Maddow's Pitch Equips Iraqi Baseball Team

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 21, 2009 11:13 AM CDT

(Newser) – The Iraqi national baseball team will finally look the part thanks to Rachel Maddow, McClatchy Newspapers report. After seeing a story on the team, which had been making do with one borrowed softball bat, some second-hand gloves, and no uniforms, the MSNBC host vowed to help. After she ran a segment on the team, offers of help poured in.

A New York-based company has donated bats, gloves, and cleats, Ebbets Field Flannels is designing and tailoring uniforms, and Maddow herself is chipping in batting helmets, balls, and copies of the rulebook. Though Ebbets usually works with wool, it will make mesh uniforms to accommodate Iraq’s climate. “We’re going to see the Iraqis play in some of the smartest uniforms in the world,” its president boasted.

[Images (2)]

[Videos (1)]

Baghdad baseball team player Ayuob Isa bats during practice May 10, 2005. (Getty Images)

Baghdad baseball team members play during a training session, May 10, 2005. (Getty Images)

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Rachel Maddow trumpets the success of "Operation Iraqi Baseball." (msnbc)

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

Snarfeh

Jul 22, 2009 1:04 AM CDT

..the sunni's against the shiites, I expect...

kokuaguy

Jul 21, 2009 5:52 AM CDT

Here's something FOX and MSNBC should be able to agree to give a shout out to. I first heard of it on NPR... that obviously Fasco-Liberal organizaion. http://www.npr.org/templates/s...

ClingingToHope

Jul 21, 2009 5:45 AM CDT

Nick, you just don't hear about it b/c the main stream media is so biased. These are just two examples: Sean Hannity hosts a number of concerts across the country every summer to raise funds for Freedom Alliance, which provides scholarships to the children of military killed or injured in the line of duty. Profits from Bill O'Reilly's online store are donated to a number of charities, take a look at his site to see the list.

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