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Peter Frates (December 28, 1984 – December 9, 2019) was an American college baseball player for the Boston College Eagles and an activist for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He is credited with helping the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge gain national attention, which raised approximately $220 million for ALS research.[1]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Pete Frates was born on December 28, 1984, in Beverly, Massachusetts.[2][3] He grew up playing many sports, including baseball, hockey, and football.[2][3] Frates attended his father's alma mater St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers, Massachusetts, and was an honor roll student there.[2][3] At St. John's Prep, he was a four-year member of the varsity baseball, hockey, and football teams, and he served as captain of all three teams during his senior year.[2][3] Before graduating in 2003, Frates was named an all-star in the Catholic Conference in both baseball and football, and helped St. John's Prep win two conference championships in both sports.[2][3][4] Additionally, Frates was awarded Catholic Conference Honorable Mention recognition in hockey, and he also won St. John's Athletic Director's award in his senior year.[4]

College career

[edit]

Upon graduating high school, Frates matriculated to Boston College to continue his baseball career, where his parents, John and Nancy, met.[2][5] At Boston College, he played outfield from 2004 to 2007 and was elected team captain during his senior year.[6][5][7] As a junior and a senior, he finished first on the team in home runs.[2][3] In his senior year, he also led the team in both stolen bases and sacrifice hits, with nineteen and eight, respectively.[6][3]

In his junior year during the Baseball Beanpot championship game against Harvard, Frates went 4-for-4 in a 10–2 win at Fenway Park.[2][3] In that game, he hit a home run into Fenway Park's bullpen, a double, and three Run batted ins (RBIs).[2][3] Additionally, in a single game against Maryland on April 14, 2007, during his senior year, he went 4-for-6 and recorded eight RBIs, including a grand slam, a three-run home run, and an RBI double.[6][3][8] Frates' eight RBIs set the Boston College baseball record for the most RBIs recorded in a single game, which still stands as of 2019.[5]

ALS advocacy

[edit]

Diagnosis

[edit]

Upon graduating from Boston College in 2007, Frates continued playing baseball in the German Baseball League in Hamburg.[2][7][9] After returning to the United States from Germany, he started to notice some changes about himself.[8] He said that "it all started with some twitching in my upper body and arms," but later his performance on the baseball field started to decline.[8]

In 2011, Frates was hit by a fastball on his left wrist during a men's league baseball game.[10][8] He noticed that his wrist, although not broken, was not healing properly on its own; he said that "it was painful and weak, and it was starting to prevent me from doing things as simple as buttoning my shirt."[8][10]

Additionally, Frates said "my day-to-day work schedule was being thrown into flux. Normally on the road by 6 a.m., I was now lucky to leave my apartment by 10 a.m.- often stopping for naps in the rest areas of the highway."[8] Even after seeing a neuromuscular specialist, a hand specialist, and a neurologist, as well as undergoing months of testing, no diagnosis was able to be made.[8]

One night, Frates decided to do some research of his symptoms on his own while watching October baseball with his father, and he discovered that his symptoms lined up with those of an ALS patient.[8] After months of additional testing, he was officially diagnosed with ALS on March 13, 2012, at the age of 27.[10][5][8]

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

[edit]

After receiving his diagnosis, Frates said that "it became abundantly clear that my calling was to raise ALS awareness and to fight for a brighter future for all those affected today and those yet to come."[8][9]

Although Frates did not invent the Ice Bucket Challenge, his ALS activism helped it gain national attention and turn into a viral phenomenon.[9][10] Throughout the summer of 2014, over 17 million people participated in the challenge to raise money to find a cure for ALS, and roughly 2.5 million people donated to ALS causes.[11][12] Participants in the challenge included Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Julian Edelman, Red Sox owner John Henry, Charlie Baker, Marty Walsh, Matt Ryan, David Beckham, Lebron James, Lady Gaga, George W. Bush, Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Bill Gates, Donald Trump, Anna Wintour, Ethel Kennedy, and Angela Merkel.[9][10][13][14][5]

The challenge is estimated to have raised over $220 million for ALS research.[9][10][6][15] In 2016, a global sequencing effort funded by donations to the ALS Association from the challenge led to the discovery of a new gene tied to ALS, which could help scientists find a cure.[13][10][16] The discovery also fueled investment in new communication technologies for ALS patients and helped move experimental treatments to clinical trials.[16]

Lou Gehrig Day

[edit]

