Adam Greenberg Getting At-Bat Tonight For Marlins After Online Campaign

Adam Greenberg, the former Chicago Cubs outfielder whose Major League Baseball career ended on the very first pitch he faced in 2005, will take to the field again as a member of the Miami Marlins during a game tonight against the New York Mets.

Greenberg was the subject of an online campaign and Change.org petition started by baseball fan and sports activist Matt Liston, who created an initiative called “One At Bat” aimed at giving Greenberg a second chance in the Big Leagues. More than 26,000 people signed Liston’s petition on Change.org.

This will be Greenberg’s first appearance on a Major League field since 2005, when as a batter for the Chicago Cubs, Greenberg was hit in the head with a 92 MPH fastball on the first pitch he faced and removed from the game after suffering a severe concussion. The injury kept Greenberg from returning to the Big Leagues, despite several years of work to rebuild his career in the minors.

Because Greenberg was hit by a pitch during his first appearance, he never registered an “at bat” in the Major Leagues. That will all change tonight when Greenberg takes the field as a member of the Miami Marlins for one day.

When: Today, Tuesday, October 2, 7:10pm ET
What: New York Mets vs. Miami Marlins
Where: Marlins Park, 1390 Northwest 6th Street, Miami, FL 33125
Game Available Online At: http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/#date=10/2/2012
Who: Adam Greenberg, the subject of the “One At Bat” campaign and Change.org petition, will get an “at bat” in the Major Leagues.
Liston celebrated the Marlins decision to give Greenberg an “at bat” in the Majors, and thanked the more than 26,000 people who signed his petition on Change.org.

“Together we caught the attention of the Marlins and helped make Adam’s dream a reality. It shows that when people come together, anything is possible,” Liston said.

Greenberg has spent the past several years attempting to make a comeback. After several years in the minor leagues with various teams, Greenberg earlier this month tried out for Team Israel for the upcoming World Baseball Classic (WBC). In September, Greenberg was selected to join Team Israel during the WBC in March 2013.

The campaign to get Greenberg “One At Bat” drew support from a number of current and former ballplayers. Former Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood and hall-of-famer George Brett rallied behind Greenberg, as well as Olympic gold medalist Janet Evans and baseball commentator Peter Gammons. Several current players also called for Greenberg to get an at-bat, including Miami Marlins outfielder Logan Morrison, Oakland Athletics outfielder Jonny Gomes, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Sean Marshall, Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Henry Blanco, San Francisco Giants infielder Ryan Theriot, and Los Angeles Angels pitcher Jerome Williams.

“This campaign was tremendously popular, drawing support from well-known athletes and 26,000 baseball fans from across the United States,” said Michael Jones, Campaign Director with Change.org. “For Adam’s supporters, not to mention millions of baseball fans around the country, tonight is going to be a special moment. And it all happened because Matt Liston started a petition and started to get people to take action.”

Tonight’s game between the Miami Marlins and New York Mets will stream online at http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/#date=10/2/2012. ESPN Radio will also cut to Marlins flagship sports radio station WAXY-AM during Greenberg’s plate appearance.

Live signature totals from Matt Liston’s campaign:
http://www.change.org/oneatbat

YouTube video documenting Matt Liston’s campaign:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=i29QqnZIzyE

Adam Greenberg on The Today Show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=kNxQCuREtZ8

For more information on OneAtBat.com, please visit:
http://www.oneatbat.com

For more information on Change.org, please visit:
http://www.change.org/about
Change.org is the world’s fastest-growing platform for social change — growing by two million new members a month, and empowering millions of people to start, join, and win campaigns for social change in their community, city and country.