Pirates and Rays team up to renovate baseball fields

06 October 2009 | By Adam Fraser

Contract summary

Length of contract: n/a
Annualised value: n/a
Overall value: US$180,000

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays have joined forced to renovate two youth baseball fields in Florida, which will be branded as Rays Field and Pirates Field.

The $180,000 renovation of Norma Lloyd Park in Bradenton is being jointly funded by the Rays Baseball Foundation and Pirates Charities, with Pirates closer Matt Caps and Rays pitcher James Shields the driving forces.  Capps, a Bradenton resident, contributed US$50,000 of the Pirates' share, while Shields' contributions to the Rays Baseball Foundation is expected to top US$600,000 during his current contract.

"The Rays Field Renovation Program continues to grow with the help of contributions from our players like James Shields and in this unique case, a truly meaningful partnership with the Pirates and Matt Capps," said Rays President Matt Silverman to SBN. "It is one of many ways the Rays organisation and the Rays Baseball Foundation can make a difference in the lives of children throughout Tampa Bay."

Got an opinion on this story? Send your thoughts to comment@sportspromedia.com.