GOOD NEWS: How Anthony Volpe’s Mother’s Hidden Battle With Cancer Inspired a $200,000 Fund for Women in Need — “Now Every Game Is for Her”
By [joyce], Special to The Athletic
Anthony Volpe has always played with heart. But since this summer, every swing, every dive, every game he steps into has carried a weight far heavier than a bat.
In a recent televised segment that quickly went viral across sports networks and social media platforms, the 23-year-old Yankees shortstop sat down for what was supposed to be a routine feature on his breakout season. What unfolded instead was a tearful revelation: his mother, Maria Volpe, had been silently battling terminal cancer for months — never once telling her son.
“I had no idea,” Volpe said, eyes glassy and voice cracking. “She just wanted me to focus on my dream. On baseball. She didn’t want to be a distraction.”
Volpe says he learned of her illness only after her condition worsened this July. The news shook him to his core. Yet, instead of retreating, he stepped forward — on the field and in life.
This week, Anthony Volpe announced he’s establishing a $200,000 fund to provide cancer screening and treatment for low-income women across New York, a decision he says was inspired directly by his mother’s courage and silence.
“She fought alone so I could live my dream,” Volpe said. “Now, I want to make sure no other woman ever has to fight alone.”
The Secret Battle Behind the Spotlight
While Volpe was making highlight reels with his glove and clutch hits in the Bronx, Maria was quietly undergoing chemotherapy in New Jersey. Family members later said she had made them swear not to tell Anthony.
“She would watch his games with a scarf on her head, tissues by her side,” said Anthony’s aunt, Gina. “Every time he smiled on TV, it gave her the strength to keep going.”
Anthony says the guilt hit him hard when he finally found out.
“I was angry,” he said. “I felt like I should’ve known. But she just kept saying, ‘This was my gift to you.’ That crushed me.”
Turning Grief Into Action
After weeks of quiet reflection, Anthony decided he couldn’t let her struggle be in vain. With the help of the Yankees Foundation and a few personal sponsors, he’s launched the Maria Volpe Fund, which will start by supporting five women’s clinics in underprivileged neighborhoods in New York City.
“Cancer doesn’t care about income,” Volpe said. “But access to treatment often does.”
The fund aims to cover mammograms, biopsies, chemotherapy support, and mental health services for women who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford them.
Teammates and coaches have rallied behind him. Yankees captain Aaron Judge called the initiative “the most clutch move of the season.”
“I’ve seen him play through pain before,” Judge said. “But this is different. This is strength on a whole other level.”
Playing With Purpose
Despite the emotional toll, Volpe hasn’t slowed down. In fact, his batting average has ticked upward, and his defensive plays have only gotten sharper.
“Every game now has a deeper meaning,” Volpe said. “I carry her with me — not just in my heart, but on my sleeve.”
Indeed, stitched into the inside of his glove are the initials “MV,” along with a pink ribbon. He kisses them before every game.
And fans have noticed.
At a recent home game, a young girl held up a sign that read: “Thank you for helping moms like mine.” Volpe spotted it, jogged over, and handed her a ball.
“He gets it,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “Baseball is important. But life — life is bigger. And Anthony gets that.”
A Legacy Beyond Baseball
Maria Volpe passed away quietly last week, surrounded by family. Anthony missed just one game.
When asked why he returned so quickly, he gave a simple answer: “Because she would’ve wanted me to play.”
In her final days, Maria reportedly told Anthony that watching him live his dream gave her more joy than anything else in her life. Now, her legacy lives on — not just in her son’s career, but in the hundreds of women her story will help.
“I miss her every second,” Volpe said. “But I also feel her with me. And I know she’s proud.”
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