OT: Haiti

by John Sickels on Jan 13, 2026 2:44 PM EST Comment 40 comments

I try to avoid serious issues on this blog, seeing it as an oasis from the normal pains of the world, but what's going on in Haiti right now deserves some special attention.

If you're following the news, the situation there looks incredibly grim, with casualties possibly over 100,000 dead and many more injured. I suggest a donation to the charity of your choice. I am partial to the highy-efficient and effective MercyCorps myself, but whatever organization you prefer, please take some time today and send something. Haiti is a rough place on a good day, and it looks like Armageddon down there right now.

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tragic

I have friends with family in Haiti and the situation there is bad. One of my friends has yet to hear from any of his almost 20 relatives that live there. http://www.yele.org/ is a good site to donate to. To donate $5 text YELE to 501501. They really need our help as they were the poorest country in the western hemisphere before this.

by Jimothy on Jan 13, 2026 2:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

They really need our help as they were the poorest country in the western hemisphere before this.

This is perhaps the most horrifying aspect. Already a place barren of hope, it could get much, much worse.

by rglass44 on Jan 13, 2026 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yep

Yes…Haiti has a very weak social, economic, and governmental infrastructure to begin with, and this is a killing blow to any hope they have.

Every dollar sent down there counts. I know aid agencies are saying that money will be more helpful right now than volunteers or donations-in-kind. Even $10 can make a difference.

by John Sickels on Jan 13, 2026 3:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It seems they get hit by everything.

Every hurricane seems to hit there, and now this. I just can’t imagine how long it will take for recovery. It really makes you thankful to be born into the life you have. This could be a huge issue for the US going forward with the giant Haitian population here and those that will attempt to come here because of it.

by rglass44 on Jan 13, 2026 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly John

Haiti was already the most impoverished nation in the Western Hemisphere. Is there anyway we could set up some type of paypal link to make a group donation, courtesy of all of us at minorleagueball? I’d be happy to help set it up

You’re name has 2k9 in it — what are you some 8 year-old who makes Pillsbury Doughboy cookies and jerks off to that bullshit video game with Tim Lincecum on the cover--
Frederick0220

by Mets2k9 on Jan 13, 2026 5:36 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed, It is tough enough to live in Haiti without natural disasters. Truly a terrible situation.

by Cormican on Jan 13, 2026 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

500,000

Just heard a death toll estimate of 500,000 people.

by John Sickels on Jan 13, 2026 3:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ugh

Where?

by rglass44 on Jan 13, 2026 3:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That number of lives lost is simply incomprehensible

You’re name has 2k9 in it — what are you some 8 year-old who makes Pillsbury Doughboy cookies and jerks off to that bullshit video game with Tim Lincecum on the cover--
Frederick0220

by Mets2k9 on Jan 13, 2026 5:37 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

I have read 100,000

Where did you hear 500,000? I hope that isn’t true.

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-Jonathan Swift

by King Billy Royal on Jan 13, 2026 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

TV

A Haitian government minister said something about that on a news channel I was flipping through. That’s obviously unconfirmed at this point….but 100,000 seems like the minimum and “several hundred thousand” is what they are saying on MSNBC and CNN lately.

by John Sickels on Jan 13, 2026 6:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

sigh

its horrific let’s all pitch in if we can.

"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"

by feslenraster on Jan 13, 2026 4:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army has been in Haiti for decades, and they even stayed through civil war there. I add their name for your consideration for donations.

Here’s a link to donate.

All charities that are directly putting money from you to disaster relief are great.

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by Andy Seiler on Jan 13, 2026 4:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Amen

I am in no way religious, but god bless you for this post brother. Truly a devastating tragedy. We here at Milb.com are a close knit community, and as a member of this community, I implore each and every one of you to do your small part. We sometimes get so busy with the future and fantasy that we forget the reality around us. Let us all take some time to wish all those affected by this disaster the absolute best, and please, know that every contribution, no matter how small, helps. People have written a few organizations down already, and a quick google search will find you a cornucopia of others, equally as worthy. Let’s show people we’re more than just some sabermetric nerds

You’re name has 2k9 in it — what are you some 8 year-old who makes Pillsbury Doughboy cookies and jerks off to that bullshit video game with Tim Lincecum on the cover--
Frederick0220

by Mets2k9 on Jan 13, 2026 5:34 PM EST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

yeah

thanks for the links too. gonna donate once i load up my paypal

by daveh33 on Jan 13, 2026 5:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Direct Relief International

My I suggest giving to Direct Relief International. Look them up at http://www.charitynavigator.org/ to see how highly rated they are. The highest possible amount of your dollars will go to work for the people in Haiti, not overhead here in the U.S.

by Jeff in Minny on Jan 13, 2026 5:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

American Red Cross

You can text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to American Red Cross relief for Haiti.

by Snake the Jake on Jan 13, 2026 6:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

This is the one that goes right on your cell phone bill. Thanks for the info. This is just heartbreaking.

by bl on Jan 14, 2026 3:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

one thing

One point i’ve been thinking about.

