MLB GOES PINK FOR MOTHER'S DAY

Players recognised their mothers, wives, grandmothers, sisters and all the other influential women in their lives. Many players wore pink gear and swung pink bats to help raise awareness for breast cancer.
Before taking the field, players also took time to reflect on the impact the special women in their lives have had on their careers, consider the sacrifices their mothers made and praise their dedication to raising their children the right way.

Throughout baseball, players donned similar pink shoes, wristbands, necklaces, sleeves, arm and shin guards and more. They wore pink ribbons on their uniforms to raise awareness for breast cancer, and every baseball they threw and hit Sunday was adorned with pink stitching and graphics.

Astros outfielder L.J. Hoes was among the players to swing a specially made pink bat, which carried some added significance for him. His mother, Gail Hoes, and grandmother, Mary Hoes, are both breast cancer survivors and were in attendance for Sunday's Astros-Orioles game at Camden Yards in Baltimore, not far from where Hoes grew up.

Once again, Major League Baseball is recognising 30 women who were selected in the Honorary Bat Girl contest, which honors baseball fans who have been affected by breast cancer and demonstrate a commitment to finding a cure for the disease. On Sunday, the Honorary Bat Girls took part in pregame activities.

Introduced in 2009, the Honorary Bat Girl program raises additional awareness and support for the annual "Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer" initiative celebrated on Mother's Day.

All of the gear used in the games on the day will be auctioned and sold off to raise money for the fight against breast cancer.