Brooks' foundation a hit with big leaguers -- and kids
Friday, January 15, 1999. ESPN

Country-western's biggest star ever, Garth Brooks -- the man who has sold more albums than Elvis -- has created a foundation involving Major League Baseball and children. Named "Touch 'em all: Teammates for kids," the foundation is based solely on players' performance.

Players sign up for one of five categories: home runs, hits, stolen bases, strikeouts or saves. For each stat recorded they make an out-of-pocket donation to the foundation. In addition, each player has two teammates, a corporation in the player's city, and an entertainer that Brooks has contacted, who will match the player's donation.

For example, Ken Griffey Jr., who has already signed up for the home run category, donates $1,000 for each home run he hits. Combine that with the contributions of his two teammates and the Touch 'em All foundation receives $3,000 for every home run he hits.

But there is one major difference with this foundation.

"A lot of us have played for a long time and tried to do our share in our communities and I think we've done a pretty good job at that," said Tony Gwynn. "But I can't remember being involved in something where 100 percent of the proceeds went to the kids."

For the first year, Brooks will pay the organizational costs to make sure all the donations will go to children.

"I want to change people's lives," Brooks said. "I want it to give opportunities to kids that might not have it. Those kids go on to do something with their lives that changes the world for a better place."

But it is the way that Brooks already has changed lives that gives the foundation unlimited potential.

"No. 1, you have the name Garth Brooks, one of the best entertainers of all time," said Jason Kendall. "And you get some people, some baseball players. You got Tony Gwynn, Wally Joyner ... That's a pretty powerful force when you combine them."

But Brooks is almost as wide-eyed as the players.

"It's nice to see these guys and they are idols and icons and when you talk to them you see they're big-hearted guys that really give a damn about kids and really care about the game of baseball," Brooks said. "That makes it a 100 percent joy ride