The 500 Home Run Club Wine Cellars
The 500 Home Run Club, one of professional sport’s most elite clubs with baseball’s most inspiring sluggers in history as its members, was the hardest hitting Charity Wines partner and launched in 2008, releasing wines with Mike Schmidt, Ernie Banks, Eddie Murray and Brooks Robinson.

Brooks Robinson with Eddie Murray
Brooks Robinson & Eddie Murray of the Baltimore Orioles with Charity Wines
Mike Schmidt and 548 Zinfandel wine
The Phillies' Mike Schmidt 548 Zinfandel
Ernie Banks and 512 Chardonnay wine
The Cubs' Ernie Banks 512 Chardonnay

Liz Banks, president of the 500 Home Run Club and also wife to Mr. Cub himself, Ernie Banks, helped broker the deal. With 512 career home runs for the Chicago Cubs, Banks 512 Chardonnay was the first wine under the 500 Home Run Club Wine Cellars label. Proceeds support the Live Above & Beyond Foundation.

Ernie Banks 512 Chardonnay
Ernie Banks 512 Chardonnay
Ernie Banks 512 Chardonnay back wine label
Charity: Live Above & Beyond Foundation

On deck, with 548 career home runs for the Philadelphia Phillies is Mike Schmidt and his Schmidt 548 Zinfandel. Schmidt originally requested a Merlot until a blind taste-test determined that he favored Zinfandel. These wines support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Mike Schmidt 548 Zinfandel
Mike Schmidt 548 Zinfandel
Mike Schmidt 548 Zinfandel wine label back
Charity: Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

Batting third for the Baltimore Orioles, is Eddie Murray and his Murray 504 Cabernet. Eddie partnered with Orioles legend Brooks Robinson and his Brooks Robinson Chardonnay. Both opted to donate wine proceeds to the Baltimore Community Foundation in trusts in their names.

Eddie Murray 504 Cabernet Sauvignon
Eddie Murray 504 Cabernet Sauvignon
Eddie Murray 504 Cabernet Sauvignon wine label back
Charity: Baltimore Community Foundation

Brooks Robinson, not a member of the 500 Home Run Club, but quite interested in partnering with Eddie Murray in supporting Baltimore causes, released a Longball Cellars vintage branded Brooks Robinson Chardonnay.

Brooks Robinson Chardonnay
Brooks Robinson Chardonnay
Brooks Robinson Chardonnay wine back labelBrooks Robinson Chardonnay wine back label
Charity: Baltimore Community Foundation
500 Home Run Club Wines
500 Home Run Club Wines featuring Eddie Murray 504 Cabernet, Ernie Banks 512 Chardonnay and Mike Schmidt 548 Zinfandel
500 Home Run Club logo

On March 3, 2008, Jeff Idelson, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame requested bottles of each varietal for the collection of the Museum in Cooperstown, New York.

Charity Wines: National Baseball Hall of Fame Certificate of Donation
Charity Wines: National Baseball Hall of Fame Certificate of Donation

View the 2008 Charity Wines Release photo albums in:

Vinted and bottled by: Charity Wines with EOS Estate Winery, Paso Robles, California.
Marketing by: Charity Hop Sports Marketing.
Artwork by: Jonathan Banchick Illustrations.

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