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've done for the last two years, and I'm doing it again in 2011 -- except my marathon is the entire Major League Baseball season, and I'm snagging balls instead of running miles.

I'm raising money for a non-profit charity called Pitch In For Baseball (PIFB) that provides baseball equipment to underprivilged kids all over the world. In 2008, 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. Within the last couple years, 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. PIFB has shipped equipment and uniforms to more than 65 countries (including Poland, Uganda, Israel, Iraq, Nicaragua, and the Cook Islands) and over 250 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'll come in. One way to help, of course, is to donate equipment directly to PIFB, but another way is to pledge a small amount of money for every baseball I snag during the 2011 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.

For the sake of doing some simple math, let's say I end up snagging 1,000 balls. If you were to pledge two cents per ball, you'd end up donating $20 to this cause. If you were to pledge one dime per ball, that would be $100. And so on. If I end up snagging 1,200 balls this season and you pledge 25 cents per ball, that would amount to a donation of $300. 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. I've raised more than $12,000 over the past two seasons (including a generous donation from Padres closer Heath Bell), and with your help, I hope to keep supporting this cause. Thanks very much for your consideration...

Click here to pledge.