CLEVELAND -- The Indians did their part in Major League Baseball's effort to raise awareness for childhood cancer in Friday's series opener with the Marlins at Progressive Field.
A league-wide effort was launched to raise awareness by dedicating Sept. 2 as "Childhood Cancer Awareness Day" at all ballparks. It is a part of a partnership with Stand Up To Cancer to make people more aware of the leading cause of death by disease in children aged 15 and under.
During batting practice on Friday, Tribe players wore special childhood cancer awareness shirts with a giant backwards K on the front in an effort to raise awareness. Both teams chose to wear gold ribbon decals and wristbands for the game.
Scheduled to throw out the first pitch was 9-year-old Austin Gallagher, a two-time cancer survivor who has raised $22,000 for St. Baldrick's Foundation.