Orioles center fielder Adam Jones is sending $8,500 to the Mamie Johnson Little League team in Washington, D.C., after learning of its need for financial assistance to cover the cost of travel to Bristol, Conn., to play in the Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament, according to an ESPN report.
The Mamie Johnson Little League team is the first predominantly African-American team to reach the Mid-Atlantic Regional tournament, from which the winner advances to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
Jones learned of the league's need for financial assistance through a tweet from local television reporter Delia Goncalves, and even before he sent a check, others -- including local Little League programs -- had contributed $15,000. The surplus created by Jones' contribution will go toward enhancement of future participation by the league.
"I want to see the next generation get an opportunity to succeed," Jones said in a FaceTime call with Goncalves. "Me being a black man trying to integrate more African-Americans into baseball, this was a no-brainer."
Jones has been deeply involved in the Baltimore-D.C. community ever since joining the Orioles in 2008. That includes yearly contributions to the Boys & Girls Clubs in the area, among several other initiatives.
For his community efforts, Jones was honored with the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award from the MLB Players Association in 2015, as well as the Brooks Robinson Community Service Award from the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association and the Maryland Governor's Service Award.
Though he was reportedly a candidate to be traded by the Orioles prior to last Tuesday's non-waiver Trade Deadline, Jones -- who has a contractual right to decline any proposed trade as a result of accruing 10 years of MLB service time and five consecutive years with the same club -- chose to remain in Baltimore, where he has spent the past 11 years of his Major League career.