Brownstown, IL (KSDK) - In the small town of Brownstown, Illinois, population 750, a really big gesture has been made, by a fourth grader. You know, an age when kids are usually a little less likely to let go of things, but not Max Schraer.
He's a cool kid, who like just about everybody else his age loves Albert Pujols.
"Well, he's a really good hitter," Schraer points out.
However, not everybody has a baseball with the first baseman's autograph.
"My mom got it in 2002 when she went to a little party where they were all signing balls," Schraer says.
"It was actually his rookie year," says Veronica, Max's mom.
And here's what makes Max really, really cool, he recently learned a word no fourth grade student should ever have to know.
"I think it's called astrocytomas" Schraer says.
It's a brain tumor one of his classmates, Elizabeth, recently had removed.
"My mom said she had a brain tumor and I prayed for her as much as I could that night," Schraer says.
He didn't just pray he also raised his hand and did something not many adults would do when family and friends were planning a benefit for Elizabeth.
"I thought I'd donate the Albert Pujols ball," Schraer says.
"I mean my initial reaction was let's talk about this a little bit," adds his mom.
But Max's mind was made up and last weekend that autographed ball brought in some big bucks.
"$1,750," he says with a grin.
The thing is Max's generosity didn't stop there.
"Her grandpa bid on the ball and he was the winning bidder and he gave it back to me and then I turned around and gave it right back to Elizabeth," Schraer adds.
After all, the night was Elizabeth's even though she wasn't able to be there. But this story doesn't end here because Max's generosity spurred someone else's.
"After the whole thing was over a preacher came in from her church and he gave me this box and I opened it up and it had a 2003 national league all star team on it, signed," Schraer says.
And that's one ball Max intends to hold on to.