Major League Baseball

Muhammad Ali visits White Sox at spring training

Published Mar. 8, 2011 11:10 p.m. ET

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Muhammad Ali visited with the Chicago White Sox at their spring training facility on Tuesday to help spread the word about his charity organization.

More than 100 people packed the White Sox clubhouse for the workshop about Ali's foundation, Athletes for Hope. Ali, whose long battle with Parkinson's disease has limited his physical activity, was joined by his wife and sister-in-law.

The visit came on the 40th anniversary of Ali's famed first bout with Joe Frazier.

First baseman Paul Konerko, who met Ali at the Civil Rights Game in Cincinnati in 2009, said any opportunity to be around such an influential figure is always special.

''Any time you get in the same room as a guy like that it's kind of cool,'' Konerko said.

Ivan Blumberg, the chief executive officer of the foundation, spoke for 30 minutes about the goal of the organization: to empower athletes to do more philanthropic work around their communities by helping identify causes they care about and the best ways to help.

''It's a message the White Sox believe in very strongly,'' catcher A.J. Pierzynski said. ''No matter who you, how you live or what your means are, you can always try to help other people.''

A long line formed afterward as players, coaches and team staff waited for pictures with Ali. Pierzynski posed with his son, Austin.

''He has no idea who he is now, but 10 or 15 years from now he'll hear about it and he can always say he has a picture with him and got to meet him,'' Pierzynski said.

Ali raised his fists for some of the pictures, but sat in a chair and wore sunglasses while he was in the clubhouse. His wife helped adjust his head when he slumped at one point during the photo session.

General manager Kenny Williams presented Ali with a White Sox No. 40 jersey to commemorate the occasion, ''CHAMP'' lettered across the back.

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