Minnesota Twins to Wear Red Jerseys, #11 Patch in Honor of Jacob Wetterling

The Minnesota Twins will honor Jacob Wetterling and support the Wetterling family by wearing red jerseys with a number 11 patch Friday night when they host the Cleveland Indians.

The Indians will also wear the number 11 patch Friday.

Additionally, the Twins will have a moment of remembrance before Friday's game against the Indians to accept the family’s wishes of honoring Jacob with the number 11, as well as a tribute to Jacob’s life in the form of an outfield wall graphic at Target Field for the remainder of the 2016 season.

Why number 11?

On Thursday, Patty Wetterling and the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center (JWRC) began asking people to place number 11, the number Jacob Wetterling wore on the soccer field, somewhere on their person at their next game, concert, or big event if they are committed to making the world a better place for kids.

The JWRC was recently approached by a children’s soccer team who wanted to wear Jacob’s jersey number in their next soccer game.

"Our hearts were touched by a request from children to honor Jacob in this way," the JWRC said in a statement.

Jacob loved sports. His father coached his soccer team, he wanted to be a football player, and he was a skilled hockey goalie.

"It’s one of the many ways to honor Jacob’s spirit and his sense of fairness. 11 for Jacob – 11 things that people of all ages can do so that we nurture a culture of kindness and compassion. If you put on Jacob’s jersey number, make a commitment to living with these 11 traits."

The 11 traits to honor Jacob are:
1. Be Fair
2. Be Kind
3. Be Understanding
4. Be Honest
5. Be Thankful
6. Be a Good Sport
7. Be a Good Friend
8. Be Joyful
9. Be Generous
10. Be Gentle with others
11. Be Positive

Many people responded to the #11forJacob challenge, sharing photos and images of themselves and others wearing the number 11.

Twins fans are encouraged to share how they are living by the 11 traits by using the hashtags #JacobsHopeLives and #11forJacob on social media.

Beginning Friday, the Twins will auction off 11 game-worn jerseys with the number 11 patch from Friday with all proceeds benefitting the Jacob Wetterling Resource Center.

Fans can go here to bid on the jerseys. The Jacob Wetterling Resource Center (JWRC) was founded to educate and assist families and communities to address and prevent the exploitation of children.

The remains of Jacob, who disappeared 27 years ago in his hometown of St. Joseph, Minnesota, were found last week in Paynesville. Daniel Heinrich confessed in U.S. District Court Tuesday that he abducted and murdered Jacob on Oct. 22, 1989.

First image via Minnesota Twins

Second image via Jacob Wetterling Resource Center