Did you know that members of the COPD Foundation have been traveling to minor league baseball stadiums to raise awareness and educate the public about COPD? Over the last several years, we have spread awareness at the following stadiums:
- The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs
- The Richmond Flying Squirrels
- The Reading Fightin’ Phillies
- The Bowling Green Hot Rods
While at the stadiums, we have tables on the concourse where we raise awareness about COPD and answer peoples’ questions. We share information with radio and PA announcements, share our logo and contact information, and sometimes get to throw the ceremonial first pitch! Check out some of these pictures from the awareness events.
In some cities, we have even been able to hand out free tickets to games and free printed educational material to health centers and people living with COPD.
Why are we going to minor league baseball games? About 30 million people in the United States go to a minor league baseball game each year.1 This is about the same number of people who likely have COPD – half of them don’t know it yet.2-4
Is there a minor league stadium near you? Drop it in the comments – maybe we’ll see you there! What would you like to see us do next?
Resources
- Cooper JJ. MiLB attendance numbers down again so far in 2025. Baseball America. May 26, 2025. Accessed September 10, 2025. https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/milb-atten....
- COPD. cdc.gov. June 3, 2024. Accessed September 10, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/cdi/indicator-definitions/chro....
- Ho T, Cusack RP, Chaudhary N, Satia I, Kurmi OP. Under- and over-diagnosis of COPD: a global perspective. Breathe (Sheff). 2019;15(1):24-35. doi:10.1183/20734735.0346-2018
- Perret J, Yip SW, Idrose NS, et al. Undiagnosed and ‘overdiagnosed’ COPD using postbronchodilator spirometry in primary healthcare settings: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open Respiratory Research. 2023;10(1). doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2022-001478