While New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hit his 50th and 51st home runs of the season in a sweeping win against the White Sox, another win was playing out for men’s health in the Bronx and beyond: Nearly 200 men took a proactive step toward protecting their health by completing prostate cancer screenings with a simple blood test at the stadium during the game.

The third annual “Knock Prostate Cancer Out of the Park” event, a collaboration between Montefiore Einstein, the New York Yankees and the nonprofit Fans for the Cure, had its largest turnout to date, marking Montefiore Einstein’s continual growth in its core commitment to promote access to quality healthcare in the communities it serves.

“The energy throughout the day was outstanding,” said Crystal Santos, Administrative Manager, Urology, Montefiore Einstein, who led planning for the event. “This collaboration continues to make a real difference by reaching men who might not otherwise have access to screening or preventative care. Each year, we see more engagement and more men taking proactive steps for their health, and that’s exactly what this partnership is all about.”

A simple blood test can be used to screen for prostate cancer by measuring levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), a protein produced by the prostate gland.These tests can detect 95% of prostate cancers at the localized stage, when they are most treatable. In the United States, Black men are 60% more likely than white men to be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and twice as likely to die from the disease. Promoting awareness and offering opportunities for early screening and preventative care are critical to improving patient outcomes.

Men over the age of 40 were eligible for screening during the event. Participants included fans attending the game, New York Police Department officers assigned to the event, and employees of the Yankees organization. Notably, several of the NYPD officers were returning participants who had taken part in prostate screening events in previous years.

Of the 191 men tested during the event, 23 had elevated PSA levels. Based on the specific levels, and other considerations, like age and medical history, 12 men required additional follow-up. For the results that required further testing or treatment, a member of our clinical team contacted the patient to recommend next steps. Screenings were offered free of charge, promoting early detection and encouraging men to be proactive in their health and wellness.

Seventy-five volunteers from Montefiore Einstein and its partner organizations contributed to making the event a success. These volunteers represented the Montefiore Einstein departments of Urology, Pathology, Marketing and Information Technology (the latter provided laptops and set up Wi-Fi connections at the stadium to link providers to the electronic medical health system for patient registration and lab orders); the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center and its Bronx Oncology Living Daily (BOLD) program; the New York Yankees, and Fans For The Cure.

Volunteers from the BOLD program provided information on-site about prostate cancer, answered questions about the screening process, and highlighted health and community resources. Adding to the experience this year, participants also received two complimentary tickets to a select 2026 Yankees game and were treated to a special guest appearance from former Yankee and legendary right fielder Paul O’Neill.

“Early prostate cancer screening is critical because prostate cancer often develops silently, without symptoms in its early stages. Detecting it early gives men more treatment options and a much better chance at a positive outcome,” said Santos. “Events like this help break down barriers and start important conversations about men’s health.

 

Learn more about prostate cancer care at Montefiore Einstein.