Cyclones Going 24 Hours For Charity

By Richard Diaz
Love of Sports Correspondent

Rare is the occasion to discuss a minor league baseball team, and even rarer is the occasion to discuss one that’s a member of the short season Single-A New York Penn League.

Seriously, in the grand scheme of things, I’d be more likely to write something about the fictional Springfield Isotopes than just about any minor league baseball team, regardless of what level they play at.

For all intents and purposes, a minor league team generally remains unknown until a potential phenom joins their ranks. Yes, these teams do have their own following, but for the most part, you’re not likely to catch a highlight unless it involves an MLB superstar on a rehab assignment.

Coming back to the matter at hand, there’s always room to spread some love to the minors, especially when it involves regular people doing what they can to give back to the community.

In this case, it’s the front office staff of the Brooklyn Cyclones, who’ll be playing baseball for 24 straight hours, all in the name of charity. If you’re wondering, that’s no typo. For the second straight year, these charitable individuals will be taking the field for a marathon day of baseball.

If nothing else, it’s a fun, grueling and interesting take on the typical fund raiser. They’ll be taking the field with hopes of raising funds that’ll benefit Autism Speaks, HeartShare Human Services of New York and the New York Penn League Charitable Foundation.

In its first installment, the marathon event successfully raised money for food shelters throughout Brooklyn. They’re hoping the sequel to ‘24’ will generate even more publicity than its predecessor, which could generate more donations for the various groups and stimulate awareness for their causes.

The Cyclones will be charging $1,000 entry fee for any team that dare take on the challenge of playing against a group of people that are prepared to play for 24 straight hours. They’re also encouraging those teams to raise additional funds through pledge drives or whatever else works to garner donations, of which 100% will be donated to the aforementioned groups.

So, here’s to giving up some well deserved love to the 13 brave men and women who’ll take the field for 24 straight hours between June 6 and 7. At this age, it’s hard to imagine staying awake for that length of time, much less being actively involved in multiple baseball games for an entire day.

If you’re interested in making a donation or fielding a team for 24 Hours of Baseball, feel free to visit http://www.brooklyncyclones.com or call (718)-37-BKLYN.