It started with a hug. Houston Astros players Evan Gattis and Tony Kemp always embrace in the dugout after homers and the fans love it. The hashtag #HugsForHomers was born and a T-shirt soon followed.
When Kemp saw the MLBPA-licensed shirt, he reached out to BreakingT about getting involved. BreakingT worked with Kemp, his wife Michelle and his agents at the Ballengee Group to create BreakingT.com/Hugs, with proceeds from sales benefitting the Astros Youth Academy. Kemp led the marketing charge, promoting it on social media and getting fans to embrace the shirt.
It was a runaway success and soon the shirts were seen all over Houston, including on the players themselves. The Astros took notice and invited Kemp and BreakingT to present a check to the academy before a sold-out crowd at Minute Maid Park before a Friday night Seattle-Houston game.
Building off the excitement surrounding Hugs For Homers, Kemp and BreakingT worked together to launch a second shirt, Kempin’ Ain’t Easy. Proceeds from it will go to Kemp's Kids, Tony's new foundation benefitting underprivileged athletes in Texas and Tennessee.
