When you find yourself becoming cynical while reading the next inevitable article about an obnoxious professional athlete, remember the Stros’ Craig Biggio.
Yesterday, for the 13th straight year, Bidg and his wife Patty hosted their 13th annual party and baseball game at the Juice Box for the Sunshine Kids, the local Houston charity that works closely with the Texas Medical Center‘s M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Children’s Hospital to provide recreation and support for children diagnosed with cancer.
This Chronicle article relates how important Bidg and his wife’s efforts are on behalf of the Sunshine Kids:

Suzie James said her family returned from vacation just in time to make it to the stadium so her 7-year-old son, Cameron, could participate. When Cameron was diagnosed in February, his mother said, a social worker at Texas Children’s Hospital told them about the Sunshine Kids.
“This is our third activity,” she said, just before Cameron took his turn at bat.
He has undergone surgery, radiation treatments and chemotherapy, his mother said.
“The activities help us get our minds off it for a while.”
Cameron connected for a solid grounder on his fourth swing. Sunshine Kids don’t strike out if Biggio can help it.

While other local charities have seen a downturn in charitable donations over the past several years, Bidg’s efforts on behalf of the Sunshine Kids have increased their charitable donations over that same period. Bidg’s annual charity golf tournament on behalf of the Sunshine Kids — which he puts on during the distraction of the baseball season — has turned into a huge fund-raising affair.
Craig Biggio is not only a Hall of Fame quality baseball player, he is a Hall of Fame quality citizen of Houston. During his long tenure with the Stros, Bidg and his family have settled comfortably in the West University area of Houston and have become integral members of their church and community. As a father of two young men who have literally grown up admiring Bidg during his unusually long career with the Stros, I appreciate the classy example of manhood that he has always displayed. He is part of what makes Houston a special place.