Red Sox News: Alex Cora wants to “K Cancer,” with Jimmy Fund pledge

Red Sox skipper Alex Cora wants to strikeout cancer

The 19th annual WEEI/NESN radio telethon for the Jimmy Fund has come and gone and the joint effort was able to raise an amazing $3.8M toward cancer research and treatment. Every year the biggest names in Boston come out to give what they can in order to help those that need it the most and this year was no different. The Red Sox were all over the telethon and Alex Cora made sure to lend a hand where he could.

Boston’s skipper joined WEEI’s “OMF,” for his weekly visit where he made the announcement that he would be donating $8,145.36, $113.13 for each of the 72 wins the Red Sox have earned this season. AC also added that he would tack on an additional $113.13 for each win the team gains for the rest of the season. An absolutely wonderful act from a wonderful guy and it’s hard to say anything else.

As he made his announcement he originally said that he was going to donate $1,313 per each win. Once he did the math in his head and realized he misspoke he was quick to joke and correct himself to the $113.13 number. Cora was quick to point out that he doesn’t make “Chris Sale money, or JD,” which got a laugh from everyone.

Had he done the original number his donation would’ve been at least $94,536. While his actual donation is still amazing, I’m sure the folks at the Jimmy Fund would’ve loved that other check just as much.

Some may be wondering why he chose that dollar amount and it all comes back to his time with the Red Sox. As a player he wore the number “13,” and thus, we have the answer to the question. This is right on par for the kind of guy that Cora is and it’s another reason why this fanbase has loved him since coming to Boston all the way back in 2005. Things may not be going as well as we would’ve hoped at this point in the season but I still have faith in our manager.

While on “OMF,” Cora spoke to the fact that he’s keeping his calm during this hard stretch of the season and is hoping that his team sees his lead and follows. He mentioned that he’s seen in the past as a player when a manager can start to panic and how quickly it moves through the clubhouse. AC gave plenty of props to his starters, who have been much better as of late, and believes that his lineup and bullpen will find themselves again.

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As for the Jimmy Fund, the Red Sox and the organization have close ties and the club does everything they can to help the charity and those that need it. The current Jimmy Fund captain is Nathan Eovaldi with past captains being Mitch Moreland, Brock Holt, and Tim Wakefield among others. Every year it’s awesome to see what WEEI and NESN do with not just the Sox but the other teams in Boston. This is such a great cause and to have everyone go all-in each and every year is a beautiful thing.

I don’t bring too much of my personal life here beyond baseball but my mother passed away from cancer nearly four years ago and my family has donated to the Jimmy Fund and the Dana Farber Cancer Institue since. It’s a cause and organization that is very near and dear to my heart, and while I can’t give “Alex Cora money,” I give what I can in hopes that someday this awful disease will be defeated.

I just want to thank Alex Cora, the Red Sox, the Jimmy Fund, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, and everyone else that plays a part in this event each year. As someone who has lost a loved one to cancer, I want nothing more than for this ugly disease to be gone forever. Every penny helps, every moment of your time helps, each day we get one step closer to cancer no longer being a thing and that’s a day I hope I see in my lifetime.