Sharon Timlin, mother of Red Sox pitcher Mike Timlin, succumbed in 2002 to ALS at the age of 61. After watching her suffer through the awful progression of this fatal disease, the family vowed to do as much as they could to bring awareness to the forefront and, with time, ensure a cure. Because of his ongoing efforts to bring awareness of ALS to others, Mike Timlin was recently named the 2008 winner of Phi Delta Theta’s Lou Gehrig Memorial Award. Fifty-two Major League Baseball Players have been given the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award, and Brother Timlin will become the third Phi Delt to receive the Award (Alving Dark & Ron Cey).
Brother Timlin was initiated into the Texas Gamma Chapter of Phi Delta Theta at Southwestern University (Bond #1162). Following his time in Georgetown, Texas, Mike eventually made it to the Major Leagues, where he has won four World Series rings as a relief pitcher (Toronto Blue Jays – 92 &93, Boston Red Sox – 04 &07). In 2007, Mike became just the 13th pitcher in major leaque history to appear in 1,000 games.
Among the most community-minded members of the Red Sox, Mike has worked extensively with the Angel Fund, an independent non-profit organization dedicated to supporting ALS research at Massachusetts General Hospital. Since coming to Boston in 2003, Mike has donated $500 per appearance to the Angel Fund. He and his wife Dawn have also hosted the annual 5-K Sharon Timlin Memorial Run in memory of his mother to raise money for and generate awareness of the Angel Fund. In recognition of his community spririty, Brother Timlin was recognized as the 2005 BoSox Club Man of the Year.
