MLB Players to Play Poker Tournament at MGM Grand

If you're in Las Vegas and a fan of both baseball and poker, you may want to saunter over to the MGM Grand this evening as a few dozen MLB players will be on hand and playing in a poker tournament.

The event is open to the public and kicks off at 7:30 on January 14. Those scheduled to play include Hall of Famers DaveWinfield, Eddie Murray and Ozzie Smith, as well as former stars such as Kenny Lofton, Barry Bonds, Eric Davis and Adam Dunn.

The tournament will benefit the Major League Baseball Players Trust, a charitable foundation whose purpose is to help those in need and encourage others to do likewise. Recent efforts of the MLB Players Trust have gone to disaster relief throughout the world, and to providing medicine to children in countries such as the Dominican Republic.

The ballplayers participating will each be wearing a baseball jersey. Any poker player who manages to knock out a MLB star will receive the jersey right off the back of the pro ballplayers.

Current MLB stars who have promised to attend include LaTroy Hawkins, Drew Stubbs, Adrian Beltre, Bud Norris, and Shane 'the flyin Hawaiian' Victorino.

The press release issued by the MLB Players Trust neglects to mention the entry fee. But it's for a good cause and where else can you rub elbows with professional ballplayers? I'll tell you where else, at Shadow Creek Golf Course in Las Vegas tomorrow, January 15.

Also open to the public is the MLB Players Trust's 11th annual golf tournament. It's another fund-raiser for the charitable organization. For more information about playing a round of golf with the big leaguers, call 888 -714-0755 .