AUBURN - Trust Dennis Holmberg to put up a Christmas tree in the summertime.
The Auburn Doubledays manager is known for his colorful displays in the clubhouse.
Two seasons ago, he put in a fish tank and told his players that he would add a fish for every win. By the end of the season, there was a 55-gallon tank hosting a school of them.
“When the season came to an end, we had 50 fish in that thing,” Holmberg said. “They were basically playing for fish.”
But this season's decoration doesn't just benefit the Doubledays. While Holmberg wanted to create a fun environment for the players during the sweltering summer heat, the Christmas tree covers a good amount of presents that will be given to kids at the Hillside Children's Center during the holidays this year.
Before the season started, the Doubledays' skipper instructed his players to buy presents for the children ages 8-13.
The pitchers were to buy for the girls and the position players for the boys.
“It was just a crazy novelty of an idea that I had,” Holmberg said. “It was a way to give back to the community and to give back to Hillside and just something crazy that we are able to do like we did a couple of years ago, like the fish tank. I wanted to put up a tree to take a lot of distractions away from the players, once they walk into the clubhouse, they see the Christmas tree with lights, ornaments and presents. I think it adds a little bit of soothing relaxation to see a nice Christmas tree there, but it's all about giving and all about sharing. That's just what I wanted to do.”
Holmberg originally wanted to put glass ornaments with each player's picture inside on the tree until that task became too taxing. Instead, they found a new way to get the player's faces on the pine tree.
“We took all of the head shots that (team photographer) Glenn Gaston took for their baseball cards and hung them in strips, it's awesome,” Holmberg said.
Holmberg didn't just select Hillside at random. He has done several baseball clinics with the kids there and Hillside has been associated with the Doubledays since 2001.
“It's been a great partnership,” Doubledays general manager Carl Gutelius said. “We've done 'Homers for Hillside' every year and we've donated money from the Hot Stove every year, so it's nice. They support us and we support them.”
Along with the gifts, there will be a check presentation to Hillside for about $1,000 from all of the Doubledays sponsors before today's doubleheader.
Holmberg and the Doubledays' early Christmas shopping will undoubtedly help a lot of area children have a merry Christmas this year.
Two seasons ago, he put in a fish tank and told his players that he would add a fish for every win. By the end of the season, there was a 55-gallon tank hosting a school of them.
“When the season came to an end, we had 50 fish in that thing,” Holmberg said. “They were basically playing for fish.”
But this season's decoration doesn't just benefit the Doubledays. While Holmberg wanted to create a fun environment for the players during the sweltering summer heat, the Christmas tree covers a good amount of presents that will be given to kids at the Hillside Children's Center during the holidays this year.
Before the season started, the Doubledays' skipper instructed his players to buy presents for the children ages 8-13.
The pitchers were to buy for the girls and the position players for the boys.
“It was just a crazy novelty of an idea that I had,” Holmberg said. “It was a way to give back to the community and to give back to Hillside and just something crazy that we are able to do like we did a couple of years ago, like the fish tank. I wanted to put up a tree to take a lot of distractions away from the players, once they walk into the clubhouse, they see the Christmas tree with lights, ornaments and presents. I think it adds a little bit of soothing relaxation to see a nice Christmas tree there, but it's all about giving and all about sharing. That's just what I wanted to do.”
Holmberg originally wanted to put glass ornaments with each player's picture inside on the tree until that task became too taxing. Instead, they found a new way to get the player's faces on the pine tree.
“We took all of the head shots that (team photographer) Glenn Gaston took for their baseball cards and hung them in strips, it's awesome,” Holmberg said.
Holmberg didn't just select Hillside at random. He has done several baseball clinics with the kids there and Hillside has been associated with the Doubledays since 2001.
“It's been a great partnership,” Doubledays general manager Carl Gutelius said. “We've done 'Homers for Hillside' every year and we've donated money from the Hot Stove every year, so it's nice. They support us and we support them.”
Along with the gifts, there will be a check presentation to Hillside for about $1,000 from all of the Doubledays sponsors before today's doubleheader.
Holmberg and the Doubledays' early Christmas shopping will undoubtedly help a lot of area children have a merry Christmas this year.
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