Orioles and Oriole Advocates to hold annual Cardboard to Leather collection Sunday at Oriole Park

On Sunday, September 8, the Oriole Advocates will conduct their 2013 Cardboard to Leatherâ„¢ collection at Oriole Park, presented by Legg Mason. The Oriole Advocates created the program in 1992 to provide new and used baseball and softball equipment to underprivileged youth in developing countries. Since the program started, the Oriole Advocates have distributed tons of equipment to little league ball players throughout the world in places such as Afghanistan, Aruba, Belgrade, Belize, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. Fans are encouraged to bring new or gently used baseball equipment to the Orioles game on Sunday to be used in this year's distribution. Financial donations will also be accepted to help with shipping costs. The Oriole Advocates Charitable Foundation will also conduct a silent auction of sports memorabilia at the game on Sunday, on the lower concourse near Gate E. Fans will have the chance to bid on baseballs, photos, bats and jerseys autographed by current Orioles stars including Chris Davis, J.J. Hardy, Jim Johnson, Manny Machado, Nate McLouth and Brian Roberts. Funds raised from the auction will be used to support the Cardboard to Leather Programâ„¢, which this year will provide baseball equipment to players in the Dominican Republic and Mexico. Bids will be accepted from noon until 3:00 p.m. In a special ceremony prior to the game, Alan Magleby, Managing Director of Investor Relations and Communications at Legg Mason, will be joined by Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez to present the Oriole Advocates Charitable Foundation with a $15,000 contribution for the Cardboard to Leather Equipment Collection. In addition, the Baseball Tomorrow Fund will award a grant of $5,000 to the Foundation for the purchase of new equipment. Proceeds from the collection, silent auction, and check presentations will benefit youth baseball leagues in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic and Nuevo Leon and Puebla, Mexico.