In his August 2014 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge video at Fenway Park, Frates challenged then-Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Bud Selig to make July 4 ALS Awareness Day in the MLB in honor of Lou Gehrig, who also had ALS, and led to the condition also being known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”.[9][17] Lou Gehrig Day is now recognized in the MLB on June 2, which is the date that Gehrig became the Yankees’ starting first baseman and also the date he died.[9][17][18]

On October 22, 2014, prior to Game 2 of the World Series, the MLB recognized Frates for his work with a silver ice bucket from Bud Selig.[9][19] Frates was unable to travel to Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City for the ceremony, but his parents and siblings accepted the bucket on his behalf.[9][19]

Due to Frates' efforts in creating Lou Gehrig Day, he is honored in the "ALS and Baseball" exhibit in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, which also includes Lou Gehrig and Catfish Hunter.[9][5] Frates' section includes the silver ice bucket gifted by Commissioner Selig, a glove and cap which he used during his time at Boston College, and the sunglasses and plastic bucket he used in his Ice Bucket Challenge video, which was all donated in June 2017.[9][15] The exhibit additionally has one of the few remaining baseballs autographed by Frates, which was donated by his family in 2017.[5]

Legacy

[edit]

The Pete Frates #3 Fund, which was started by the Frates family, raised money to pay for Frates' medical care.[6][7] In order to help other ALS patients with their medical costs, the Frates family also created the Peter Frates Family Foundation.[6] Additionally, the ALS Association worked with its Massachusetts chapter to create a program named after Frates to give in-home caregiving assistance to individuals with ALS.[5]

Frates received numerous honors from the academic institutions that he attended. In August 2017, St. John's Prep revealed that it had dedicated its baseball field in Frates' name, and named him its 2018 distinguished alumnus.[15] In order to collect funds for ALS, Boston College baseball plays in an annual ALS Awareness Game in his honor, which was founded in 2012, the same year of Frates' ALS diagnosis.[6][5] During the 2016 ALS Awareness Game, Boston College retired Frates' number three jersey, which was the second number to be retired in Boston College baseball history.[6][14][5] On June 26, 2019, Boston College announced that its new indoor baseball and softball facility, which opened at the beginning of the 2020–2021 academic year, would be named the "Pete Frates Center."[15][7][6][5]

Frates was also honored by the Boston Red Sox on several occasions. Not long after his diagnosis, he was invited to throw out the first pitch at a Red Sox game.[8] On March 3, 2015, both Red Sox and Boston College baseball players wore Frates' number three during a spring training scrimmage.[15][20] On April 13, 2015, which was Opening Day of the Red Sox season, the team signed him to an honorary contract, and on September 6, 2019, the Red Sox gifted Frates a custom 2018 World Series Ring.[15]

Frates was the recipient of several other honors and awards as well. In 2014, he was named Sports Illustrated’s Inspiration of the Year, and in 2015 ESPN made a "SportsCenter" documentary about him, which was nominated for an Emmy.[14][15][5][3] In 2017, National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Mark Emmert awarded Frates the National Collegiate Athletic Association Inspiration Award.[5] In the same year, September 5 was named "Pete Frates Day" in Boston by former Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. September 5 also saw the release of Ice Bucket Challenge: Pete Frates and the Fight Against ALS, a book written by BC alumnus Dave Wedge and Casey Sherman about Frates' life.[6][16][5] The two authors donated half of their proceeds from the book's sales to the Frates family.[5] Also in 2017, former Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed a bill marking the first month of August in Massachusetts "Ice Bucket Challenge Week" in honor of Frates' activist work.[6][16][13] In December 2018, Casey Affleck and Alison Greenspan agreed to help create a Netflix film about Frates.[15]

Personal life

[edit]

Frates graduated from Boston College in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in communications.[2][15][7][21]

After graduating from Boston College in 2007, Frates continued playing baseball in Connecticut, the Hawaiian League in Honolulu, and the German Baseball League in Hamburg.[2] While playing in Germany, he also coached young German baseball players.[citation needed] He also traveled all over Europe with his best friend from high school and one of his teammates.[2] Frates visited London, where his older sister, Jenn, and her husband Dan were living at the time, as well as Italy.[2] After coaching and playing in Germany, Frates went back home to sell insurance and continued to play baseball in summer leagues.[10][8]

