The LA fires have been brutal, homes reduced to ashes, and memories turned to dust. Last month, families were forced to evacuate as their lives turned upside down all of a sudden. Among them were two young baseball fans, Anthony and Joe. The fire didn’t just take their home; it took treasured memories of their childhood and passion; but then, two MLB icons stepped in. Mike Trout and Freddie Freeman did something that goes beyond the diamond, finding a way to turn their heartbreak into hope.
January 2025 saw the Palisades and Eaton wildfires spread across the West Hills, Calabasas, Studio City, and the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. More than 12,000 buildings were destroyed, 27 lives were lost, and thousands were displaced, spreading grief as fast as the fire. Young baseball fans Anthony and Joe lost their room, which was filled with signed jerseys and autographed baseballs; their baseball memorabilia collection, built over years, was all gone in one instant. While families and communities came together to overcome the disaster, initiatives like FireAid raised significant funds to support those badly affected.
But how can one console young hearts that lost collectibles of their idols? Well, that’s when something crazy happened—MLB stars Mike Trout and Freddie Freeman partnered with Fanatics and surprised the boys with some goodies. Anthony and Joe received a signed bat and an Angels jersey from Mike Trout, who also sent them an adorable message: “I heard about your story. What’s happening out there is heartbreaking. I just want to send you something from my collection as I’m a collector myself. Thanks for being a big fan.”
To keep their passion alive, Freddie Freeman, too, contributed a jersey from his 2024 World Series MVP season and gave them a super-special invitation. “I’m really sorry to hear about your memorabilia collection. But my jersey can be the start of a new collection for you, and we are really excited to invite you to Opening Day this year,” Freeman shared. Furthermore, Fanatics played a major role in putting together this surprise, making sure the boys received these items. They also captured a super adorable video of the champs’ reactions: their tears of joy and gratitude for Mike Trout and Freeman.
Freeman has also actively supported the communities affected by the devastating LA fires; the 35-year-old and his wife, Chelsea, donated a total of $300,000, splitting it between the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, Pasadena Fire Department, and the Salvation Army. Chelsea went beyond and even offered her resources to the Pasadena Humane, making sure that even animals found shelter and care.
Moreover, the whole MLB community joined hands to help those affected; Shohei Ohtani pledged $500,000 to wildfire relief for the firefighters, evacuees, and even displaced animals. Adding on, through the Mark Walter Family Foundation and the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, the Dodgers donated up to $100 million to fund ‘LA Rises’, a recovery initiative for the long term. Overall, twelve professional LA sports teams, including the Dodgers, the Angels, and the Lakers, contributed over $8 million in total to relief efforts—sports do have a way of bringing people together, even in crisis.
Mike Trout and Freddie Freeman’s impact off the field
This isn’t the first time Mike Trout and Freddie Freeman are giving back to the community. It’s pretty much who they are. Back when Freeman was with the Atlanta Braves, he donated $125,000 to local charities during the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. This amount was divided between the ‘Atlanta Community Food Bank’ and ‘The Giving Kitchen’; each received $50,000, with $25,000 for the ‘Salvation Army’.
As for Mike Trout, he has made an impact off-field by becoming a Mental Wellness Ambassador for Major League Baseball’s MLB Together platform. This role shows Trout’s commitment to mental health preservation in sports; his participation in this cause is personal. Trout lost his brother-in-law, Aaron Cox, to suicide in 2018. He and his wife, Jessica, also partnered with Tiny Turnip to launch the Your Game Isn’t Over Yet campaign, an initiative that joined hands with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to initiate more open conversations about mental health and give resources to those in need.
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