(Photo: Karli Matthias/WCSN)
For the Bishop family, baseball is in their blood but family trumps all.
Hunter Bishop is a junior on the Arizona State baseball team where he’s spent the past two years as an everyday starter and is making a case to be a top pick in the MLB draft this June.
His brother Braden played his college ball at the University of Washington before he was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2015, and just three years later, he has already earned himself a spot on the Mariners’ 40-man roster.
To say that baseball, and talent, runs in the family, would be an understatement, but the brothers would both agree that they play for more than just success on the field.
Together, the Bishops have used their platform in and around the baseball community to support a person near and dear to their heart: their mom.
You can see the term “4MOM” written on their hats, arms and pretty much anywhere they are allowed to show it off. It is a nod to the foundation Braden started to help something their mom, Suzy, is going through.
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At the age of just 54, Suzy was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s is a disease that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. It is estimated that as many as 5.1 million Americans are affected by the disease.
“Alzheimer’s has always been such a sleeper of a disease,” Randy Bishop, the father of Hunter and Braden said. “Everybody talks about cancer, everybody talks about heart disease, diabetes, or so many other things, but rarely do you ever hear anybody talk about the deaths of Alzheimer’s and really what it’s about.”
Through the charity and their platform with baseball, the Bishops are determined to help spread the word about the disease in hopes of improving the lives of those affected.
“The more people you come across, the more connections you make and the more relationships you make. That’s kind of how it grows and succeeds,” Braden said.
Recently, with the help of ASU baseball and the Texas Rangers organization, the two teams partnered together to raise awareness for research toward Alzheimer’s in a fall scrimmage. The game had volunteers from the 4MOM charity that provided information on the disease and accepted charitable donations.
“When we started this in 2014, it was to raise awareness, and over the past four and a half years, it’s got to the point where I can confidently say that we have raised awareness,” Braden said. “It started out very small, and now it’s gone to the point where a legitimate Division I baseball program and a professional organization want to partner up and raise awareness.”
“I think everything that we do as an organization is about family, is about our fans, is about the culture and the commitment to the community,” said Paul Kruger, Assistant Director of Player Development for the Rangers organization.“When [ASU] mentioned that it was for 4MOM and is for a charity like that, it was something that we couldn’t turn down. It’s just a great thing to be a part of.”
During the game, it seemed as though everyone and everything was on Hunter’s side. With his father in the stands, Hunter blasted two homeruns, including a three-run shot over the bullpen in right field to put ASU up in game one.
“Special. Really special,” Randy said tearfully. “Especially after he strikes out a couple times, he’s just trying to find his way, and then just to unload on a ball like that especially on a night like this, that’s really big, really big.”
In the event, the teams raised close to $2000 for the foundation, but more importantly, they rallied behind the Bishops and raised awareness for the cause.
“Everything that they’re [The Bishop’s] going through is unfathomable,” said Sean Cashman, ASU Quality Control Analyst. “[Hunter’s] in college, he’s away, and that’s something that’s hard enough for most kids. We want to show him that we support him with everything that we do.”
The support for Hunter and his family was more than evident at the scrimmage. The game had a great turnout, and the entire team came sported 4MOM shirts before the game.
“When I first got here and I watched batting practice, it was really overwhelming for me to see everybody wearing the 4MOM shirts,” Randy said. “Even some of the scouts that are here they knew all about 4MOM and thought it was really special.”
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“The ASU teams been wearing their shirts during their batting practice, and I’d love more people to see it,” Braden said. “That’s kind of how they learn, and I think just to have it grow organically like it has meant the most.”
For the Bishop family, the goal is to is simply just to get the word out. The disease is a cruel one that affects so many lives, and they want to see a positive change.
“It’s with the help of ASU, it’s with the help of Major League Baseball, it’s with the help of all the people that care about understanding what this disease does to a family,” Randy said. “It’s obviously no secret that it has torn our family apart. Luckily for Hunter, Braden and myself, we’re thick as thieves, so we’re in it all together.”
If you are a baseball fan, you know that the baseball community is like no other. Whether it be about their favorite team, player, or just the sport in general, you don’t find a more passionate fan than one in baseball. It is a team sport, and teams are closer than ever during times of adversity.
“I learned pretty quickly that the baseball community is very large, but at the same time, very tight-knit,” Braden said. “Guys are always looking to help and support a cause because not everybody has the personal cause like Hunter and I have. I think we’ve been really fortunate with the people we’ve come across.”
“I think baseball really brings people together,” Kruger said. “No matter what you’re for, who you’re rooting for, where you’re from, or what you believe it, it’s a fun thing to be a part of that separates normal day-to-day life. It’s just a fun activity that the community can rally behind.”
Hunter’s support system goes far beyond his dad and his brother. His family within baseball is there to back him up no matter what.
“You have 35 guys on the roster that have become like family, like brothers,” Cashman said. “Any time Hunter needs someone to lean on he has 35, 40, 45 people in that dugout that he can lean on.”
In addition to the fall scrimmage, the ASU baseball team also participated in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Phoenix with the Mariners’ high-performance camp. The two teams all wore their 4MOM apparel and walked to raise money for the foundation and to support Hunter and Braden. The brothers were honored at the event and spoke about the charity.
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Being baseball players, Hunter and Braden’s accomplishments are heavily measured on the field, but the two have goals far greater than those just on the diamond.
“Hopefully we can get to the point where we’re holding educational seminars on how to care-give because there’s no instruction manual to tell families, husbands, wives, how to care for their loved ones with Alzheimer’s, and it’s really not easy,” Braden said.
“I just want to show people they’re not alone. That’s kind of the direction I want to go.”
For more information on 4MOM or to help support the cause, you can check out their website or follow them on Twitter @4MOM_ALZ and Instagram @the4momcharity.
