How much money are you hoping to raise?
I'm shooting for $20,000, which would pretty much double last year's total.

What exactly will the money be used for?
Pitch In For Baseball has two big expenses: storing the equipment that's donated to them and then shipping it to kids and programs all over the world. But that's not all. PIFB also needs money to buy certain items; no one ever donates bases or pitching machines, for example, and there are never enough baseballs to go around, so that requires constant funding.

Is this charity legit?
Yes! Totally. Not only is Pitch In For Baseball a registered 501(c)(3) charity, but it's an official partner of MLB International, as well as Little League Baseball, SI Kids, and the International Baseball Federation (which sponsors the World Baseball Classic). It doesn't get any more legit that that, but if you're still not convinced, click here and here to read articles about this charity on MLB.com.

Are donations tax deductible?
Yes, to the fullest extent of the law.

Will it actually help if I pledge just one penny per ball?
Absolutely. Not only will the money itself be useful, but the more people who get involved, the more we'll all be able to convince others to get on board.

So wait, when exactly would I pay?
Not until after the 2010 season. You can make a pledge at any time, but we won't know how many balls I end up with (and therefore how much your donation will amount to) until the World Series is done. That won't be 'til the end of October. When you're ready to make a pledge, one of the things you'll need to do is type in your email address. That way I'll be able to send you a reminder when the season ends and let you know the exact amount of your donation.

If I make a pledge for 10 cents in the middle of the season, will I end up contributing the same amount as someone who pledged 10 cents at the beginning?
Yes. The pledges cover all the balls I snag, regardless of when the pledges are actually made. Let's say I've already snagged 100 balls, and THEN you make a pledge for 10 cents per ball. You'll see "$10.00" appear next to your name, and then every ball I catch after that will add another 10 cents.

What are some of PIFB's current projects?
One big project is called "Baseball in Baghdad." PIFB is working with the U.S. military to help introduce baseball to the children in Iraq. Another one is called "RBI" which stands for Reviving Baseball in the Inner cities. PIFB is teaming up with Major League Baseball to send much needed equipment to children in urban centers around the United States. There are also projects currently being discussed to help bring baseball to far away places like Kuwait, Nigeria, Peru, Cambodia, Kenya, and other countries where the sport is just getting started. Click here to read more about this on the PIFB web site.

Why are you even doing this?
Because I love baseball, and I think kids are great, and I thought this would be a fun way to combine it all and get other people involved.

So this whole thing was your idea?
Well, yeah. But I have to give credit to the folks at Pitch In For Baseball (especially executive director David Rhode) for recognizing the idea and trusting me to follow through with it on their behalf.

Okay, what exactly do I need to do to make a pledge?
Great question. CLICK HERE and follow the easy instructions.