The Los Angeles Dodgers will conduct their inaugural Strike Out Stroke Awareness Day at today’s game against the New York Mets.
Several stroke education tables will be located throughout Dodger Stadium in an attempt to spread awareness about the signs and symptoms of stroke.
The event is organized by Strike Out Stroke, a nonprofit organization that seeks to significantly reduce the debilitating effects of strokes through awareness events at major and minor league baseball games throughout the nation.
Stroke is a disease that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. It is the No. 4 cause of death in the United States and a leading cause of disability, according to the American Stroke Association.
The Dodgers hope to make Strike Out Stroke Awareness Day an annual event.
Al “The Bull” Ferrara, an outfielder with the Dodgers in 1963 and 1965-68, will be signing autographs from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. as part of the Viva Los Dodgers festival at the 76 station in Dodger Stadium’s parking lot.
Viva Los Dodgers will also include musical entertainment by Wil-Dog Abers of the rock band Ozomatli, La Nota and Ballet Folklorico.
Tim Leary, who won a career-high 17 games with the Dodgers 1988 World Series championship team, will sign autographs in the right field pavilion plaza from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., the same time as Derrel Thomas, an infielder-outfielder on the Dodgers 1981 World Series championship team, will be signing autographs in the left field pavilion plaza.
Leary and Thomas will also both sign autographs in the Stadium Club from 1-1:30 p.m.
Singer, songwriter and television personality Tamar Braxton will sing the national anthem. Julius Randle, the Los Angeles Lakers first-round choice in the NBA draft, will throw the ceremonial first pitch.
U.S. Navy Petty Officer Cristina Collesano and her military working dog Zizi will be honored as the Veteran of the Game.
Collesano enlisted in 2006 to become a military working dog handler. She and Zizi were both deployed to Kuwait where they were responsible for keeping several military installations safe. They both retired from active duty service in 2011 and Zizi was adopted by Collesano.
Collesano became a police officer and re-enlisted in the Navy this year and now works with a patrol/narcotics detection dog based at Naval Base Ventura County.
Collesano’s accolades include two Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medals and an Army Commendation Medal.
All auto gates will open at 10:30 a.m. and all stadium gates at 11 a.m. for the 1:10 p.m. game.
