For the tenth consecutive year, MLB and all 30 Clubs will raise awareness for childhood cancer in home ballparks during all games on Sunday, September 7th. Hosted during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, this MLB Together effort (MLBTogether.com) will support the cause with ceremonial and community-based activities, including outreach to local hospitals treating young patients.
On Sunday, September 7th, all on-field personnel, including players, managers, coaches, and umpires will wear gold ribbon decals during all games and have the option to wear gold wristbands. Additionally, commemorative base jewels and line up cards will be featured on the day. Home Clubs also may plan to feature ceremonial activities in their ballparks, youth participation in pregame ceremonies, visits from players and mascots, and other special recognitions. Nonprofit partners for Clubs may include local hospital partners or organizations focused on childhood cancer, such as Stand Up To Cancer, American Cancer Society, and Starlight Children’s Foundation. Clubs on the road on September 7th may select another home game to observe Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Additionally, MLB will host a special volunteer event in partnership with Project Sunshine for employees at MLB’s Office of the Commissioner on September 17th.
Linked HERE are a few examples of unique Club activations.
In 2025, nearly 10,000 children under the age of 15 are projected to receive a cancer diagnosis in the United States. Across all demographics, cancer is the second-leading cause of death in children ages 1-14. MLB, alongside committed leaders in this cause, is dedicated to eradicating cancer as a disease affecting young people.
As an extension of MLB’s relationship with Starlight Children’s Foundation, all 30 Clubs will be receiving a Starlight Gaming Handheld, powered by Nintendo, which will be donated to a local children’s hospital, hospital pediatric cancer care unit, or a pediatric cancer nonprofit organization. To learn more, visit MLBTogether.com/childhoodcancer and Starlight.org/mlb.
As Stand Up To Cancer’s founding donor in 2008, Major League Baseball and its Clubs have pledged more than $50 million to SU2C’s collaborative cancer research programs. The work of the Stand Up To Cancer – St. Baldrick’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, launched in 2013, helped pioneer the development of a cutting-edge immunotherapy treatment for a type of pediatric leukemia. This immunotherapy is now widely used to treat several cancer types. MLB has recognized SU2C at its Jewel Events since the 2009 World Series.
Some of the most common types of childhood cancer include leukemias, brain tumors, central nervous system tumors and lymphomas. Over the past five decades, cancer researchers have helped to develop treatments that have greatly changed the lives of patients with a pediatric cancer diagnosis. The five-year survival rate for childhood cancer is now 85% (compared to 58% in the mid-1970’s).