NEW YORK (AP) - The Arizona Diamondbacks are going to wear a patch on their uniforms for the rest of the season honoring the 19 firefighters who died in the wildfire about 80 miles from Phoenix.
The firefighters died Sunday night in Yarnell.
During the four-game series against the New York Mets that began Monday night, the Diamondbacks will wear black bands on the right arm of their jerseys to pay tribute to the fallen firefighters who were from a crew in Prescott, Ariz.
Both teams will hang a jersey in their dugouts bearing the name “Yarnell” and the No. 19. Those jerseys were shown on the scoreboard at Citi Field during a moment of silence before the national anthem. There was a moment of silence at ballparks across the majors.
The Diamondbacks will wear black jerseys when they return home for a weekend series against Colorado. Those tops will have a white patch over the heart with the No. 19.
“Our hearts are aching for the fallen firefighters and the entire community turned upside down by this unfair act of weather and nature,” Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall said in a statement. “It is devastatingly amazing how quickly our lives can change in a matter of moments.”
The Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation will match all donations made to dbacks.com up to $100,000. Donations of $19 or more will be entered for the opportunity to win a signed jersey with “Yarnell” and the No. 19 on the back.
Additionally, proceeds from a weekend raffle and an online auction on dbacks.com will go the families of the firefighters.
“We’ll never replace what they’ve had to go through, but hopefully we can help them in some capacity,” Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said.
A logo with the number 19 will be painted on the grass at Chase Field for the Diamondbacks’ homestand that begins Friday. After the homestand, the Diamondbacks will wear a memorial patch for the remainder of the season.
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