Sports can be a great catalyst to consolidate a community, especially in times of tragedy. The Boston Marathon gave rise to the term "Boston Strong" that connotes survival and unity among the residents of Beantown. Recently, 19 firefighters perished while trying to contain the wildfire that is taking over the town of Yarnell. This noble act will not go unnoticed especially in the baseball field.

As a tribute to the fallen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, the Arizona Diamondbacks will commemorate their courage for the rest of the Major League Baseball season via a special patch. Likewise, the team will don black bands on their right arm to pay tribute to the firefighting crew from Prescott, Arizona.

Also, both the Diamondbacks and the New York Mets will hang a jersey in their dugouts with the name "Yarnell" and the number "19" printed on it. These special jerseys were flashed on the big screen on Citi Field in New York City as the teams and the audience had a moment of silence to commemorate the incident. Aside from the two teams, all Major League Baseball venues that were also hosting a game followed suit with an honorable moment of peace.

As they return home in Chase Field for a series against the Colorado Rockies, the team will be wearing black jerseys with a white patch bearing the number 19 etched above the heart area. Also, the field grass will feature the Arizona Diamondbacks logo with the number 19 on it.

In an official statement, Diamondbacks President Derrick Hall that they are one with the state and the nation in grieving for these gallant people who were done in by the harsh water and tough nature. Meanwhile, donations for those who were affected by the wildfire can be sent via the Arizona Diamondbacks' official website.

The families of the fallen firefighters will also be the beneficiaries of an online auction of team memorabilia at the club's website. As promised, the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation will match the amount to a maximum of $100,000. Anyone who will make a donation of at least $19 will be eligible for a raffle wherein the prize is a Yarnell 19 jersey that is signed by all the team's players and coaches.

The town of Yarnell is 80 miles to the northwest of Phoenix and it was heavily damaged by a wildfire that spread to over 2000 acres of forests and inhabited areas. The catastrophe is a by-product of the latest heat wave that engulfed the Western United States. It is estimated that around half of the town's 500 houses were eaten up by the scorching fire.

Because of this, portions of the interstate highways and routes that pass through the area have been closed by the state's transportation department. Record-high temperatures have also been recorded in Arizona, Nevada, Utah and California. Death Valley, regarded as one of the hottest places on Earth, registered a high of 129.9 degrees.

The Arizona Diamondbacks was founded in 1998 and it won an MLB Championship after just four years of existence. Prominent members of that championship team are pitchers Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, outfielder Luis Gonzalez, infielder Craig Counsell, lead-off hitter Tony Womack and center fielder Steve Finley.