Atlanta, All-Stars Stand Up to Cancer at Midsummer Classic

ATLANTA -- The All-Star Game is about so much more than baseball. It’s a time of togetherness, for community, and for outreach.

The league has shown that through several initiatives this week, including events, funding and projects to benefit military veterans, Make-a-Wish children and HBCU athletes. Tuesday at Truist Park, those efforts continued with Stand Up to Cancer, one of MLB’s most important partners.

Sid Hobbs, a young baseball fan who is currently battling cancer, got the opportunity of a lifetime prior to the 95th Midsummer Classic, as he experienced batting practice on the field with some of the league’s best players.

Hobbs’ favorite player is Freddie Freeman (he’s a Braves and Dodgers fan), while he also enjoys rooting for Austin Riley, Chris Sale and Ronald Acuña Jr. -- the latter two who were NL All-Stars alongside Freeman.

“He’s been diagnosed with seven different brain tumors,” Hobbs’ dad John said pregame as the Hobbs family -- including Sid’s mom and brother -- took in BP. “About 10 years ago we started going to different ballparks. We hit the whole East Coast … we love going to these ballparks … and we said, 'We’re going see all of them.’

“Then in April, he got a new diagnosis, and it was like, we don’t know how much time we got, we’re gonna make sure we hit all 18 that we have left this summer. So we started on our ballpark tour. While we were on the trip, Mastercard sent me an email, and said, 'We’d like to bring you out to the All-Star Game.' It’s been an awesome experience, everyone we met has been really nice.”

Hobbs, 17, was eagerly anticipating the chance to speak with Freeman again after the two had a special encounter in Los Angeles, when Hobbs threw a first pitch at Dodger Stadium.

“And then the next night, we took [Sid] to the dugout, and Mike Trout pops out. So it was crazy,” John said. “Being down here on the field, and watching batting practice is awesome. We’ve had so many awesome experiences, the last week has been amazing just getting to be with each other and experience all this together.”

“[We’re excited] just to get to see the best out here. We’re hoping to run into Freddie and Dave Roberts again. They were super nice guys. Just getting to hang out, and see something we’ve never experienced before, and just being together man, that means everything.”

Hobbs was present for a long-standing tradition at MLB’s jewel events – the Stand Up to Cancer in-stadium moment, in which players, umpires and coaches held up honorary placards to acknowledge friends and loved ones affected by the disease.

Braves staff also placed placards behind every seat in Truist Park for fans to write names on. Each one was pre-inscribed with the message “I stand up for,” while a section underneath was left blank for names. The in-stadium moment took place after the conclusion of the fourth inning.

National League manager Dave Roberts honored longtime baseball writer Scott Miller, who passed away just a few weeks ago from pancreatic cancer. American League manager Aaron Boone’s placard read, “Jake.” Braves pitcher Chris Sale wrote “Dad” on his sign, while Reds star Elly De La Cruz honored “La Familia” and “Los Enfermos.”

Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge honored “Uncle Frank,” and FOX commentator and Hall of Famer David Ortiz wrote, “Mi Viejo – Leo Ortiz.” Phillies All-Star Kyle Schwarber's placard read, simply, "Everyone!"

And Brewers All-Star Freddy Peralta honored Mr. Baseball – the late, great Bob Uecker, who passed away from cancer in January.

The moment, supported by SU2C and Mastercard and aired live by FOX, has taken place at every All-Star Game and World Series since 2009. MLB and its 30 clubs have invested more than $50 million into SU2C’s research expenditures.