Billy Hamilton sported customized cleats to support Cincinnati Children's Hospital
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It's no secret the obsession ballplayers have over customized cleats. It's a way to show off their style and create a personal touch to complete a uniform. It turns into something extra special when they're designed to raise awareness.
When the Pirates were hosting the Reds on Friday, Billy Hamilton was sporting some unique cleats that supported the Cincinnati Children's Hospital. The customized spikes contained signatures of patients from the hospital and messages including "Go Reds" and "Get 'em killer!" complete with hearts to complement the gold stripes on the side.
We've seen this touching tribute before when the Akron RubberDucks sported jerseys with the same theme.
It was a great gesture to begin the month of September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Other players, including Tommy Pham and Josh Harrison, are also wearing special cleats with signatures of patients in support of the cause. And some of the Pirates shaved their heads for Childhood Cancer Awareness night on Friday night, hosting 25 kids and their families at the game.