Program Information

What is the Play Sun Smart^™ program?

Play Sun Smart^™ is a public service partnership with the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy), Major League Baseball (MLB), and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) to raise awareness about skin cancer and offer detection and prevention tips for baseball players, team staff and fans. Dedicated to delivering a positive program that raises awareness of the importance of sun-safety, Play Sun Smart™ has become an important resource in the fight against skin cancer.

Each year, as the baseball season approaches, so does the risk that skin cancer will affect members of the baseball community. The need to educate the public about the importance of sun-safety has never been greater. Whether cheering from the stands or preparing to swing the bat, it is vital to know the facts and take protective measures. By providing the knowledge to fully understand this potential condition, the Play Sun Smart™ program is committed to decreasing these odds among those who share America's favorite pastime.

Since the program’s inception in 1999, 21,572 screenings of players, trainers, coaches and staff of the MLB family have been conducted. From these screenings, Academy dermatologists have detected over 600 suspicious lesions and there have been more than 10,000 presumptive diagnoses.