Red Sox outfielder Jonny Gomes paid tribute to victims of the Boston Marathon bombing with a specially engraved bat.
After a suggestion by his agent, Gomes had four custom bats crafted, each with the motto “Boston Strong” imprinted on the barrel. Beneath that, the names of victims Martin Richard, Lu Lingzi, Krystle Campbell, and Sean Collier appeared.
In Sunday’s doubleheader with the Kansas City Royals, Gomes took the first two bats to the plate with him. The outfielder says the remaining two bats will be signed by the Red Sox team and auctioned off to raise money. He told The Boston Herald :
“Such a unique situation like that, it touched all our hearts. From just being scared and locked down to some people losing their lives, so I think everyone is up to something individually or as a team to help the community out.
“It’s definitely not about me by any means, it’s about who’s on the bat and the cause that it’s going to help out.”
Martin Richard, Lu Lingzi, Krystle Campbell, and Sean Collier all lost their lives in the past week.
Richard, Lingzi, and Campbell were killed in the explosion at the Boston Marathon finish line. Police officer Collier was killed in a shootout at MIT that authorities have said was carried out by the Boston Marathon bombing suspects.
The baseball family has pulled together over the past few days, with other MLB teams paying their own tributes to Boston .
You can see an image of Jonny Gomes’ special tribute bat below. It’s a pretty great gesture!
