1997: “Buy Me Some Peanuts and Cracker Jack”

Recognizing that there’s no better way to communicate with American men than through the national pastime, PCF leadership meets with Major League Baseball team owners Jerry Reinsdorf, Fred Wilpon and Peter Magowan to brainstorm on ways the organizations can partner.

The Home Run Challenge is born.

Every June since 1997, in the weeks before Father’s Day, Mike and a group of PCF ambassadors (which, over the years has included Hall of Famers Tony La Russa, Tommy Lasorda, Reggie Jackson and Joe Torre, along with researchers, supporters and other friends of the organization) tour the country spreading the message about early screening and showing people how their contributions can help save lives. The fans bring the men in their lives – husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, coworkers and friends. And they pledge specific dollar amounts for every home run hit during designated games.

PCF’s great alliance with teams, broadcasters, managers, players – even the grounds crews – helps make the Home Run Challenge the leading prostate cancer awareness program in North America. (After each broadcast, doctors tell us more men come in to get tested.) PCF has visited every MLB park – their 400th game was in 2016 – and brought the message to millions of fans.