Some AA and AAA baseball players do all right for themselves financially. Most don't. Single A rated equivalent tend to be even more one-sided - but the Bay Area Toros team has taken a step to help their players.

Infielder Eric Brown has created the "pass-the-hat" promotion, which is a way for fans to personally thank their struggling players when they perform.

The way it works is, every time a player hits a home run, a hat gets passed throughout the stands. Any money placed in the hat goes directly to that player. Pitchers take advantage of this anytime they wrack up 8 Ks in a game.

"It's been nice because I was broke three days ago," Brown told the Galveston County Daily News. "Now I'm actually able to eat pretty well the last couple of days."

It's not a completely new concept, as other leagues to have it - however, it is relatively new to the Continental Baseball League.

Already, the team's spirits have been improved. Pitchers now can be heard discussing their tactics to make eight strikeouts, and folks have a little more drive to perform well.