Daily News Photo by CRISTIAN SIMESCU Retired Major League Baseball pitcher Jason Grimsley plays with children at the Queen Louise Home for Children on St. Croix on Thursday evening.

ST. CROIX - Twenty-six retired and active Major League Baseball players, coaches and announcers arrived on St. Croix this week to assist in the biggest annual fund-raiser for the Queen Louise Home for Children.

They will participate in the 26th annual American Airlines Charity Golf Classic while hoping to raise about $150,000 for the only residential facility in the territory serving abused, abandoned and neglected children.

The golf tournament started in 1983 as a way to raise funds to help operate the facility. Junia Straker, chief executive officer for Lutheran Social Services, the parent agency of Queen Louise Home, said the government provides the organization about 75 percent of its yearly operating costs, but they have to raise funds and collect donations for the rest. They also raise funds during their annual Kayak for Kids and through mail solicitations.

The tournament has only been cancelled once, in 1989 following Hugo.

American Airlines has been the major sponsor of the tournament since the beginning, providing discounted airfares for the participating celebrities.

On Thursday, the celebrities visited and toured the facility and also got a chance to meet and play with the children. Retired Detroit Tigers pitcher Jon Warden presented all the children with stocking full of early Christmas gifts and the children sang "We Are the World."

In addition to the three-day golf tournament, which starts this morning, the celebrities and sponsors also will participate in an auction and gala at Good Hope School Saturday evening. Straker said the auction is one of the biggest and most anticipated events of the weekend and it includes items such as art, jewelry, autographed sports memorabilia, trips to sporting events, restaurant and hotel gift certificates and even a genuine 17th century cannon.

"A lot of the celebrities bring auction prizes we could not otherwise get," Straker said. "We definitely could not do it without their support."

Celebrities returning to the tournament this year include St. Croix native Jerry Browne, a retired infielder with the Texas Rangers; and retired big leaguers infielder Jerry Browne (Rangers, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins), pitcher Tom Browning (Cincinnati Reds), pitcher Jeff Juden (Indians, New York Yankees), and pitcher Luis Tiant (Boston Red Sox).

Dave Nelson, who played as an infielder for the Indians, Rangers and Kansas City Royals, is the honorary chair of the tournament. He has participated in the event for 19 years.

Nelson was a coach with the Milwaukee Brewers from 2001 to 2006 and is currently a broadcaster with the organization. The only time he did not attend the fundraiser was when he had a family emergency in 1997.

"It's my favorite charity and I like to help," Nelson said. "We're here for the children and we know we can help raise money to make a difference in these children's lives."

Newcomers to the tournament include Yankees retired catcher Rick Cerone, retired Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals infielder Bobby Floyd and Brian Matusz, who is currently on the Orioles roster.

Graham Taylor, an active pitcher with the Marlins, also is happy to join the tournament this year.

"I was thrilled to be invited and I was excited to come down here," Taylor said. "It's going to be a lot of fun and I hope to make some contribution to help support the Queen Louse Home."

He also said he was happy to come down to experience a new culture with his fiancι.

"It's amazing to be able to see different cultures and how different it is here from life in the United States," Taylor said.

New Queen Louise Home director Shauna Bass said the event also gives the children an opportunity to meet their sponsors.

"What the golfers are doing is important because they are providing for the kids to be rehabilitated and to become productive citizens in the community," she said.

Bass said the tournament helps pay for the children's food, clothing, shelter as well as physical therapy and wheelchairs.

Major sponsors for the event include HOVENSA, the Buccaneer Hotel and the Carambola Golf and Country Club.

A limited number of tickets remain for the gala. For more information contact the Lutheran Social Services Development Office at 772-4099 ext. 24.

- Contact Cristian Simescu at 774-8772 ext. 459 or e-mail simescu@dailynews.vi.