In 2012, Frates was hired as Boston College's Director of Baseball Operations by head coach Mike Gambino.[2][5][7] In this role, he created a "Mentor Night," also known as his "Baseball Mentoring Program," when former Boston College baseball players talk to the current players about what life after the game looks like.[5][2][7] Additionally, even as the progression of his ALS prevented him from traveling with the team, he gave support, advice, and inspiration to the players.[5]

On June 1, 2013, Frates married Julie Kowalik, who he had met while they were both students at Boston College.[5][15] During the ceremony, which took place in Marblehead, Massachusetts, Frates got out of his wheelchair to walk Kowalik down the aisle.[15] On August 31, 2014, their daughter, Lucy Fitzgerald, was born.[2][15][12]

Frates died at the age of 34 on December 9, 2019.[2][15][21]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Pete Frates

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Pete Frates (December 28, 1984 – December 9, 2019) was an American former player and prominent advocate for (ALS) research, best known as a co-creator of the viral that dramatically increased global awareness and funding for the disease. Born in Beverly, Massachusetts, Frates excelled as a three-sport athlete at St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers, graduating in 2003, before attending Boston College, where he earned a degree in communications and history in 2007. As a star center fielder and team captain for the Boston College Eagles baseball team, he set a school record with eight RBIs in a single game in April 2007, hit a home run at Fenway Park, and maintained a .400 batting average in summer league play; after college, he played professionally in Germany and in U.S. amateur leagues while also coaching youth baseball. In March 2012, at age 27, Frates was diagnosed with ALS following a persistent wrist injury from 2011, a progressive neurodegenerative disease that led to his full paralysis, loss of speech, and reliance on a wheelchair and feeding tube, defying the typical 2–5-year prognosis. Frates became a tireless advocate for ALS patients, partnering with fellow patients Pat Quinn and Anthony Senerchia to launch the Ice Bucket Challenge in the summer of 2014—a social media campaign involving dousing oneself with ice water to symbolize the chilling effects of ALS, which exploded globally with over 17 million participants and raised more than $115 million for The ALS Association in the U.S. alone, contributing to a worldwide total exceeding $220 million that funded breakthroughs like the discovery of five new ALS-related genes and increased annual research funding from $4–6 million to $17–19 million. In recognition of his impact, Boston College retired his jersey number in 2016, and in 2017, the National Baseball Hall of Fame created a permanent exhibit featuring his glove, sunglasses, and an ice bucket; the challenge's success also inspired similar viral efforts for other causes. Frates married Julie Kowalik in 2013, and their daughter, Lucy, was born in August 2014; he was also survived by his parents, John and Nancy Frates, and siblings Andrew and Jennifer. He died at his home in Beverly on December 9, 2019, at age 34, after a seven-year battle with ALS, leaving a legacy as a symbol of resilience and philanthropy that transformed the fight against the disease.

Early life and education

Family background

Pete Frates was born on December 28, 1984, in Beverly, Massachusetts. He was the son of John Frates, a Boston College alumnus and former athlete, and Nancy Frates (née D’Alfonso), and grew up in a close-knit Italian-American family that emphasized strong familial bonds and community involvement. Frates had one younger brother, Andrew, and one older sister, Jennifer, with the family providing a supportive environment that nurtured his development. From an early age, Frates displayed a passion for sports, particularly , influenced by the athletic culture of Beverly and encouragement from his family and local community. He participated in various childhood activities, including playing , football, and , which honed his natural athletic talents. Known for his charm, wit, intelligence, caring nature, and competitive spirit, Frates emerged as a born leader who easily formed lifelong friendships, traits that would shape his character throughout his life.

High school career

Pete Frates attended St. John's Preparatory School in , where he emerged as a standout multi-sport , participating in varsity , football, and hockey for four years. Following in the footsteps of his father, John, an alumnus of the school, Frates benefited from strong family support in pursuing his athletic passions. In , Frates served as team captain during his senior year and was named a Catholic Conference All-Star, contributing significantly as a key player to the Eagles' conference championship teams in 2002 and 2003. His and performance on the field helped solidify St. John's Prep's success in one of the state's premier high school leagues. Academically, Frates excelled alongside his athletic commitments, earning the Athletic Director’s Award as a senior for his overall contributions to the school community. He graduated in 2003 and attracted recruitment interest from colleges, ultimately committing to —his parents' —where his high school achievements paved the way for a continued career.

