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 past five years, and I'm doing it again in 2014 -- 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 underprivileged kids all over the world. In 2011, for example, when the massive earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, PIFB helped get the Little Leagues back up and running by replacing all their damaged gear. Last year PIFB delivered equipment to a dozen communities in New York and New Jersey that had been devastated by Hurricane Sandy -- and the charity did the same thing in 2008 after Hurricane Ike tore through Galveston and other parts of Texas. Within the last few 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 75 countries (including Poland, Uganda, Israel, Iraq, Nicaragua, and the Cook Islands) and over 300 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 2014 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 500 balls. If you were to pledge one penny per ball, you'd end up donating $5 to this cause. If you were to pledge one dime per ball, that would be $50. And so on.

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 takes less than a minute, and once you're done, you'll have the option of adding your name and website to the list of donors below. I've raised more than $38,000 over the past five seasons (including a generous donation from major league pitcher Heath Bell), and with your help, I hope to keep supporting this cause. Thanks very much for your consideration . . .

Click here to pledge.