Joe Maddon and Kyle Schwarber visit the barber at charity event
Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon and several of his players, including birthday boy Kyle Schwarber, took a trip to the barber’s chair on Saturday for the team’s annual Respect Bald fundraiser for pediatric cancer research.
It’s an event Maddon takes very seriously. While serving as manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, he started a personal tradition of shaving his head every spring to raise money for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. Many of his star players, including Evan Longaria, jumped on board too, turning it into a big event at Rays camp.
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Now that Maddon is with the Cubs, he’s helped launch a similar tradition at their training camp, and based on the first two years it’s looking like a hit.
Of course, Maddon always goes the extra mile by growing out his locks during the offseason. That guarantees a real head shaving rather than the touch up he’d probably prefer. But that’s all a part of making it a must-see show and event every year.
That’s the Maddon we’re used to seeing during the season.
While Maddon is usually first in the chair, he’s never the last. There’s always a line that forms right behind him, and this year that line included budding superstar Kyle Schwarber.
He went all the way with it too, having his head shaved completely bald.
That was an interesting way to begin his 23rd birthday.
Don’t worry though, Cubs fans. Schwarber’s power isn’t attached to his hair. In fact, he didn’t have much last season when he was launching those memorable blasts during the regular season and postseason, so he’ll be fine.
As you can see, Maddon and Schwarber were just two of the more notable names to participate in Saturday’s event. Bench coach Dave Martinez, first baseman Anthony Rizzo and the newly signed Ben Zobrist, who also participated with the Rays, were among the others.
It’s a great event and a great tradition that helps out a very worthy cause. That’s the most important thing. In a baseball sense though, it serves as another way for the players to come together, have a little fun and serve a greater purpose than simply hitting or throwing a baseball. Maddon is always great about bringing that balance and perspective to his teams, and this event accomplishes that times ten.
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Mark Townsend is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Townie813
