Baseball Good Guys

By Paul Attner
The Sporting News


WILSON ALVAREZ, LHP, Devil Rays
Aids victims of the 1999 Venezuelan floods. Has donated more than $1 million to various groups and needy people. Plans to adopt several Venezuelan orphans.


DOUG GLANVILLE, OF, Phillies
Joins teammates Randy Wolf and Mike Lieberthal to hold an annual pool tournament that has raised more than $100,000 for needy youth. In the offseason, visits and helps teach kids involved in an after-school program for inner-city children.


RUSTY GREER, OF, Rangers
Gave $50,000 to sponsor Ronald McDonald family room at a children's hospital. Sponsored a food drive that collected almost 37,000 pounds of food. Holds a clay shooting event to raise money for National Resource Foundation.


ROBERTO HERNANDEZ, RHP, Royals
Gave $1 million to the baseball program at the University of South Carolina-Aiken; part will be used for a new stadium named after him. Giving $100,000 a year for three years to a Puerto Rican all-star baseball fund to help needy local programs.


BOBBY HIGGINSON, OF, Tigers
Services needy organizations in Detroit and Philadelphia with donations and time, including Latino Family Services and battered women's shelters. Organized a benefit lunch for a child with special medical needs.


RANDY JOHNSON, LHP, Diamondbacks
Donates money for use as grants to various organizations fighting homelessness. Reviews and chooses all awards. Donated and handed out nearly 1,000 pairs of tennis shoes to homeless kids the last two years.


JASON KENDALL, C, Pirates
Raised and donated more than $70,000 for the work of the Salvation Army, including its hunger and youth programs. Helps his team with a program to take kids shopping for winter clothes.


AL LEITER, LHP, Mets
Grants funds to numerous organizations serving needy and sick kids. Subsidizes before- and after-school programs in New Jersey. Funded an outdoor basketball complex in his hometown. Helped fund a playroom at a New York hospital.


MIKE MATHENY, C, Cardinals
Makes numerous unannounced visits to hospitals and other community organizations. Helped fund a bone marrow drive that prompted 551 people to register, including three matches. Donated and delivered teddy bears to sick kids.


RUSS ORTIZ, RHP, Giants
In the offseason, flew from Arizona to San Francisco to take 35 kids and their mentors to a team-building adventure he sponsored. Also buys tickets at each home game for them. The program has deep meaning; his father left home when he was 2.

Ivan Rodriguez - Good Guy


IVAN RODRIGUEZ, C, Rangers
Gives Christmas presents to kids in hospitals in Texas and Puerto Rico. Helped prevent a Texas man from failing financially after a kidney transplant. Has raised $250,000 for groups that help the needy in Puerto Rico. Is building a baseball school.


CURT SCHILLING, RHP, Diamondbacks
Contributed $1 million in the last year to the United Way and ALS organizations in Phoenix and Philadelphia. Has contributed millions overall to the ALS cause and courts businesses to raise more money for related organizations.


GREG VAUGHN, OF, Devil Rays
Gave $10,000 to start two college scholarships at a local high school. Sponsors free clinics for Little League players. Helps sponsor a holiday party that provides clothes, food and presents for foster kids.


JOSE VIDRO, 2B, Expos
Gives equipment and uniforms to various baseball teams in Puerto Rico. Bought more than 30 video systems and 100 video games for hospitalized kids. Paid all the expenses for 50 kids from Puerto Rico to attend a baseball clinic in Florida.


DAN WILSON, C, Mariners
Has helped raise $150,000 for First Place, which benefits homeless kids. Raises money for orphanage in Bulgaria, where he adopted a daughter, and has brought in $45,000 this year for group that helps orphans worldwide.


TSN'S GOOD GUY PICK: Derek Jeter

GOOD GUYS BY SPORT:
MLB: Carlos Delgado | All
NFL: Jerome Bettis | All
NHL: John LeClair | All
NBA: Alonzo Mourning | All
NASCAR: Good guys

WHERE ARE THEY NOW

NOMINEES

GOOD GUY CONTACTS

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TSN'S GOOD GUY PICK: Derek Jeter

GOOD GUYS BY SPORT:
MLB: Carlos Delgado | All
NFL: Jerome Bettis | All
NHL: John LeClair | All
NBA: Alonzo Mourning | All
NASCAR: Good guys

WHERE ARE THEY NOW

NOMINEES

GOOD GUY CONTACTS


WHO ARE THE GOOD GUYS?
This is the fourth year The Sporting News has selected the most impressive Good Guys in pro sports -- those athletes in the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and NASCAR who have the biggest hears, who give back the most to the community, who are the most willing to serve the needy and unfortunate.

Candidates are nominated by their individual teams and leagues. Management and former players are not considered; TSN selects the winners.










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