A Journey Through MLB Stadiums to Raise Water Safety Awareness

A baseball enthusiast is pursuing a unique mission against the backdrop of tragic circumstances. Jonathan St. Clair, after losing his 21-month-old son Jasper to drowning, is visiting each of the 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) stadiums within 30 days. His goal is to spread awareness about water safety.

Jasper, St. Clair’s firstborn, tragically drowned in an ungated pool while in the care of a trusted babysitter. Despite doctors’ efforts, Jasper could not be saved. This tragedy has driven St. Clair to advocate for water safety. In a recent interview with Fox News Digital, he expressed surprise at his own lack of awareness of water dangers and the importance of early swim lessons.

St. Clair’s journey began with a night game in Toronto, having flown from Denver after watching the Colorado Rockies. He collaborates with water safety organizations across all 30 cities, aiming to underscore that drowning is a risk faced by everyone, not just others.

Connecting with families who have faced similar losses has offered St. Clair some comfort. He acknowledges their support was crucial in moving forward after Jasper’s death.

“I wouldn’t have been able to put one foot forward 12 years ago if it wasn’t for this group of families,” St. Clair stated.

Throughout his tour, St. Clair dons a life jacket, which attracts attention from fellow fans. Along with an MLB cap featuring logos of all 30 teams, it serves as a conversation starter about his cause.

Reflecting on his baseball passion, St. Clair shares that he had already visited 10 or 11 stadiums and believes his son Jasper would have loved the sport. The shocking statistics of drownings in the U.S. led him to undertake this journey. He hopes visiting 30 ballparks in 30 days will draw significant attention to drowning prevention.

St. Clair’s itinerary is extensive, involving many flights, drives, and even a train and boat trip. Unpredictable factors like rainouts and flight cancellations remain concerns. He remains optimistic, believing baseball and his loved ones support his mission.

“I think even though this whole campaign I’m doing is only 30 days, the bigger goal is after the 30 days, right? What has transpired? What information did we get out there? How much of an actual reach did we make? I’m really hoping that reach was big,” he commented.

St. Clair’s pursuit extends beyond the 30 days as he aims for long-lasting impact. Seeing water-related tragedies fuels his dedication to make water safety a priority, encouraging life jacket use in hazardous waters. He acknowledges the support from others who assist in making each stop memorable and purpose-driven.