EASTLAKE -- Surrounded by some of the NFL's biggest superstars, Joe Haden said he made a special request for only one to be on his team at the second annual Joe Haden and Friends Celebrity Softball Game.
It was his game, after all.
"I would think Deion would be good," Haden said, referencing former two-sport star Deion Sanders. "I made sure he was on my team."
Ultimately, Haden's team was filled with plenty of other players who did a little more than dabble in baseball as youths. Haden, Sanders, Johnny Manziel and Richard Sherman led the way in a 41-19, Black Team victory over the Orange Team in front of a crowd of 5,206 at Classic Park.
On this night, though, no one lost.
Money raised from the game was donated to the Lake Health Foundation, Captains Charities and Special Olympics. Haden recently became the first American professional football player to be named a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics.
His skills as one of the NFL's top ambassadors helped corral a star-studded cast of NFL players who hailed from Seattle, Tampa Bay and many places in between.
"It's just Joe," Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb said. "It's his character and who he is as a man, how he carries himself. We all just gravitate to him and wanted to show him some love."
Joining Cobb were the following players from around the NFL: Colin Kaepernick, Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Pouncey, A.J. Green, T.J. Ward, Major Wright, Sherman, Cobb, Sanders, Maurkice Pouncey, Kam Chancellor, Patrick Peterson and Torrey Smith. The Browns teammates who participated were: Manziel, Phil Taylor, Donte Whitner, Chris Kirksey, Travis Benjamin, Justin Gilbert, Jordan Poyer and Billy Winn. Running back Terrance West was also in attendance and signed plenty of autographs.
Manziel drew loud cheers from the crowd throughout the evening, and the former San Diego Padres draft pick didn't disappoint. He won the home run derby with a combined seven home runs over two rounds and drove in a number of runs during the game. It marks the second straight year a Brown won the home run derby, as former defensive back Buster Skrine took home the crown last year.
Check out some of the sights and sounds from the game via the numerous social media posts that arose from it.
Had a great time supporting my bro @joehaden23 https://t.co/gKBUAbV185 — Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) June 7, 2015