Apparently the main UN building and headquarters for UN relief agencies was destroyed. The head of the UN mission is dead, and most of the UN workers are dead. Most of the Haitain government buidings were destroyed, too, with their staffs inside supposedly. I saw a twitter about the local police station in the capital being destroyed.

The people on the scene best-equipped to organize relief efforts may be mostly dead. This is utterly devastating.

by John Sickels on Jan 13, 2026 6:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

sorry if I'm being pushy, john

But is there a way we can set up a community donation? I only keep asking bc timing is clearly of great import in such a situation

You’re name has 2k9 in it — what are you some 8 year-old who makes Pillsbury Doughboy cookies and jerks off to that bullshit video game with Tim Lincecum on the cover--
Frederick0220

by Mets2k9 on Jan 13, 2026 6:15 PM EST via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

i'm not sure

I’m not sure how to set such a thing up…..I just want to strongly encourage everyone to donate what they can….even 10 bucks to the Red Cross will help.

by John Sickels on Jan 13, 2026 7:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

wow

I hadn’t heard about the UN thing yet. this is really tragic

by daveh33 on Jan 13, 2026 6:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And if you can imagine, the head government buildings and the UN building are theoretically the most stable structures in the country

if those fell then we can only imagine the devastation elsewhere. It really is a sticky situation not just because of the earthquake, but because it compounds problems anyone with ties to the country have to suffer with.

by Navi's_Navy on Jan 13, 2026 6:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

very true

by daveh33 on Jan 13, 2026 6:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

As for people on the scene, check out this interview:

Link.

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by Andy Seiler on Jan 13, 2026 6:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Grace church is 5 minutes away from my house, and I know Dr. Kornblatt and his fam

incredibly fortunate they were already there.
I can’t imagine how many they are treating right now

by daveh33 on Jan 13, 2026 6:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Family friends sent an email out about a group where 100% of donated funds go to the relief effort.

They pay all administrative costs out of pocket and don’t take a salary. Here’s a link:

https://www.haitichildren.com/donation/

Great way to make a difference.

by rglass44 on Jan 13, 2026 11:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

best of luck

I only hope they come out of this stronger than ever, with a foundation for future.

More needs to be done than just food aid for a year or 2.

by elricsi on Jan 14, 2026 1:15 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just awful

I did the text thing. Tried to give online, but it seems their servers are overloaded - which is a good thing I suppose. I’ll try again later.

On a side note, is there a reason why the Dominican develops so many baseball players, but they do no play baseball in Haiti? The French influence? They’re on the same island, right?

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by RoyalsRetro on Jan 14, 2026 1:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

And I admit to being ignorant on Caribbean history.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Jan 14, 2026 1:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Most likely the French influence

You’re name has 2k9 in it — what are you some 8 year-old who makes Pillsbury Doughboy cookies and jerks off to that bullshit video game with Tim Lincecum on the cover--
Frederick0220

by Mets2k9 on Jan 14, 2026 2:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And I apologize if it seems like I'm bringing up the trivial with the tragic

I was just curious.

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by RoyalsRetro on Jan 14, 2026 3:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Haiti is a footballing nation

Even qualified for the World Cup in the 70s, which is remarkable for such a small nation relative to the CONCAF even.

I was gonna add a blurb on how it could of come about, but it really requires knowledge on how baseball came to be popular in the Dominican, which I have no idea of. Haiti does have a noticeably worse history of relations with the U.S. that the Dominican though.

by tdot mariner fan on Jan 14, 2026 5:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

culture

Yeah, even though they are the same island, there are some cultural differences that result in much less baseball being played in Haiti.

Personally I’ve often wondered why some baseball team doesn’t go into Haiti and start a baseball academy like the ones in the Dominican. Granted the population isn’t as familiar with the sport, but surely there are some excellent athletes there who can be taught to play the game.

by John Sickels on Jan 14, 2026 2:04 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It isn't like it would take much financial incentive to get them to learn or much to build a complex.

by rglass44 on Jan 14, 2026 2:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

totals

they are revising the death tolls downward to something like 50-100,000 instead of the 500,000 figures being bandied about yesterday. However, the Red Cross is talking about 3 MILLION people being homeless, and with the entire infrastructure of the country being in ruins, there is no way to provide food, water, or shelter for that many refugees.

This is going to take massive and immediate international help on the order of what happened with the tsunami.

by John Sickels on Jan 14, 2026 2:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs