Baseball:

Forty-three months ago, the Giambi family endured a heartbreak that will never fully heal.

On February 9th of 2022, Jeremy Giambi died at the all too young age of 47.

Worse yet, it was a self-inflicted end of life decision at his parent’s home in Claremont.

For those younger than 30 or so, the Giambi’s made quite the mark locally and nationally.

Jason, 54, starred at South Hills High School, Cal State Long Beach, and he authored a remarkable 20-year MLB career.

Jason Giambi is best known for his time with Oakland and the Yankees.

He has a career batting average of .277 with 2,010 hits, 440 home runs and 1,441 RBIs.

Jeremy was three years younger than his big brother.

And while he might not be as well known, Jeremy Giambi filled in his own resume that millions of boys would love to call their own.

Jeremy had a solid career at South Hills in West Covina, and in 1995, he was part of Cal State Fullerton’s third of four national championships.

He would go on to have a six-year MLB career for five teams.

Jeremy lived out every little brother’s dream when he got to play with Jason for the Oakland in 2000 and 2001.

In 2001, the Athletics took the Yankees to the limit in a five-game American League Division series.

Jeremy Giambi had a career batting average of .263, with 372 hits, 52 home runs and 209 RBIs.

It was well documented that Jeremy lived life to the fullest, and as Joe Walsh says in his hit song one day at a time, Giambi was “the first to arrive at the party.”

However, some publications and a movie tended to tell only part of the Jeremy Giambi story.

The movie Moneyball was harsh, and they depicted Jeremy in a way that was very hurtful to his family.

What didn’t make the news or its way into the movie was the fact that Jeremy was a loving friend, son, brother, uncle, husband and father.

Among facts that aren’t as well-known as they should be, is that six months before he took his own life, Jeremy was struck in the head by a baseball that came off the bat at 120 miles per hour and fractured his zygomatic bone while serving as a pitching coach.

It was said that Jeremy was never quite himself after that incident.

Fast forward to 2/9/22, and Jeremy committed suicide to the horror and devastation of his family, friends and fans.

How would his family cope with the loss?

Would they just hide from public view and never discuss what happened and why?

The answer to both questions was a massive no. 

Jeremy’s mother (Jeanne), sister (Julie) and brother decided to turn their grief into a mission of saving lives.

They wanted to do their part in preventing other families from sharing a similar fate.

So, they built the JG7 Foundation.

And once a year, they put on the Jeremy Giambi Memorial Baseball Tournament at several local fields.

It is sponsored by the A’s.

The purpose of this annual event is to raise funds, 100-percent of which goes to CTE research and combating the stigma of mental health and suicide ideology.

Just last year, the tournament in Los Angeles and Las Vegas raised a combined $105,000 in Jeremy’s name to help save lives and families.

This weekend, the tournament will take place in Southern California, but next year, once the A’s get set up in their new ballpark in Las Vegas, the Jeremy Giambi Memorial Baseball Tournament will take place annually in Los Angeles and Vegas.

The event is so noteworthy and important that 133 teams from ages 7-18 will compete on Saturday and Sunday.

The Giambi’s decided to run the tournament during National Suicide Prevention Month to bring even more attention to this worthy cause.

The Jeremy Giambi Fund partners with leading organizations, including Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and its Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine, to support efforts in concussion care, sports-related mental health services, and long-term player wellness.

Nearly $150,000 has been raised to date.

How you can help: Visit www.JeremyGiambi.org.

Quotable:

Jeremy’s sister, Julie Giambi: “Jeremy loved this game for its pure joy and the community it creates. The Jeremy Giambi Memorial Tournament in Los Angeles is our way of honoring that spirit—celebrating competition, friendship, and resilience while opening doors for young athletes. This event also carries a deeper purpose. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and we use this platform to encourage open conversations, share resources, and remind families that no one walks this journey alone. Proceeds from the tournament directly support programs that help kids and research for CTEs and mental wellness care, and to find the same joy on the field that Jeremy did. We are especially grateful to the Athletics and USSSA for standing with us as presenting sponsors. Their belief in this mission makes it possible for us to carry Jeremy’s legacy forward and to create opportunities for the next generation. To every player, coach, parent, and partner here in Los Angeles—thank you for keeping Jeremy’s light alive.”