Amazin’ Mets Foundation Legacy Award

The Amazin’ Mets Foundation Legacy Award is given to celebrate the people and organizations in the baseball community that are making a difference and driving impactful change. The Amazin’ Mets Foundation is committed to providing needed services and opportunities to children, families, and underserved groups in our neighborhoods and communities.

2024

The Louisville Slugger Warriors Amputee Baseball Team were named the second winner of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation Legacy Award on September 21, 2024.

The Louisville Slugger Warriors are a nationally sponsored and extremely competitive amputee baseball team that consists of U.S. Military Veterans, Active Duty personnel, Wounded Warriors, and current and former amputee college baseball players.  The Warriors are coached by former Major League Baseball players who donate their time and expertise. The team is currently coached by Curtis Pride, a deaf former MLB player and advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing in sports. Mr. Pride was originally drafted by the Mets in 1986 and previously coached the Gallaudet University baseball team.

Joining Alex Cohen at Citi Field for the award ceremony was General Manager David Van Sleet, who served in the Army and worked for the Department of Veterans, specializing in prosthetics, catcher Carlo James Adame, retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class who served three tours of duty in Iraq and is a right leg amputee, and pitcher Parker Hanson, a motivational speaker who was born without a left hand.

The team plays in national baseball tournaments around the country and in special baseball game events, all against-able bodied teams. They currently play in West Palm Beach, Fla., at the Ball Park of the Palm Beaches and are also filming a documentary, Curveballs, as a way to inspire others.

As part of the ceremony, the Foundation proudly presented a $5,000 donation to the Warriors.

2023

As a pioneer in women’s baseball and a lifelong advocate for girls in sports, Blair personifies the essence of the Amazin’ Mets Foundation Legacy Award. A former pitcher, Blair played in 1948 for the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League that was made famous by the movie “A League of Their Own” and later played in the National Women’s Softball League.

Blair travels the United States speaking on behalf of women’s baseball. As a Founding Director Emeritus of the International Women’s Baseball Center, Blair has continued to break barriers off the field. She has dedicated her life to promoting women in baseball and honoring the history of the Leagues she once played for.

Blair came out at 95 years old on-stage during the Tribeca Film Festival last year. In honor of Blair, the Amazin’ Mets Foundation will give a grant to Athlete Ally, a nonprofit organization that educates athletic communities on how to understand obstacles for LGBTQ+ people in sports and build inclusive environments.

In honor of Maybelle, the Foundation was proud to donate $5,000 to Athlete Ally, a nonprofit LGBTQ athletic advocacy group based in New York.