Einar Gustafson

Einar Gustafson (August 18, 1935 – January 21, 2001) gained fame as a 12-year-old cancer patient when he became nationally known as "Jimmy". The name started a fund-raising program in 1948 known as The Jimmy Fund for the Dana–Farber Cancer Institute. The Jimmy Fund was adopted as the official charity of the Boston Red Sox in 1953.

Early life Einar Gustafson was born in New Sweden, Maine on August 18, 1935. Growing up on a potato farm, Gustafson would walk to school. One day on his walk, when he was 12-years-old, he began experiencing abdominal pain. After two surgeries, it was recommended that he travel to Boston where he was admitted to the newly founded Children's Hospital: Dana–Farber Cancer Institute.

To lift the spirits of the children in the cancer facility, Bill Koster of the "Variety Club of New England" in partnership with Farber contacted popular radio host Ralph Edwards and invited him to broadcast his program Truth or Consequences live nationwide from the children's ward to raise money for the Cancer Research Fund. thumb

The show had scheduled players from the Boston Braves to surprise Gustafson in his room. Team members Warren Spahn, Eddie Stanky, and Phil Masi entered Gustafson's room, presenting him with gifts. Manager Billy Southworth gave Gustafson a tailored Braves uniform and a special message: "We play the Chicago Cubs tomorrow in a doubleheader at Braves Field, and we're calling it Jimmy's Day." When asked what he wanted most, Gustafson said he wanted a television set so that all the kids in the cancer ward could watch his heroes play baseball.

Edwards informed the listening radio audience that if $20,000 was raised in donations, "Jimmy" would be given a television set on which to watch the Braves play. Not only did funds exceed the goal, bringing in a total of $231,485.51; but the Braves went on to win the 1948 pennant. On Edwards's request, Gustafson led the Braves in a chorus of "Take Me Out to the Ball Game". The radio program was so effective that members of the local public filled the lobby of the hospital to personally hand in their donations so that "Jimmy" could watch the Braves on TV. "This is the biggest thrill of my trip, right here," Williams said of the meeting, "Isn’t that something?"

Gustafson died of a stroke on January 21, 2001, at a hospital in Caribou, Maine.