Baseball career

College career

Frates enrolled at in the fall of 2003, majoring in communications, and joined the Eagles team as a walk-on . His college career began modestly as a in 2004, appearing in just 12 games with limited at-bats, primarily in . As a in 2005, he saw increased action in 31 games, batting .130 with 6 hits, 4 RBIs, 1 , and 3 stolen bases while continuing in . Frates broke out as a junior in 2006, starting regularly in 53 games and posting a .244 with 39 hits, 25 RBIs, 5 home runs, and a team-high 19 stolen bases, solidifying his role in center field. In his senior year of 2007, he maintained similar production across 52 games, hitting .242 with 43 hits, 27 RBIs, 5 home runs, and 12 stolen bases, tying for the team lead in home runs for the second straight season. That year, he set a modern Boston College single-game record with 8 RBIs, going 4-for-6 including a grand slam, a three-run homer, and an RBI double against on April 14. Over his four seasons, Frates finished with a .227 career , 11 home runs, 56 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases, ranking fifth in program history with 20 career sacrifice hits. Named team captain for the 2007 season, Frates provided for the Eagles, who compiled a 24-27-1 overall record and 12-17 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. He graduated with a in communications in May 2007 and aspired to pursue a career, subsequently playing in independent leagues including stints in , , and .

Professional career

After graduating from in 2007, Frates signed to play professionally in , joining the HSV Stealers of the German Bundesliga based in . In the 2008 season, as an , he batted .298 with 20 RBIs and hit five of the team's six home runs, contributing significantly to the Stealers' offense despite the league's emphasis on pitching and defense over power hitting. During his time in Germany, Frates also coached youth players, helping to develop the sport in a where baseball remained niche compared to soccer. The experience abroad presented unique challenges, including adapting to a shorter season, smaller crowds, and a where baseball facilities and fan interest were limited. Frates returned to the after the 2008 season and did not pursue further opportunities overseas, effectively retiring from paid play around 2009 to focus on amateur leagues and other pursuits. His brief stint allowed him to live out his dream of competing at that level following his captaincy.

Health and diagnosis

Onset of symptoms

After retiring from attempts in 2010, Pete Frates settled into a sales role at in , where he worked as a group insurance salesman while continuing to play amateur in the Intercity League for the Lexington Blue Sox during the summer of 2011. His demanding and brief , involving intense physical training and repetitive motions, may have contributed to early wear on his body, though this was not immediately recognized as a concern. In late summer 2011, Frates first noticed troubling symptoms during Intercity League games, beginning around May or June when he experienced unusual fatigue and a drop in performance, including a that plummeted over 100 points from the previous year and multiple broken bats in a single game due to diminished hand strength. In August, a pitch struck his left , causing persistent pain and leaving his hand and uncoordinated for everyday tasks, alongside emerging muscle twitches (fasciculations) in his upper arms after workouts and extending to his legs, which affected his speed and energy levels post-season. Initially, these issues were dismissed by Frates and early medical evaluations as sports-related strain, such as a possible broken , pinched , or orthopedic injury from his history, leading to conservative treatments that failed to resolve the symptoms. By late 2011, concerned about the ongoing coordination loss and weakness, Frates began researching his symptoms online in secret, scheduling appointments in early 2012 under the guise of a routine check-up to avoid alarming others. Over the following months, he underwent a series of tests in that ruled out conditions like , but the persistent fasciculations, hand limpness, and leg fatigue prompted referrals to specialists, culminating in further investigations by .

ALS diagnosis and early impact

Pete Frates was formally diagnosed with () on March 13, 2012, at the age of 27, following months of escalating symptoms that began with persistent in his left arm and hand. The diagnosis was confirmed by neurologists at through a series of clinical examinations and (EMG) tests, which detected abnormal electrical activity in his motor neurons indicative of the disease. ALS is a progressive that targets motor neurons in the and , gradually impairing the signals that control voluntary muscle movement and leading to , , and eventual . In the months immediately following his diagnosis, Frates experienced early progression of the disease, which intensified his symptoms. Professionally, the diagnosis abruptly ended Frates' aspirations in , but he was quickly appointed as Boston College's Director of Baseball Operations in March 2012, allowing him to pivot toward coaching and mentoring young players through initiatives like the Baseball Mentoring Program. However, as symptoms intensified, this role became untenable, forcing him to become a full-time focused on management, which introduced immediate financial strain from mounting medical expenses and lost earning potential, alongside profound emotional challenges as he grappled with the of a typically fatal condition with a of two to five years.

