A week-long auction started on Monday, May 12 for the pink baseball caps worn by the Clinton LumberKings in their 12-4 Mother’s Day win against Peoria.

Eighteen caps are up for bids on eBay (search for “LumberKings,” “pink,” and “autographed”).  All proceeds benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation.

Already receiving bids is the cap worn by Rangers’ first-round pick (and game-winning pitcher) Blake Beavan.

The South Atlantic League Augusta Greenjackets turn back the clock this evening with their “70’s Night and Ross Grimsley Bobblehead Night.”  One dollar Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, a pre-game show by Electric Voodoo, and on-field Twister are only a few of the specials.

The first 1000 fans through the turnstyles tonight will receive a Ross Grimsley bobblehead doll.  An All-Star pitcher (and only 20-game winner in franchise history) for the Montreal Expos in 1978, Grimsley is currently the pitching coach for the Greenjackets.

The Class A San Francisco Giants affiliate Greenjackets open an eight-game homestand this weekend starting with the Rome Braves.

In what is thought to be the first minor league contest ever held at Wrigley Field, the Class A Midwest League Peoria Chiefs will host the Kane County Cougars on Tuesday, July 29th.

Peoria, a Chicago Cubs affiliate, is managed by former Cub and 2005 Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Ryne Sandberg.  This will be the first time in the Chiefs history that the team has played in a major league baseball stadium.  Wrigley Field opened in 1914.

Tickets are available online starting today at www.cubs.com.

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund has announced the kickoff of the fourth year of their Equipment Day Drive initiative.

This season, all 30 Major League Baseball clubs will be participating.  The first two ballparks accepting “new and gently used” baseball gear at their gates were Kauffman Stadium (Kansas City Royals) and Nationals Park (Washington Nationals) this past Friday, April 25. 

The other 28 clubs will organize their collections later in the season.  Equipment and money gathered will be donated to a local youth baseball or softball organization chosen by the collecting ball club.

The Baseball Tomorrow Fund began in 1999.  Since then, it has awarded grants totaling more than $13 million to more than 300 youth baseball and softball programs around the world.

Some of the collection dates are listed below.  Check the Baseball Tomorrow Fund website for updates.

• 4/25 - Kansas City Royals
• 4/25-4/27 - Washington Nationals
• 4/27 - San Diego Padres
• 5/3-5/4 - Toronto Blue Jays
• 5/10 - San Francisco Giants
• 5/16-5/18 - Arizona Diamondbacks
• 5/30-6/1 - Milwaukee Brewers
• 6/7 - Pittsburgh Pirates
• 6/12 - Cleveland Indians
• 6/20-22 - Boston Red Sox
• 7/5 - Cincinnati Reds
• 7/6 - Seattle Mariners
• 7/19-7/20 - Colorado Rockies
• 7/19 - Florida Marlins
• 7/26 - Baltimore Orioles
• 8/30 - LA Angels of Anaheim
• 9/6-9/7 - LA Dodgers

After dropping eight of nine games earlier this month, the Class A Visalia Oaks needed a victory.  The front office crafted a novel proposal:  We guarantee a win on April 22, or you get in for free the next night.

The stunt worked as the Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate beat the Inland Empire 66ers on Tuesday night by a score of 10-7.  Ricardo Sosa went 5-for-5 with 2 HR and 7 RBI.