As Central Texas continues to struggle with the effects from severe flooding that began July 4, Minor League Baseball's San Antonio Missions have announced a fundraiser to benefit nearby communities who've been directly impacted.
The Double-A affiliate of the Padres is set to take the field in the jerseys of four Hill Country high schools on Aug. 9, when the Missions host the Springfield Cardinals (STL). One such jersey will be worn by Missions part-owner and Basketball Hall of Famer Manu Ginobili, who's slated to throw out the first pitch to a student-athlete from one of the affected schools.
The game-worn jerseys will be autographed and auctioned off as a component of the team's fundraising efforts.
“Our hearts are heavy as we witness the devastating flooding that has impacted so many across the Texas Hill Country,” Missions president Burl Yarbrough said in a press release. “As a proud part of Central Texas, the Missions are committed to supporting our neighbors as they begin to recover and rebuild.”
Proceeds from the jersey auction will benefit the Kerr County Flood Relief and also -- through a partnership with the Round Rock Express (Triple-A TEX), the Nolan Ryan Foundation and RS3 Turf -- help to rebuild a damaged Little League field in Ingram, Texas.
The team has also announced that it's working with its parent club in San Diego and Minor League Baseball to find ways to encourage fans from all over the country to become involved with flood relief efforts. Details from those partnerships, as well as information about other fundraising initiatives the Missions are taking part in, are expected to emerge in the weeks leading up to the Aug. 9 game.
The four schools that will be represented by Missions players wearing their jerseys on that night are Center Point High School, Comfort High School, Ingram Tom Moore High School and Kerrville Tivy High School.
Both the Missions and the Triple-A Express are partially owned by Nolan Ryan. In addition to joint efforts between the two clubs to raise money for Ingram Little League, Round Rock has been working with the Nolan Ryan Foundation to harness the support of Express fans to benefit relief efforts.
While there are eight Minor League teams throughout Texas, the Missions and the Express (operating northeast of Austin) are the nearest to the areas most directly impacted by this month's floods.