ALS advocacy

Ice Bucket Challenge

In the summer of 2014, Pete Frates, who had been diagnosed with in 2012, co-founded the alongside Pat Quinn and Anthony Senerchia, both also living with the disease. The campaign originated on , where participants were nominated to either douse themselves with a bucket of ice water or make a donation to research and care organizations, with the goal of raising awareness about the . Frates, leveraging his background as a former captain, shared his personal story through videos and posts to encourage participation, emphasizing the urgent need for funding to combat . The challenge rapidly spread globally during July and August 2014, amassing over 17 million videos from participants in 159 countries and garnering approximately 10 billion views. High-profile celebrities, including , , , and , joined in, dramatically amplifying its reach and turning it into a that transcended platforms. Frates himself contributed multiple videos, such as one filmed in the center field at , where he was doused with ice water to symbolize his commitment to the cause. He also participated in numerous media interviews and coordinated closely with organizations like the to direct donations effectively. The proved transformative for fundraising, generating over $115 million for the in 2014 alone—a 3,500% increase compared to the previous year. These funds were allocated to initiatives, including the identification of at least 12 new ALS-related genes and the support for clinical trials leading to the first FDA-approved for a genetic form of the disease. Frates' advocacy through the campaign not only boosted immediate financial support but also heightened public understanding of , paving the way for sustained advancements.

Lou Gehrig Day

Pete Frates' advocacy played a pivotal role in the creation of Day, an annual (MLB) initiative dedicated to raising awareness for (ALS). In 2014, two years after his diagnosis, Frates publicly challenged then-MLB Commissioner during the to designate July 4 as an ALS Awareness Day, invoking 's legacy as a icon who battled the disease. This call to action, rooted in Frates' own background as a captain and lifelong Red Sox fan, helped inspire a broader collaboration between MLB, its 30 clubs, the , and the grassroots Day Committee, culminating in the event's official launch on June 2, 2021—the date marking Gehrig's MLB debut in 1925 and his passing in 1941. The inaugural Lou Gehrig Day featured coordinated tributes across all MLB stadiums, including pre-game ceremonies with ceremonial first pitches by ALS community members and on-field recognitions of patients and advocates. Players, managers, and coaches wore special "Lou Gehrig Day" patches on their jerseys, along with "4-ALS" logos and wristbands honoring Gehrig's uniform number. Donations were facilitated through charitable auctions of memorabilia on MLB's platform, benefiting institutions like the Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital, while royalties from official event T-shirts supported the ALS Association's Expanded Access Protocol Program for experimental therapies. Additional tributes included in-game videos, such as a recitation of Gehrig's famous "Luckiest Man" speech narrated by Cal Ripken Jr. and voiced via technology by ALS patient Steve Gleason. Frates contributed directly to the through his persistent , including speeches and written essays that emphasized tying awareness to baseball's , such as his 2014 Bleacher Report piece calling for a by the 100th anniversary of Gehrig's speech. His efforts, amplified by his personal connection to the sport, helped shape the event's focus on and research funding. The day has continued annually, with ongoing features like player-led discussions on impacts—drawing from those with family histories of the disease—and occasional recreations of awareness stunts to sustain momentum for research advancements.

Foundation and other initiatives

In 2012, shortly after his diagnosis, Pete Frates and his family established the Pete Frates #3 Fund to subsidize medical care and expenses not covered by for patients, marking the beginning of organized advocacy efforts that later evolved into broader initiatives. His wife, Julie Frates, whom he married in 2013, played an active role alongside the family in these early and activities, emphasizing patient support and . The initiatives expanded through the Team Frate Train, a network of supporters that organized events to raise education, awareness, and funds for ALS research and patient care, including collaborations with organizations like the ALS Therapy Development Institute to advance therapeutic development. Key programs included grants to help ALS patients afford home health care and adaptive equipment, with the later-formed Peter Frates Family Foundation—launched in 2018—providing $1,075,369 in grants to 216 families across 35 states as of 2025. From 2015 to 2019, Frates contributed to advocacy through speaking engagements and media campaigns, such as the "Strike Out " initiative, which leveraged his background to promote awareness via events, wristbands, and online challenges that encouraged public participation in . These efforts included supporting legislative pushes for funding, like backing U.S. Representative Seth Moulton's 2017 bill to expedite federal benefits for patients, though Frates himself did not deliver formal congressional testimony. The foundation's work played a key role in maintaining momentum from the 2014 , channeling donations toward sustained annual fundraising that supported research and care, with the #3 Fund contributing to the Therapy Development Institute by sustaining donor engagement post-challenge. This built on collaborative extensions like Day in MLB, focusing on non-league operations to amplify patient-centered impact during Frates' lifetime.

