Moyer: honor, courage, dedication

General Article
January 22, 2004

2003 Hutch Award winner, longtime center supporter dedicated to helping others

Jamie Moyer is the first to receive the Hutch Award while playing for the Seattle Mariners. John Olerud took the honor in 1993 while playing for the Toronto Blue Jays and hitting coach Paul Molitor won it in 1987 as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers. photo courtesy of Seattle Mariners

By BRAD BROBERG

Although he won a record 21 games last season, Seattle Mariners pitcher Jamie Moyer would be the first to say that one player can't win all by himself. It takes teamwork.

And so does eliminating cancer.

That's why Jamie and his wife, Karen, have gone to bat many times for Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. "We believe so much in what they're doing at Fred Hutchinson, we wanted to play our part," Karen said.

As founders of The Moyer Foundation, Karen and Jamie have been dedicated leaders of numerous Fred Hutchinson fund-raising projects during the last several years.

So it's appropriate that Jamie has been named the 2003 Hutch Award winner. The award-which recognizes the major league player who exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication of baseball star Fred Hutchinson-will be presented at the Hutch Award Luncheon on Jan. 26 at Safeco Field.

The Moyers have been involved in supporting cancer patients and research for more than 10 years. Last spring they teamed with the center to create The Gregory Fund®, which is dedicated to funding research for early cancer detection.

The fund is named in honor of former patient Gregory Chaya, whose life inspired the Moyers to join the fight against cancer. Jamie first met Gregory in 1993 when the young boy was receiving treatment for leukemia. Jamie was profoundly affected by his spirit in the battle for life. "I can't explain it, but Gregory and I immediately established a bond," Jamie recalled. "It's been a great relationship between his family and ours ever since."

Fred Hutchinson became part of the story a year later when Gregory came to the center for a successful bone-marrow transplant. "He's 13 now and living a pretty normal life," said Jamie. "The way we look at it, Fred Hutchinson saved his life."

Since joining the Mariners in 1996, Jamie and Karen's off-field mission has been the support of community organizations, for which they have raised $3 million.

"I really feel like our philanthropic work is part of our calling," said Karen, who is a board member of the center's fund-raising foundation. "We're not just lending our name. We're also lending our time and energy."

For Jamie, charitable work provides perspective amid the highs and lows of professional sports. "It's great to win 21 games, but you know what-there are thousands of people all over the country fighting to live every day," he said.

Recognition of the couple's dedication came in 2003 when Jamie won two of baseball's most prestigious off-field awards: the Roberto Clemente Award, given to a high-achieving player who also represents the Hall-of-Famer's humanitarian commitment, and the Hutch Award.

It is fitting that a man who is one of the center's biggest fans now also holds the award honoring its namesake.

"Fred Hutchinson was an inspirational player and manager, and it's appropriate that he would inspire such a dedicated institution," Jamie said. "The biggest thing I've noticed is that whether they're researchers or doctors or nurses or regular employees, everybody believes in what they're trying to accomplish at Fred Hutchinson."

That same dedication applies to the Moyers.

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