Dice-K Comes In For Relief of Japan

As we all know Japan has suffered a horrible disaster on March 11, 2011 and the game of baseball has took a hit as well. Not only has it delayed the start to the Japanese baseball seasons but it affected the Japanese players in the United States. Several players felt it was their place to help out their native land including Red Sox RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka who donated $1 Million to the Red Sox Foundation.100% of the money that was donated will be given to the Japanese Red Cross Society’s relief efforts.

Daisuke and the rest of the Japanese pitchers on the Red Sox have been standing outside of spring training games to raise funds for the relief effort. “To date, the Red Sox Foundation has rasised more than $1.3 million from fans, team partners and sponsors, and Red Sox players and staff, including Matsuzaka’s gift and a $50,000 donation from the Red Sox Foundation. The donations will go to support the Japanese Red Cross Society’s relief efforts.” That statement came from the Red Sox press release.

I am a little surprised it took so long for Daisuke to pitch into help the relief efforts as he is set to make $10 million dollars this year alone. Better late than never is the way to think about this though it is a great donation and will help the people of Japan.

Red Sox players are not the only major leaguers helping out the efforts in Japan. Ichiro Suzuki has donated $1.2 million dollars back on March 18^th. Ichiro plays for the Seattle Mariners which have an extremely large Japanese fan base since Ichiro joined the team in 2001 and feel it is there place to help out and are matching the donation of their fans. Another player that has pitched in to help out is former Yankee and current Oakland A Hideki Matsui game $600,000.

The people in America may not know anyone personally involved with the tragedy in Japan but I believe Tom Werner says best how our connection is with the people of Japan. "Red Sox fans share a common language with the people of Japan through our shared love of baseball,”

If you would like to do your part to help out you can do it in one of two ways you can donate straight to the Red Cross or you can donate through the Red Sox Foundation.