Personal life and death

Family and relationships

Pete Frates met his future wife, Julie Kowalik, a fellow graduate, in the summer of 2011. The couple married on June 1, 2013, in Julie's hometown of , about 15 months after Frates' diagnosis. Their union exemplified resilience, as Julie became a steadfast partner in Frates' advocacy efforts, including the that gained momentum shortly after their wedding. On August 31, 2014, Julie gave birth to the couple's daughter, Lucy Fitzgerald Frates, providing a profound source of joy amid Frates' progressing illness. The family adapted their daily life to accommodate ALS, relying heavily on in-home caregivers to support Frates' needs while maintaining a nurturing environment for Lucy. These adaptations included round-the-clock assistance, which the family funded through personal resources and later advocacy initiatives, allowing Frates to remain at home surrounded by loved ones. Frates shared close bonds with his parents, John and Nancy Frates, and his siblings, brother Andrew and sister Jennifer, who provided unwavering emotional and practical support throughout his battle with . His parents actively participated in raising awareness, while his siblings rallied the family during challenging times. A key friendship was with Pat Quinn, a fellow patient and co-creator of the , whose collaboration strengthened Frates' advocacy and offered mutual encouragement in their shared fight. Frates' personal values centered on , humor, and determination, deeply influenced by his Jesuit education at . He drew strength from his Catholic upbringing, viewing his journey as an opportunity to inspire others through Ignatian principles of service and resilience. Frates infused humor into his experiences, often using lighthearted baseball analogies to cope, and adopted the "Strike Out ALS" to rally his family and supporters in the quest for a cure. This approach fostered a positive family dynamic, emphasizing passion and perseverance even as advanced.

Death and immediate aftermath

In 2019, Pete Frates entered the advanced stages of , becoming fully dependent on a for breathing and eye-gaze technology for communication, as the disease had progressed to complete , eliminating his ability to move, speak, or eat independently. Frates died peacefully on December 9, 2019, at his home in , at the age of 34, after a seven-year battle with , surrounded by his immediate family. His family announced the news through , describing the passing as the arrival of "our angel: Peter Frates," and emphasizing his unwavering spirit as a husband, father, son, brother, and advocate who never complained about his condition. A was held on December 13, 2019, at St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish in , adjacent to the campus, where hundreds gathered to pay respects, including current and former BC athletes and Boston Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy. The service featured bagpipes, readings selected by Frates himself, and a praising his enduring personality and family bonds, with his wife Julie and daughter Lucy in attendance. A private celebration of life followed later on Boston's North Shore near Beverly. In their public statement, the Frates family urged supporters to honor his legacy by "staying with the mission to strike out ALS" and directed donations to the Peter Frates Family Foundation, which continues to assist advanced ALS patients in receiving home-based care to remain with loved ones. Boston College issued a tribute highlighting Frates' role as a transformative alumnus and ALS warrior, while Major League Baseball acknowledged his profound influence on awareness and fundraising for the disease.

Legacy

Awards and honors

Pete Frates received several recognitions for his contributions to college baseball during his time at Boston College, where he served as team captain in his senior year of 2007. As a standout outfielder, his leadership and performance on the field earned him a place among the program's notable athletes, with memorabilia from his playing days later preserved in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In his advocacy for ALS awareness, Frates was honored with the 2017 NCAA Inspiration Award, presented by NCAA President at his home in , recognizing his role in sparking the and raising global funds for research. Earlier, in 2014, presented his family with a custom silver ice bucket trophy prior to Game 2, acknowledging the profound impact of the on initiatives. He also received the Stephen Heywood Patients Today Leadership Award in 2012 from the ALS Therapy Development Institute for his patient advocacy efforts. Following his death in 2019, Frates' legacy prompted additional tributes, including the establishment of the first week in August as Week by state law, with the governor issuing an annual proclamation to honor his contributions to awareness. declared September 5, 2017, as Pete Frates Day. In 2025, The Sports Museum at opened a dedicated exhibit on October 1 featuring Frates' memorabilia, including his baseball jersey, bat, batting helmet, and the iconic ice bucket used in the challenge, highlighting his dual legacy in sports and advocacy.

