Dodgers, Giants join Father's Day celebration
LOS ANGELES -- While leading the league in home runs this month, the Dodgers are doing their part in MLB's Prostate Cancer Foundation Home Run Challenge.
Father's Day was the final day for fans to make a one-time monetary donation or pledge for every home run hit by their favorite club from June 1-17, and the Dodgers came into Sunday's series finale against the Giants having hit 34 home runs this month.
The Dodgers and Giants also joined MLB in a day-long celebration of Father's Day on Sunday, wearing the symbolic blue ribbon on their uniforms along with blue wristbands. Also, for the third consecutive year, players wore specially designed caps to raise awareness and funds for the fight against prostate cancer. MLB will again donate all royalty payments from the sales of specialty caps and apparel to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Stand Up To Cancer.
Every dollar donated through the Home Run Challenge goes to PCF to fund research to defeat prostate cancer. As of June 15, more than $1.85 million had been pledged via the Home Run Challenge in 2018.
Some players took to social media to thank their father figures. In the case of Dodgers utility man Enrique Hernandez, that meant shoutouts not only to his father (and cancer survivor) Enrique II, but also the teammate he calls Dad.
Others, like Giants right fielder Andrew McCutchen, celebrated their own fatherhood on social media. McCutchen's first child, son Steel, was born Nov. 27.
Eight current Dodgers (Josh Fields, John Forsythe, Yasmani Grandal, Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen, Clayton Kershaw, Tom Koehler and Chase Utley) celebrated Father's Day with their children in a pregame ceremonial first pitch.
And fans were given the chance to participate in a postgame Father's Day catch on the field.
Giants catcher Nick Hundley wore blue shinguards, among other items, to honor his father, Tim, who was a longtime defensive coordinator and positions coach with several major-college football programs.
"It takes you back to all the days when you hung out with your dad and played catch," said Hundley. "I remember playing in Little League and having breakfast at McDonald's before games. Great memories."
Hundley said if his father tried to convey any message or advice, it would be the importance of perseverance: "Continue to press on and try to get better, no matter what the circumstances are."