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CLEVELAND -- As he watched TV reports of violence and athletes kneeling or raising fists in silent protest during the national anthem, Indians manager Terry Francona felt a need to do more.Something was pushing him, maybe his age, maybe a deeper belief he has a greater purpose. Hes not certain.Francona, though, decided to act.On a trip to Chicago, he spoke to some police officers he has gotten to know over the years and Francona talked to his players to see if there was a cause they could get behind.The Indians are donating $1 million to help troubled inner-city youth in Cleveland, a gesture the 57-year-old Francona described as one of the proudest things he has done in his career.All it is, he said, is really to in some way help inner-city kids. Thats really all it is, just to help. Dont care what color, just help.The Indians have created the Larry Doby Youth Fund, named in honor of the Hall of Famer who broke the color barrier in the American League with Cleveland, to assist underprivileged kids in Cleveland. Its a deed that has deeply moved Francona, who won two World Series with Boston before joining the Indians, the team his father, Tito, played for from 1959-64.Before the Indians hosted the Red Sox in Game 2 of the AL Division Series, Francona spoke passionately about the gift he hopes can make a difference to kids with little hope.You turn on the TV and you see so much, these kids in the inner city, they have no chance, he said. How are they supposed to be the next generation when theyre not getting an education or theyre either scared to get an education or they go to school and theyre afraid theyre going to get shot? Somebody has to start caring about them. I dont understand it.It has to get better if were going to get better.Francona said he spoke to outfielders Coco Crisp, Rajai Davis and other players about his idea and received immediate support.They were like, `Thats pretty cool. So then we got our entire team together, because that was the only way it was going to work. And every single player, every coach, every trainer, every clubhouse guy, donated. ... One thing led to another and I thought, what a way for us to be unified into doing something constructive, kind of putting our money where our mouth is.The Indians also got donations from the front office before owner Paul Dolan kicked in the rest to get the figure to $1 million.Francona said the money will be placed in a trust and the team is forming a committee with players and Dolan to decide where the money should go.In the grand scheme of things, its small, he said. But its something.When Francona first announced the trust earlier this week at the start of a press conference, he said it was difficult for him to convey the meaning of the gift because of nerves.I think it was the proudest moment Ive had in my entire baseball life, he said.Francona is equally proud of the way that his team willingly sacrificed for a cause that has bonded them. They are more united.Just the way that the guys rallied together and did it, man, he said. Thats not an easy thing to do. And its not my place to tell guys how to spend their money. I dont think thats fair. I told them, `Hey, theres no wrong here. I just said I think were in a position where we can do some good, and they were incredible. I mean incredible. Like I said, it was probably the proudest moment Ive ever had. 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Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. Infielder David Freese signed a two-year extension with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday. The contract contains a club option for the 2019 season.Freeses extension is worth at least $11 million in guaranteed money, according to multiple reports. Freese will make $6.25 million in 2017, $4.25 million in 2018, and he will receive a $6 million team option or a $500,000 buyout in 2019, according to reports.David has been a consummate professional while producing offensively and playing solid defense at both third and first base to help this team win games, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said in a statement. We are very pleased to have the opportunity to extend that impact into future seasons.Entering Mondays games, Freese has started 58 games at third base and 26 at first base for the Pirates this season.I wanted to be with a team that had a realistic shot to win, Freese told reporters, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Not just for this year, but for years to come. You look at our team from top to bottom, I love every one of those guys. Im enjoying my time here.The 33-year-old Freese is hitting .276 with 12 home runs and 49 RBIs in 107 games this season.dddddddddddd He signed with the Pirates before the season after playing the past two years for the Los Angeles Angels.His average is the highest it has been since 2012, when he hit .293 with 20 home runs and 79 RBIs for the St. Louis Cardinals in his only All-Star season.He was named 2011 World Series MVP when he batted .348 with seven RBIs, three doubles and hit a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in Game 6. The Cardinals defeated the Texas Rangers in seven games.Freese is the third player to sign an extension with the Pirates during this season, joining outfielder Gregory Polanco and catcher Francisco Cervelli.If I didnt want to be here, I would have just rode into the market and taken my chances, Freese said, according to the Post-Gazette. But I fell in love with it here, and my priority [isnt money] -- its to play for a team that can win and also be around a great group of players.Ive made a lot of money in this game, so where I play, who Im around and having a chance to win are more important to me. ' ' '