You know how some people run marathons for charity and get their friends to pledge money for every mile? Well, that's sort of what I'm doing in 2009—except my marathon is the entire Major League Baseball season, and I'm snagging balls instead of running miles.

I've hooked up with a charity called Pitch In For Baseball (PIFB) that collects new and "gently used" baseball equipment and re-distributes it to needy kids around the world. (Good cause, no?) Last year, for example, when Hurricane Ike destroyed Galveston and other parts of Texas, PIFB helped get the Little Leagues back up and running by replacing all their damaged gear. Just within the last year, PIFB has supported a youth softball program in Ecuador, an orphanage in Haiti, a school in the Philippines, and dozens of Urban Initiatives right here in America. To date, PIFB has shipped equipment and uniforms to over 50 countries (including Poland, Uganda, Israel, Iraq, Nicaragua, and the Cook Islands) and over 100 communities around the United States.

Not only is PIFB keeping kids interested in baseball, but it's also keeping them off the streets, giving them a chance to exercise, and helping them find their passion.

Ecuador

Haiti

Philippines

America

This is where I'm hoping YOU come in. One way to help, of course, is to donate equipment directly to PIFB, but another way to help is to pledge a small amount of money for every baseball I snag during the 2009 season. There's no telling exactly how many balls I'll end up with (which kinda makes this whole fundraising process more fun) but if you take a look at my previous yearly totals, you'll get some idea of what to expect.

I've already snagged well more than 100 balls this season, but for the sake of doing some simple math, let's say that's how many balls I were to end up with. If you were to pledge a nickel per ball, you'd end up donating $5 to this cause. If you were to pledge one dime per ball, that would be $10. And so on. If I end up snagging 500 balls this season and you pledge 25 cents per ball, that would amount to a generous donation of $125. Got it?

How much money am I hoping to raise? What exactly will the money be used for? Is this charity legit? (Totally!) What are some of their other projects? Are donations tax deductible? Why am I even doing this?

Click here to read the FAQs.

Making a pledge only takes a minute, and once you're done, you'll have the option of adding your name (and web site) to the list of donors below. Thanks very much for your consideration...

Click here to pledge.