Baseball Santa Heads To Mexico With Gear

Spokane Mayor Jack Geraghty has declared today Baseball Santa Day in honor of 70-year-old Rusty McCoy.

McCoy worked as a Santa Claus at Spokane’s NorthTown Mall this Christmas to raise money for a youth baseball league in Puerto Penasco, Mexico.

McCoy, who looks like the real McCoy when it comes to playing Santa, spends most winters in the Mexican port town, which has been crippled financially by a temporary fishing moratorium.

When people found out McCoy was trying to start a little league there, they dug through their garages and basements and showered him with gear.

Today he’ll head toward Mexico pulling a boat filled with enough uniforms for 16 teams, 80 bats, 90 gloves and 200 baseballs.

The mayor issued a proclamation to help McCoy get the gear over the border. McCoy is hoping the city’s formal recognition of his charitable cause will convince Mexican consulate officials to waive the duty owed on the equipment.

, DataTimes