For Immediate Release:
Contacts: Bob Ibach (847-312-4588
or 847-922-6686—cell)
Make-A-Wish
Foundation® of Missouri and Kansas: Kendra Gray (816-838-9474)
and Lori Stone (316-838-9474)
2
Free Tickets to a Royals game in 2010 with each purchase
Zack Greinke’s
AL Cy Young Award
Will Bring Smiles to
Local Children
At
Make-A-Wish Foundations in Missouri & Kansas
Special
Photo Plaque Honors Royals Ace
Only
1,000 Will Be Produced
Helps
Youngsters with Life-Threatening Medical Conditions
Kansas
City, MO -- The Zack Greinke
comeback story continues to read like a Hollywood movie script with
the news on Tuesday that the 26-year-old Kansas City Royals
right-hander has become the third pitcher in team history to win the
coveted American League Cy Young Award.
Continuing
to improve off a 13-10 turnaround season in 2008, Greinke’s
2009 numbers certainly made him the choice among those voting despite
pitching for a team that finished below .500. Greinke posted a 16-8
mark, and his 2.16 ERA was the lowest of any starter in the major
leagues, as he fanned 242 batters in 229.1 innings of work. He began
the 2009 in spectacular fashion, not allowing a run in his first 24
innings. By May, he was pictured on the cover of Sports
Illustrated.
Later, in July, he pitched a
hitless inning at the All-Star Game in St. Louis, then had a strong
August when he fanned a club record 15 batters on August 25, and five
days later 1-hit the Seattle Mariners. For the season, opponents
batted only .230 against him.
Today,
Greinke’s Cy Young Award is also being celebrated by the
children at the Make-A-Wish
Foundation® of Missouri and Kansas,
many of who suffer from life-threatening medical conditions. That’s
because Nikco Sports, a Missouri-based company, announced it will be
producing a limited edition framed and matted photo plaque of Greinke
to celebrate his achievement and also raise needed funds to grant
wishes for the youngsters at the Make-A-Wish
Foundation® of Missouri and Kansas.
Only
1,000 of the 14 x 16 inch double matted photos, with an engraved
nameplate that includes an inset section of dirt taken from the
infield at Kauffman Stadium, will be produced and sold on a
first-come basis to fans as a gift idea for the upcoming holiday
season. The photo plaques are priced at $99
and can be ordered at 1-800-345-2868
or by visiting www.nikcosports.com.
Customers will also receive 2 FREE tickets per order to a 2010
Royals game as a special holiday gift from Nikco Sports. In
recent years, Nikco Sports has raised more than $1.7 million for
children’s charities, including a project in September that
honored the 50th
anniversary season for the K.C. Chiefs.
Greinke
became just the third KC pitcher in team history to win the AL Cy
Young Award. Brett
Saberhagen won it in
1985 and 1989, and David
Cone took the honors
in 1994. He is only the second starter in AL history to win it with
16 victories, the other being Cone (16-5). Four relievers won the
honor with a lower victory total (Sparky Lyle, 13, Willie Hernandez,
9, Dennis Eckersley, 7, and Rollie Fingers, 6).
"This
certainly is a great story," noted Nikco Sports CEO Craig
Bidner, noting the tough 5-17 campaign he endured in 2005. “Zack
showed that a lot of hard work can pay off, and we’re excited
to offer this unique product package that includes two tickets which
might provide fans a chance to see Zack pitch in person in 2010.
"The
same goes for the youngsters over at the Make-A-Wish
Foundation® of Missouri and Kansas,
many of who can gain personal inspiration from the hard work put in
by Zack. We’re proud to be associated with these youngsters
and the foundation and hope that this project will continue to raise
more monies for fulfilling their special wishes in the future."
During the
past several years, Nikco Sports has raised more than $1.7 million
for charitable
organizations across the nation with the issue of limited-edition
sports memorabilia that has honored amateur and professional teams,
as well as select athletes such athletes as Dan
Marino, Brett Favre, Jerome Bettis, Ben Roethlisberger, along
with Peyton Manning,
Jim Kelly, Carson Palmer, Steve Young, John Elway, David Robinson,
John Stockton, LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Roger Clemens, Don
Larsen, Ryne Sandberg, Paul Molitor, Kirby Puckett, Edgar Martinez,
Ichiro, Ozzie Smith, Mark McGwire, Ken Griffey
Jr., Nolan Ryan, Tony
Gwynn, Craig Biggio and
Cal Ripken Jr.
About
the Make-A-Wish Foundation
The
Make-A-Wish Foundation®
grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical
conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and
joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young
boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is
now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 65 chapters
in the U.S. and its territories. With the help of generous donors
and nearly 25,000 volunteers, the Make-A-Wish Foundation grants
more than 12,600 wishes a year and has granted more than 168,000
wishes in the U.S. since inception.
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