ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Detroit Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge and his wife Shani were honored for what the all-star does off the baseball field.

C S Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor proclaimed Sept. 2 as "Brandon and Shani Inge Day." The couple has given a lot of their time and some of their money to help fund a $750 million, 1.1 million square-foot hospital for women and children.

They have donated $100,000 to a playroom at the hospital, which was named the "Dugout."

The children spent the day playing games and making crafts with the Inges, and snacked on ballpark foods like hot dogs, caramel corn and cotton candy.

“So you realize baseball is baseball and this is something more important I think. Obviously, you have to take your job very seriously, but if you can in five minutes make a kid smile when you’re in there, I think it’s worth it,” said Inge.

“I got him to sign my pennant on the back,” said one patient at the hospital.

For those patients who could not attend the outdoor party, Inge and his wife, went from room to room to give them a special visit. The seventh floor of the hospital looked like the next best thing to Comerica Park, with nachos and cracker jacks.

“It puts everything in perspective when you come here. It does. It reminds you that this is a game that we play, it really is. And I take it very seriously and I want to win more than just about anyone,” said Inge.

Detroit Tigers All-Star Brandon Inge has dedicated two recent homers to pediatric patients he knows at Mott Children's Hospital.

And now, they're making requests.

"Can you try to hit a home run?" 11-year-old Jonelle Bailey asked Inge on Wednesday afternoon during his latest visit.

"I'll try," Inge said, looking back with a smile.