Shirley Gratton knows what baseball means to kids.
Especially to kids from warm-weather climates in rural areas where poverty is commonplace.
Her daughter Shirley-Jean and son-in-law Richard told Gratton about a motorhome trip to Mexico three years ago where they gave boxes of ball gloves, skipping ropes and balls to a group of kids who had none and how warmly they were received.
So when Gratton uncovered several boxes of baseball uniforms in the shed of Prince George home, not being used, she thought there has to be group of kids in Cuda, Mexico or Costa Rica who would love to wear them. They've been used before, about 15 or 20 years ago when Gratton was the local president of Babe Ruth Baseball, but they're still in good condition. They just need a good washing, the odd knee patch and someone to get them to their new home, wherever that may be.
"They were for Babe Ruth, for 13-year-olds to about 16, I've got about 100 tops and bottoms," said Gratton. "The kids here don't use that kind anymore. They've fancier ones with more breathable, up-to-date stuff, but this is good-quality stuff. I just didn't want to throw them away."
The uniforms were worn by Bike Ruth teams a couple decades ago and have the embroidered nicknames of the Pirates and Yankees, as well as the sponsor names and the Babe Ruth crest.
"Shirley-Jean and Richard [Seddowick] went out into the country and met all these kids in the small towns and the kids thought they were gods," said Gratton. "I know other people have done the same thing in Prince George and they've gone down to the smaller towns in other countries and have given things to the country kids who don't have much."
Anyone who can help Gratton connect the kids with the uniforms can call her at 250-962-7055.