Long-term impact

The , co-founded by Pete Frates in 2014, generated over $220 million worldwide for research and patient care, with sustained revivals and ongoing donations contributing to breakthroughs such as the 2022 FDA approval of Relyvrio (AMX0035)—later withdrawn in 2024 after a failed confirmatory —the first treatment directly funded in part by Challenge proceeds. The allocated $2.2 million from these funds to support the drug's clinical trials, which initially showed promise in slowing disease progression but were not replicated in later studies. Frates' advocacy catalyzed policy advancements, including the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS (ACT for ALS) Act signed into law in December 2021, which allocates up to $100 million over five years for grants supporting research, expanded access to investigational therapies, and infrastructure improvements. This legislation built on the heightened awareness from Frates' efforts, facilitating faster pathways for and patient access to emerging treatments. His work has fostered lasting cultural changes by integrating ALS awareness into sports and media, with annual events like Day in continuing to educate millions. The Peter Frates Family Foundation, established in his honor, has grown to provide financial grants totaling over $1 million to more than 200 ALS families across 35 states as of 2025, enabling and preserving . In 2025, the foundation hosted ongoing initiatives such as the Captain's Ball gala and regional golf tournaments, while research tied to Ice Bucket funding has advanced trials and studies, sustaining momentum toward a cure. The 10th anniversary of the challenge in 2024 featured revivals that raised additional funds and heightened awareness.

