The Marlins have signed Adam Greenberg to a one-day contract. Greenberg while playing with the Cubs in '05 was hit in the head with a pitch during his only MLB plate appearance, meaning he did not have an official at-bat. Marlins President David Samson appeared on this morning's episode of NBC's "Today" to extend the contract to Greenberg, saying, "This is someone who we believe deserves to have one at-bat." Samson promised Greenberg he would get at least one at-bat during next Tuesday's game against the Mets. Greenberg said, “I can’t address and express how much it means to me, and this isn’t just about me or an at-bat. Baseball in general doesn’t owe me anything." NBC's Matt Lauer handed Greenberg a Marlins hat to wear and asked Samson, “There’s no deal struck here with the Mets' pitcher, nobody’s going to be lobbing pitches to Adam that night?” Samson: “I can assure you they’re going to try to get him out. ... You’re going to have a chance to swing and you better swing, Adam.” Greenberg: “You don’t have to worry about that. I’ll be ready.” Filmmaker Matt Liston has championed the effort to get Greenberg one MLB at-bat via an Internet campaign, and he said, "I don’t know whether I’m going to be crying or just jumping up and down" (“Today,” NBC, 9/27). "CBS This Morning" also profiled Greenberg's story, and CBS' Mark Strassman reports Greenberg "says Liston’s zeal re-energized him to chase a dream he thought was over” (“CBS This Morning,” CBS, 9/27). MLB Network's Peter Gammons wrote on his Twitter feed, "Thanks to Marlins for giving Adam Greenberg his richly-deserved at-bat. It will be an intensely human moment. Thanks Jeffrey Loria." SI.com's Peter King wrote, "I'll be a Marlins fan Tuesday night."
COMMISSIONER APPROVED DEAL: In West Palm Beach, Joe Capozzi reports Greenberg will “bat against R.A. Dickey after the Marlins received approval" for the contract from MLB Commissioner Bud Selig. Greenberg has agreed to “donate his one-day salary to the Marlins Foundation, which will then make a donation to the Sports Legacy Institute -- an organization that advances the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups.” He currently is one of “only two players ever to be hit by a pitch in his first-and-only Major League plate appearance and never take the field" (PALMBEACHPOST.com, 9/27). In Ft. Lauderdale, Juan Rodriguez notes Greenberg “developed vertigo and post-concussion symptoms that stalled his career.” He last played “on an affiliated baseball team in 2008.” From ‘09-11, he was with the independent Atlantic League Bridgeport Bluefish (SUN-SENTINEL.com, 9/27).
