Mobile native Jake Peavy, who officially announced his retirement this spring following a stellar MLB pitching career, visited patients at University of South Alabama (USA) Health Children’s & Women’s Hospital for the third consecutive year.

According to a recent release from the hospital, Peavy, also playing the guitar, and a friend sang songs for young patients and their parents during a holiday party in the days before Christmas. The performance included “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and the classic “Happy Birthday” to a 16-year-old who was celebrating her birthday.

Peavy, who attended St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Mobile, also signed baseballs at the party. When a little boy pointed to one of his World Series rings, Peavy slipped it off and let the patient wear it.

The former baseball star even asked the children what they wanted for Christmas.

According to USA Health’s Kim Thompson-Yates, coordinator of Mapp Family and Child Life services, research has shown that allowing children and youth to continue socialization through parties and celebrations while hospitalized is a great catalyst toward normalizing the hospital environment.

Peavy won the 2007 NL Cy Young Award and won a World Series title each with the San Francisco Giants and the Boston Red Sox.

Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn