{"id":27138,"date":"2019-12-06T15:04:12","date_gmt":"2019-12-06T20:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/?p=27138"},"modified":"2019-12-06T15:04:12","modified_gmt":"2019-12-06T20:04:12","slug":"arizona-diamondbacks-host-winter-classic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2019\/12\/06\/arizona-diamondbacks-host-winter-classic\/","title":{"rendered":"Arizona Diamondbacks Host 22nd Annual Winter Classic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arizona Diamondbacks Host 22nd Annual Winter Classic<\/strong><\/h2>\n

PHOENIX, Dec. 5th \u2013 Several members of the Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> \u2013 including executives, coaches, broadcasters, players, and the manager \u2013 gathered at Chase Field Thursday morning for the 22nd Annual Winter Classic. They gave over 750 children from the area backpacks, shoes, socks, books, a sweatshirt, and more in an event Randy Johnson<\/a><\/strong> started two decades ago.<\/p>\n

The Beginnings of the Winter Classic<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"\"
PHOENIX, Dec. 5 – Randy Johnson gives a pair of shoes to a girl during the Winter Classic at Chase Field. (Photo by Evan Thompson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson joined the Diamondbacks in December of 1998 as a free agent. Shortly after arriving, he decided to help children in the area by giving those in need a new pair of good shoes. \u201cThere\u2019s always been a need for young children to be taken care of and feel special all the time, and especially at this time of year,\u201d Johnson said. He sought help from the Diamondbacks organization to find kids who could use the help, and one person who helped tremendously was the late Joe Garagiola<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0He was \u201cwell-connected\u201d with Catholic churches in Metro Phoenix, according to Johnson. Combined with the children on the bordering reservations, there was \u201cdefinitely a need\u201d for the shoes.<\/p>\n

The Arizona Diamondbacks Continue the Legacy<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Johnson said that the event started with \u201cprimarily just shoes that were being given away in the rotunda area at the ballpark \u2013 the entrance.\u201d It worked so well that Johnson continued it through the rest of his time as a Diamondback. After he left, the team continued with it every December. \u201c\u2026every year, it gets a little bit bigger. There are more activities for the kids, and more people have gotten involved. I just started with giving the shoes away, but there are all kinds of activities that have been added along over the years. It\u2019s still a thrill to see a young boy or girl come in and get a pair of shoes and say, \u2018Thank you.\u2019 It\u2019s an important time of the year, especially for our young children, to make them feel special, because they are.\u201d<\/p>\n

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PHOENIX, Dec. 5 – Randy Johnson (foreground, at left) and other members of the Arizona Diamondbacks front office and broadcast team hand out shoes to children in the Winter Classic at Chase Field. (Photo by Evan Thompson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Johnson returned even after his retirement from baseball 11 years ago. \u201cIt says a lot about the kids that came back then \u2013 they\u2019re young adults now \u2013 but there\u2019s still a need. These are young kids that weren\u2019t even born when I was playing baseball, and they have a need, so it\u2019s great to still come and be associated with it and be a part of the Winter Classic,\u201d said Johnson.<\/p>\n

Giving Back<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One regular attender is pitcher Robbie Ray<\/a><\/strong>. This is no surprise to Debbie Castaldo, Vice President of Corporate and Community Impact for the Diamondbacks. She said he comes every year. \u201cRobbie and Taylor (his wife) are extraordinarily generous people,\u201d Castaldo said. Ray said that he thinks this year\u2019s event was his third time doing this, and \u201cit gets better every time.\u201d When asked what he would like about this if he were one of the children in attendance, he said, \u201cHonestly, that someone cared. That someone took time out of their day to come up here, be with me, and give me a pair of shoes. Just having that time to spend with someone that took time out of their day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another person whose attendance is no surprise to anyone who knows him is Torey Lovullo<\/a><\/strong>, the Diamondbacks manager. He and his wife, Kristen, have a heart for people in general, but especially children. \u201cIt\u2019s always been a great day for me and (Kristen). We\u2019ve come out here since we\u2019ve arrived in Arizona. It\u2019s about giving back to the children and watching them smile \u2013 watching them interact in a very special way. Really, that\u2019s the spirit of this season. That\u2019s what you want to do. To be a part of that on the level that we are \u2013 it\u2019s pretty intense, and we enjoy it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since their arrival in Arizona, they have made sure to come every year. This event was one event that impressed Torey and Kristen. \u201c\u2026it keeps getting better every year. These guys come out and really do a nice job of supporting the community and increasing the number of kids and giving them a great opportunity to get something special,\u201d Torey said.<\/p>\n

The Arizona Diamondbacks and the 2019 Event<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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PHOENIX, Dec. 5 – Baxter, mascot of the Arizona Diamondbacks, strikes up a pose during the Winter Classic at Chase Field as other members of the team wait for the next group of kids to arrive. (Photo by Evan Thompson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thursday\u2019s event included 750 children from 11 schools. They got to have, according to the team press release, \u201cphotos with Santa, an Arizona Humane Society and Phoenix Herpetological Society petting zoo, a Phoenix Symphony petting zoo, the University of Phoenix Reading Center, the Diamondbacks Science of Baseball zone, STEM activation with Play Well TEKnologies, Fitness Zone with Diamondbacks Trainers, dance time with team organist Bobby Freeman and Baxter \u2013 the team mascot \u2013 and lunch provided by Raising Cane\u2019s.\u201d These stations were scattered throughout the upper and lower concourses of Chase Field.<\/p>\n

All 11 schools were Title One schools serving at-risk and low-income children. Several of the children were homeless, and some of the children were newly settled refugees. Castaldo said that they were children from \u201call over the Valley (of the Sun) who really will benefit from the new pair of shoes, socks, a sweatshirt \u2013 those things that are essentials. This may be the only thing they get for Christmas.\u201d She added that Santa \u201coften tells us about the wishes that he receives from the children. Many of the children wish for a home to live in. They wish to have mom and dad get a job. They wish for really simple things that we sometimes take for granted.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gratitude of the Children<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The children in attendance certainly didn\u2019t take the gifts for granted. Joy abounded on their faces as they received a box with a brand new, high quality pair of shoes. Their reactions warm the hearts of those who witness them. Castaldo observed, \u201cWhen they put on a new pair of shoes that fit, they believe that the shoes are magic \u2013 that they make them jump higher, or run faster, or make them dance. It\u2019s incredible to see the simple joy of a child wearing a brand-new pair of tennis shoes.\u201d<\/p>\n

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PHOENIX, Dec. 5 – Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo speaks with a boy during the Winter Classic at Chase Field. (Photo by Evan Thompson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lovullo crouched and talked with several of the kids as they tried on shoes. \u201cI like to get down on their level, see eye-to-eye with them, and let them know that I\u2019m like them. They can have a special day. They can have a dream. Just because I\u2019m the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks doesn\u2019t mean that I don\u2019t have the same feelings and same cares and concerns that they do. I\u2019m on their level, and I want them to know that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Arizona Diamondbacks Look Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As the years progressed, the event grew. A lot of it happened because of teachers. Castaldo pointed out that the Diamondbacks \u201chave teachers who have been transferred to other schools. They\u2019ll keep us aware of what other schools and opportunities are, so we can continue to grow every year and don\u2019t ever turn anyone away.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s been humbling for Randy Johnson to see what the event has become. \u201cThis is at a much bigger scale than I ever imagined it being,\u201d he said. \u201cIt was fun getting everybody on board. It was fun to know that so many other people had the same interest in doing something. I had a Nike contract \u2013 I wore their shoes back when I played, and so I reached out to them. They said, \u2018Sure, we can help you,\u2019 and so that\u2019s how it all got started. You get a lot of people involved and get everybody on the same page, and you have something like this that has been going on now for 20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n

It’s safe to say that it will continue for another 20 years and beyond. Castaldo said that the players, coaches, broadcasters, and staff \u201clove this event \u2013 you see them meeting the kids and interacting with the kids.\u201d As for her, the biggest thing \u201cis the kids\u2019 faces.\u201d After she said that, she noticed something nearby. \u201cI just heard that little boy just said, \u2018These are AAAAAAAAAAAAWESOOOOOOOOOOOOOME!\u2019 (Chuckles) Isn\u2019t that cool? That\u2019s amazing! That\u2019s what gets you!\u201d Robbie Ray said that he loves \u201cgiving back to the community. They support us day-in, day-out during the season. To be able to give back and put some smiles on kids\u2019 faces \u2013 there\u2019s nothing better than that.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Arizona Diamondbacks Host 22nd Annual Winter Classic PHOENIX, Dec. 5th \u2013 Several members of the Arizona Diamondbacks \u2013 including executives, coaches, broadcasters, players, and the manager \u2013 gathered at Chase Field Thursday morning for the 22nd Annual Winter Classic. They gave over 750 children from the area backpacks, shoes, socks, books, a sweatshirt, and more […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2901,"featured_media":27141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[29,2,1071],"tags":[326,3242,2187,2637,582],"class_list":["post-27138","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diamondbacks","category-featured","category-mlb","tag-arizona-diamondbacks","tag-charity","tag-randy-johnson","tag-robbie-ray","tag-torey-lovullo"],"modified_by":"Jared Cantatore","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2901"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27138"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27138\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}