They already hold the Guinness World Record for the world’s longest hockey game so why not go for a double whammy?
The men and women behind the world’s longest hockey game are at it again, attempting to break the record for the world’s longest baseball game.
The game got underway Friday at the Edmonton ball park. More than 50 players and volunteers will play around the clock through the long weekend in hopes of breaking the record and striking out cancer.
Watch below: ’55 guys and 1 girl’: Edmontonians hope to break record for world’s longest baseball game
Founder Brent Saik started the world’s longest hockey game in 2003. The game was held in memory of his father, Terry, who died of cancer. The summer after the first game Saik’s first wife, Susan, also succumbed to cancer. Her death prompted the next hockey game in 2005 to be played in her name. The game has since been held in 2008, 2011 and 2015.
“Our struggle has always been to find more ways to raise money,” Saik said. “Hockey is unfortunately only every three years… so in the off years we’ve decided to play some baseball.
“That’s why we’re here, there’s lots of people watching us from above.”
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Proceeds from the ball game will go directly to the Alberta Cancer Foundation. The 72-hour game will wrap up on Monday, breaking a record set in St. Louis.
Global Edmonton’s sports anchor Kevin Karius is taking part. He said this feat should be a bit easier than the hockey game.
“For one, it’s only three days compared to 250 hours for the hockey,” he said.
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Although Saik had his concerns.
“It’s the sprinting now,” he said. “In hockey you can glide a little bit and keep your momentum and sort of stay warm but baseball is sport of strategy and statistics, so for us if I’m in centre field and need to make a quick sprint that’s usually when the hammies get pulled.
“I prayed to my dad last night and I said, ‘keep me healthy.'”
Watch below: The world’s longest baseball game is underway in Edmonton, raising funds for the Alberta Cancer Foundation. Kevin Karius is taking part. He’s down at the ballpark with founder Brent Saik.
Saik started off the game with a triple. The team hopes to raise $250,000 for cancer research over the next three days.
“As usual, this city does something that I don’t think many cities are capable of,” he said. “People are coming in, they’re signing up and doing their thing.
“It’s unbelievable… Best place in the world to do something like this.”
For more information on the game or to donate to the cause, visit the Alberta Cancer Foundation’s website.
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