References

  1. https://www.als.org/blog/remembering-pete-frates-co-founder-als-ice-bucket-challenge
  2. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/09/us/pete-frates-dead.html
  3. https://www.espn.com/college-sports/story/_/id/28260957/pete-frates-inspiration-ice-bucket-challenge-dies-age-34
  4. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2019/12/09/pete-frates-who-raised-millions-for-als-research-championing-ice-bucket-challenge-dies/VPQE9bjbNTpuJCswFRd2yJ/story.html
  5. https://petefrates.com/about-us/
  6. https://www.bostonherald.com/2016/12/14/buckley-pete-frates-stories-keep-getting-better/
  7. https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/bcnews/campus-community/alumni/frates-family-statement.html
  8. https://bceagles.com/sports/baseball/roster/coaches/pete-frates/421
  9. https://www.stjohnsprep.org/cf_news/view.cfm?newsid=6679
  10. https://bceagles.com/sports/baseball/roster/pete-frates/494
  11. https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/56067/
  12. https://www.bcinterruption.com/2017/7/9/15899480/bc-interruption-hall-of-fame-inductee-pete-frates-boston-college-baseball-ncaa-als
  13. https://bceagles.com/sports/baseball/schedule/2007
  14. https://www.mister-baseball.com/german-bundesliga-2008-review-hsv-stealers/
  15. https://www.welt.de/welt_print/article1917599/Baseball-Bundesliga-Stealers-gegen-Dortmund-auf-Beutezug.html
  16. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/acc/2019/12/09/pete-frates-boston-college-dies-34-als-ice-bucket-challenge/2632813001/
  17. https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/12/13/why-pete-frates-model-jesuit-educated-students/
  18. https://www.boston.com/uncategorized/noprimarytagmatch/2012/09/09/pete-frates-fights-lou-gehrigs-disease-with-the-help-of-friends/
  19. https://www.mlb.com/news/former-college-baseball-player-peter-frates-is-fighting-als-with-courage-and-dignity/c-39149982
  20. https://people.com/human-interest/pete-frates-als-ice-bucket-challenge-money-own-care/
  21. https://www.nydailynews.com/2017/09/03/mister-cool-the-story-behind-pete-frates-his-als-diagnosis-and-the-ice-bucket-challenge/
  22. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/1446323/2019/12/09/buckley-pete-frates-accomplished-everything-he-set-out-to-do-in-his-remarkable-life/
  23. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/als-27-baseball-player-lou-gehrigs-disease-strikes/story?id=16457665
  24. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2109533-my-journey-from-baseball-star-to-als-patient-75-years-after-lou-gehrig
  25. https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/11163889/mlb-former-boston-college-centerfielder-pete-frates-faces-als
  26. https://intercityleaguebaseball.com/peter-frates-1984-2019/
  27. https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/bcnews/campus-community/alumni/in-memoriam-frates.html
  28. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/nancy-frates-financial-struggle-als/
  29. https://www.als.org/ibc
  30. https://www.als.org/ibc-how-it-started
  31. https://www.npr.org/2019/12/09/786423846/pete-frates-a-driving-force-behind-the-viral-ice-bucket-challenge-dies-at-34
  32. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/18/business/ice-bucket-challenge-has-raised-millions-for-als-association.html
  33. https://www.mlb.com/news/lindsay-berra-ice-bucket-challenge-was-a-major-hit-in-2014/c-105382338
  34. https://alsnc.org/ice-bucket-challenge-purpose-impact-and-legacy-in-als-awareness/
  35. https://baseballhall.org/discover/shortstops/pete-lou-and-the-fight-against-als
  36. https://www.mlb.com/news/lou-gehrig-day-june-2nd-2021-details
  37. https://www.mlb.com/news/lou-gehrig-pete-frates-share-legacy-in-als-fight
  38. https://www.als.net/affiliate/pete-frates-3-fund/
  39. https://petefrates.com/
  40. https://www.harpoon5miler.com/Race/Harpoon5Miler/Page/PeterFratesFamilyFoundation
  41. https://petefrates.com/our-impact/
  42. https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/herald-citizen/2018/12/03/peter-frates-family-foundation-launched/7955629007/
  43. https://collegebaseballinsider.com/frates-fundraiser-band-together-to-strike-out-als/
  44. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/pete-frates-als-research-seth-moulton/
  45. https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/pete-frates-inspiration-for-als-ice-bucket-challenge-becomes-a-father/
  46. https://petefrates.com/our-work/
  47. https://www.wcvb.com/article/cost-of-care-pete-frates-parents-cost-of-at-home-care-debilitating-illnesses-als-ice-bucket-challenge/33397617
  48. https://www.bostonherald.com/2019/07/14/ice-bucket-challenge-marks-five-years-in-fight-against-als/
  49. https://www.als.org/blog/remembering-pat-quinn-als-hero-and-co-founder-ice-bucket-challenge
  50. https://boston-beginnings.com/2018/03/13/mile-motivation-pete-frates-pat-quinn/
  51. https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/12/13/why-pete-frates-model-jesuit-educated-students
  52. https://www.forbes.com/sites/carminegallo/2014/09/05/how-pete-frates-found-his-calling-and-launched-the-ice-bucket-challenge/
  53. https://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/striking-out-als-one-pitch-at-a-time/
  54. https://bceagles.com/news/2021/4/9/eagles-unlimited-als-awareness-games-calling-to-beat-the-beast
  55. https://www.mlb.com/news/pete-frates-legacy-is-leadership
  56. https://www.today.com/health/5-years-later-man-als-who-popularized-ice-bucket-challenge-t158256
  57. https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2019/12/09/pete-frates-family-issues-statement-after-his-death/dpD2uykrZlHGPD2r746HUK/story.html
  58. https://www.wbur.org/news/2019/12/13/pete-frates-funeral-als-ice-bucket-advocate
  59. https://www.mlb.com/news/pete-frates-ice-bucket-founder-dies
  60. https://baseballhall.org/discover/pete-frates-battle-now-part-of-hof-history
  61. https://www.ncaa.org/news/2016/11/17/2017-ncaa-inspiration-award-pete-frates.aspx
  62. https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Morning-Buzz/2014/10/23/series/
  63. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHdVDZMEhi4
  64. https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter6/Section15CCCCCC
  65. https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/pete-frates-day-to-be-declared-in-boston/27210/
  66. https://nwn.ai/news-room/press-release/the-sports-museum-to-open-new-exhibit-honoring-ice-bucket-challenge-hero-pete-frates-in-october-2025/
  67. https://bceagles.com/news/2025/10/1/baseball-the-sports-museum-at-td-garden-unveils-new-pete-frates-exhibition
  68. https://www.als.net/ice-bucket-challenge/
  69. https://www.amylyx.com/news/amylyx-pharmaceuticals-announces-fda-approval-of-relyvriotm-for-the-treatment-of-als
  70. https://www.als.org/stories-news/statement-relyvrio-clinical-trial-results
  71. https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/29/health/als-treatment-relyvrio.html
  72. https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3537
  73. https://www.als.org/blog/nancy-frates-mothers-love-sons-legacy-and-power-hope
  74. https://www.classy.org/event/the-captains-ball-in-honor-of-pete-frates/e690990
  75. https://petefrates.com/event/bonita-bay-club-golf-tournament-2025/
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