Dickey and Johnson — remembering their pact from the summer of 1994 — began visiting children’s hospitals to sign balls, snap photos and make whatever impact they could as two anonymous young pitching prospects.
Still searching for their niche, the pair found it when Johnson’s father met Osmani Sosa, a Cuban baseball player committed to mission work in his own country. Working alongside Sosa, the Johnsons and Dickey began traveling to Cuba on religious visas and distributing baseball equipment to players willing to commit to Christianity. At first, Cuban officials were resistant to their efforts, but the program has since become known and respected throughout the island.
via Mets hurler R.A. Dickey aims to scale Kilimanjaro for cause | MLB.com: News.
