Andre Ethier, A Credit to the Organization Inside and Outside the Lines

Andre Ethier serving food at the Union Rescue Mission, November, 2008.

I must tell you, from what I have seen, Andre Ethier is really a fantastic person.  Now I make that statement based on my short periods of personal interaction with him after having seen him in public at Spring Training, interacting with the fans, and as little as 5 days ago at the Frank and Son event where he was signing and really conversing with the children.  I really would hate to see him depart and wear another uniform in the coming years, not only because of his output as a ballplayer and the value that he brings to the team, but because of his philanthropy and good will that he shows outside the lines.

There's no doubt that Ethier is a hardcore baseball guy.  An intense competitor that has had to work on his temperament as a ball player.  A guy that has had to take his intensity back a few notches in order to improve as a ball player.  We have seen that over the years and witnessed him gel into a key contributor, clutch hitter, and all-star caliber player.  Yeah, we see him lose it now and then and he's paid the price, (e.g. the fine he was levied for flipping the international peace sign to a few photographers a month or so ago).  But then, the fact the Andre can laugh about it later and actually sign a fan's photo of him flipping the bird in that ambidextrous fashion, shows me that he doesn't take life too seriously.

So today, we receive this announcement from the Dodgers:

ANDRE ETHIER WILL VOLUNTEER AT UNION RESCUE MISSION TOMORROW 

WHAT:        Dodger outfielder Andre Ethier will visit the Union Rescue Mission in downtown        Los Angeles tomorrow and serve food to the homeless.  Dodger Partner Farmer John will donate 500 Farmer John DODGER DOGS® hot dogs and Ethier will help grill and serve them to the homeless before serving lunch in the mission's cafeteria.  The Dodgers will also donate 1,000 Dodger fleece blankets to Union Rescue Mission patrons.

WHERE:           Union Rescue Mission

                 Downtown Los Angeles

                 545 S. San Pedro St.

WHEN:            Tomorrow, Friday, June 24, 2011, 11:30 a.m.- 1:00 p.m.

MISC.         This is the 4th consecutive year that Ethier has volunteered at the Union Rescue Mission and he has also served food to the homeless at the Weingart Center on skid row in Los Angeles. In 2008, Ethier took part in “The Chef Jeff Project,” a show on the Food Network that offers at-risk teens a chance to turn their lives around through culinary art.

*****************************************************

Good for you Andre, and thank you for your contributions to this great cause.