Baseball fans might recognize Laurence Leavy, aka “Marlins Man,” from last year’s World Series. During every game between the Kansas City Royals and the New York Mets, Leavy was right behind home plate decked out in bright orange Miami Marlins gear.
Now, as a bit of a cult hero in the baseball world, Leavy is using his position to spread some team spirit and cheer. On Tuesday, Leavy visited two Kansas City fire stations with boxes of Kansas City Royals World Series jackets for the firefighters.
https://twitter.com/Marlins_Man/status/775859633160269825
According to Fox 4, Leavy, who works as an attorney in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., chose the two stations because they were home to two firefighters who died in a wall collapse last October.
“I decided I helped them raise money last year by wearing the KCFD hats, and I realized we did something for the families of the ones who had perished, but who had done anything for the guys that were alive?” Leavy said to Fox 4.
Leavy also has a website, on which he posts pictures of events he attends (always in his trademark orange) and inspirational messages. He frequently gives out tickets to games as well.
“…You know what, without a wife, without kids, helping all these people see something they otherwise couldn’t, I’ve never been happier in my life,” his website says. “When I see the smile on these people’s faces, all the problems they have in their life—a guy’s sick wife, or his mother’s passed away—all their problems are gone for a three-hour sporting event.”
Even our icy, NL East-rivalry-fueled Philadelphia hearts can appreciate Leavy’s display of sportsmanship and generosity.
