Mike Schmidt spent his "first career" hitting 548 balls of of major league ballparks, making him among baseball's all-time home run leaders and eventually a Hall of Famer. Now he bustles around the country pursuing a number of other interests. One of those is wine, thanks to an opportunity provided by Charitywines.com.
They put together a select collection called the 500 Home Run Club that include Schmidt, Ernie Banks and Eddie Murray, with 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale going to charity. Schmidt chose the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as the destination for his philanthropy. It supplements the support he already has been giving the foundation through, mong other things, the Florida Chapter Palm Beach Office’s celebrated annual fishing tournament.
According to a release announcing the new wine (Mike Schmidt 548 Zin), Schmidt’s partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation began in 1999, when Brett Weinstein, the son of a close friend, passed away after a courageous 20-year battle with CF. Schmidt, then-retired and living in South Florida, established the fishing tournament in memory of Brett and in support of the search for a cure. The tournament celebrated its eighth year in May and has raised nearly $2 million for cystic fibrosis.
“I just really believe in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and in this cause,” says Schmidt. “Thousands of families with young children fight this disease every single day. And I believe it is our challenge and our duty to contribute as much as possible to the ongoing fight to find a cure for cystic fibrosis.”
The wine is selling for $18.99. The tasting notes on the 2006 Paso Robles (Calif.) Zin include the following: "Aromas of earth, cedar and black cherries backed up by soft, smoky notes of leather lead to rich smoke on the palate ith bright fruit flavors of black cherries and plums, and hints of raspberries. The wine finishes with lingering annin, earthiness and spice."
Through Brett Rudy of Charity Hop.com, we sent a couple of questions Schmitty's way and got these responses back within 24 hours. Here's to many sales and more proceeds flowing into the Cystic Fibrosis Foundaiton to aid its work.
Q. Such a great idea, this unique way to raise money for CysticFibrosis. Is that why you threw so much energy into this arrangement? Brett had mentioned to me that you were in contact with him more often about the wine than any of the other sluggers.
A. I heard of this charity wine idea through Liz Banks, Ernie's wife,who does some marketing on behalf of the 500 HR club. Several Red Soxwere in the program the previous year, and it was reported that each raised 6 figures for their charities. This is serious money tied towhat seemed to be a cool opportunity. I set a few parameters for my involvement, one being my need to sample several wines until I was satisfied. Also, CF, my adopted fundraising cause was perfect as the benefactor, so we went forward.
Q. Were you much of a Zin drinker before this came along? I'm trying to recall if I read anywhere how you landed on Zin as "your wine."
A. No, I never knew there was a "red" Zin, I only knew of "white" andwas not a fan. We held a tasting dinner in Cooperstown with 10 people and we all picked this bottle out of 6 different reds and later found out it was a Red Zin. I'm very fond of it because its easy to drink, any time, with dinner, or socially.
Q. As someone who covered you for years and listened to you break down the art of hitting longer than any other baseball player I've met -- sort of curious if this is a bottle that I might have seen atop Steve Carlton's locker? Is he getting a bottle to sample? If I recall he was the acknowledged connoisseur of the locker room.
A. Yes Steve Carlton was our resident wine guru, taught me how to drink and appreciate. I don't see him very much but will quiz him on the Zin for sure.
They put together a select collection called the 500 Home Run Club that include Schmidt, Ernie Banks and Eddie Murray, with 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale going to charity. Schmidt chose the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as the destination for his philanthropy. It supplements the support he already has been giving the foundation through, mong other things, the Florida Chapter Palm Beach Office’s celebrated annual fishing tournament.
According to a release announcing the new wine (Mike Schmidt 548 Zin), Schmidt’s partnership with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation began in 1999, when Brett Weinstein, the son of a close friend, passed away after a courageous 20-year battle with CF. Schmidt, then-retired and living in South Florida, established the fishing tournament in memory of Brett and in support of the search for a cure. The tournament celebrated its eighth year in May and has raised nearly $2 million for cystic fibrosis.
“I just really believe in the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and in this cause,” says Schmidt. “Thousands of families with young children fight this disease every single day. And I believe it is our challenge and our duty to contribute as much as possible to the ongoing fight to find a cure for cystic fibrosis.”
The wine is selling for $18.99. The tasting notes on the 2006 Paso Robles (Calif.) Zin include the following: "Aromas of earth, cedar and black cherries backed up by soft, smoky notes of leather lead to rich smoke on the palate ith bright fruit flavors of black cherries and plums, and hints of raspberries. The wine finishes with lingering annin, earthiness and spice."
Through Brett Rudy of Charity Hop.com, we sent a couple of questions Schmitty's way and got these responses back within 24 hours. Here's to many sales and more proceeds flowing into the Cystic Fibrosis Foundaiton to aid its work.
Q. Such a great idea, this unique way to raise money for CysticFibrosis. Is that why you threw so much energy into this arrangement? Brett had mentioned to me that you were in contact with him more often about the wine than any of the other sluggers.
A. I heard of this charity wine idea through Liz Banks, Ernie's wife,who does some marketing on behalf of the 500 HR club. Several Red Soxwere in the program the previous year, and it was reported that each raised 6 figures for their charities. This is serious money tied towhat seemed to be a cool opportunity. I set a few parameters for my involvement, one being my need to sample several wines until I was satisfied. Also, CF, my adopted fundraising cause was perfect as the benefactor, so we went forward.
Q. Were you much of a Zin drinker before this came along? I'm trying to recall if I read anywhere how you landed on Zin as "your wine."
A. No, I never knew there was a "red" Zin, I only knew of "white" andwas not a fan. We held a tasting dinner in Cooperstown with 10 people and we all picked this bottle out of 6 different reds and later found out it was a Red Zin. I'm very fond of it because its easy to drink, any time, with dinner, or socially.
Q. As someone who covered you for years and listened to you break down the art of hitting longer than any other baseball player I've met -- sort of curious if this is a bottle that I might have seen atop Steve Carlton's locker? Is he getting a bottle to sample? If I recall he was the acknowledged connoisseur of the locker room.
A. Yes Steve Carlton was our resident wine guru, taught me how to drink and appreciate. I don't see him very much but will quiz him on the Zin for sure.
No comments:
Post a Comment