLB has continued to grow the program throughout the League and with all 30 Clubs to honor those affected by the disease. Along with MLB licensed partners and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, MLB raises awareness about the breast cancer cause. Game-used Louisville Slugger pink bats from Mother's Day games that have been authenticated by MLB will be auctioned exclusively on MLB.com to benefit cancer research. To learn more about Major League Baseball's charitable initiatives visit MLBCommunity.org.