Major League Baseball launches the annual Honorary Bat Girl Contest

Major League Baseball launched the 2014 Honorary Bat Girl Contest today, which recognizes baseball fans who have been affected by breast cancer and who demonstrate a commitment to eradicating the disease. Women and men ages 18 or older are encouraged to share their stories about themselves or loved ones who are "Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer" by visiting www.honorarybatgirl.com for a chance to be recognized on-field by their favorite baseball team on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 11th.

Fans are invited to share inspirational stories that they or loved ones have experienced or currently are experiencing that provide hope and motivation in the fight against breast cancer. Additionally, fans will share the reasons they want to represent their favorite team as its Honorary Bat Girl. Entries can be submitted by breast cancer survivors, advocates and/or supporters of the cause beginning today at www.honorarybatgirl.com, a website powered by MLB.com. Entries will be accepted until the submission period closes on March 24, 2014.

During MLB's annual Mother's Day national day of recognition, one Honorary Bat Girl per MLB Club will take part in pre-game activities, be honored during an on-field ceremony and receive pink MLB merchandise with two tickets to the game. For Clubs that are away on Mother's Day, another home game in May will be selected to recognize their Honorary Bat Girl.

A panel of judges including MLB players and well-known figures will help select the winning submissions based on originality, quality of writing, demonstration of commitment to breast cancer awareness and public appeal as determined by online fan votes. Celebrity judges for the 2014 contest will be revealed at a later date.

"Major League Baseball remains committed to recognizing the fearless fans who show courage in the face of breast cancer, and who not only take strides to fight against the disease, but help those around them who are also affected," said Tim Brosnan, Executive Vice President of Business, Major League Baseball. "Season after season, these brave fans share their stories through our Honorary Bat Girl Program, highlighting perseverance and selflessness in the face of adversity."

The Honorary Bat Girl program 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 five years, thousands of unique testimonials have been submitted and more than 4 million fan votes have been cast. Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer is a Major League Baseball initiative supported by its charitable partners Stand Up To Cancer and Susan G. Komen. This initiative raises awareness about the breast cancer cause, while also raising funds to support breast cancer research.

Major League Baseball Health Initiatives

The Mother's Day Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer program is one of several cancer-related initiatives supported by Major League Baseball. Other initiatives include Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), whose mission is to support the groundbreaking scientific research aimed at getting new cancer treatments to patients in an accelerated timeframe; the annual Father's Day celebration, in support of Prostate Cancer Foundation, which helps increase awareness of prostate cancer and raise money for the search for a cure; and Play Sun Smart, a league-wide, skin cancer awareness program in conjunction with the Major League Baseball Players Association and the American Academy of Dermatology.