Queens, NY. Extra Innings with HBQVB, the one of a kind 24 hour baseball event to be played on May 22 and 23rd, 2010, is thrilled to announce that former New York Met World Series winner Wally Backman, the current Manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones, has agreed to join the effort to fundraise for great charities, and will serve as the top incentive prize for the HBQVB’s players and join the players for a pizza lunch.

Extra Innings with HBQVB is a continuous, 24-hour baseball game that will begin at noon on Saturday, May 22nd, and continue straight through the night until noon on Sunday, May 23rd.  The Knights of Columbus (Holy Family Council 14520) created the event to raise money for charity, including Fisher House, St. Mary’s Hospital for Children, and to help support the HBQVB (Hollis-Bellaire-Queens Village-Bellerose) Athletic Association.  Hundreds of HBQVB baseball and softball players will register and participate in this game of a lifetime.  The 24-hour roster will feature t-ballers right through to those playing in the Babe Ruth league, ranging in age from five to 18.

This 24-hour game, the longest youth baseball game ever played in New York City, will be played at MCU Park (formerly KeySpan Park), home of the New York Mets’ Class A farm team, the Brooklyn Cyclones.

ABOUT Wally Backman:

Prior to managing, Wally Backman played 14 seasons in the major leagues.  He played second base for the New York Mets from 1980 – 1988, and was a key member of their 1986 World Championship team.  As a native son of Oregon, Backman was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.

Wally Backman is thrilled to be involved in New York City’s longest ever baseball game, “Count me in!” Backman said, “I’ve been involved in some great games, even World Series games, and our park in Brooklyn has seen some great baseball, but nothing like this!  This is going to be a lot of fun, and history making at the same time.”  Backman will be the celebrity guest at the Baseball Showcase, the fundraiser’s grand prize, an invitation-only event for those who raise at least $250.  At the showcase, Backman will have lunch with the winners; discuss with the kids the importance of giving back to the community, answer questions from the kids and end with a group photo.

Event organizer and K of C member John Saffian said, “We are so excited to add Wally Backman’s name to this amazing event.  He’s a big part of New York baseball lore, and the kids are psyched to have a shot at meeting him when the event is over.  Giving the kids an opportunity to raise money for charity, AND giving them a chance to meet a baseball legend: that’s what this event is all about.  This is a once in a lifetime experience.”

About HBQVB Athletic Association:

Hollis-Bellaire-Queens Village-Bellerose Athletic Association, Inc. (HBQVB) is a state certified not-for-profit baseball and softball organization.  It is a chartered member of the nationally known Babe Ruth baseball association.  HBQVB is located in central-eastern Queens, two blocks west of the Cross Island Parkway on Hillside Avenue, easily accessible from major NYC and Long Island highways.  In addition to the nine playing fields (known as PADAVAN-PRELLER FIELDS), there are batting cages, restrooms, an equipment room, a concession stand and a full parking lot.

The league was founded in 1954.  The first president of the organization was Bill Gallo, the well-known Daily News cartoonist, who formerly lived in Hollis.  He, along with a few neighbors, started the league in his back yard.  In 1963, the membership parents, with the assistance of local politicians Fred Preller and Matt Troy, obtained the rights to the present general property on Hillside Avenue opposite the Creedmoor Hospital facility.  The first diamond, Fred Preller Stadium, opened in 1966.  Building continued through the 1960’s, again with the aid of local politicians, most notably State Senator Frank Padavan.  The last field was constructed in 1995. HBQVB now has nine tailored ball fields and dugouts which cover 14 acres and which were all constructed by volunteers.  During subsequent years, the league was able to purchase the land from New York State for the exclusive use of youth programs.

HBQVB programs begin with five-year-olds playing T-Ball, and a pitching machine Pee-Wee division for six and seven-year-olds.  The programs continue with the better recognized little league divisions of Midget, Minor, Major, Pony and Senior- representing boys and girls from the ages of eight to 16.  The older boys and girls play on full-scale baseball/softball diamonds. All divisions are open to children of all skills and experience levels.  Programs for 17 and 18- year-olds are offered on a limited basis, in addition to competitive travel and tournament teams in many age brackets.

The mission of HBQVB has always been to implant in the youth of the community the ideals and virtues of honesty, fair play, integrity and respect for the game, as well as good sportsmanship.  The HBQVB motto “We teach more than just the sport” drives the present organization into providing the highest quality programs and services to the community.

About Fisher House Foundation:

The Fisher House™ program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America’s military in their time of need. The program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs (VA).

Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House™ Foundation donates “comfort homes,” built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times- during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury.

There is at least one Fisher House™ at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House™ program serves more than 10,000 families, and have made available nearly three million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990.