Kevin Brown, Benito Santiago, Lenny Dykstra, Chuck Knoblauch, David Justice and Mo Vaughn were among former players named.

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The BPSA was founded in 2008 by David Atchley of Washington, Mo.

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Besides Branson (along with his wife, Joan), Pinchuk and Tan, the new Pledgers are: Andrew and Nicola Forrest (Australia), Patrice and Precious Motsepe (South Africa), Hasso Plattner (Germany), Vladimir Potanin (Russia), Azim Premji (India) and John Caudwell, Chris and Jamie Cooper-Hohn, Mo Ibrahim, David Sainsbury (all from the U.K).

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David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Mo.

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David Voran, a family practitioner in Platte City, Mo.

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David Bower, principal of Populous, a Kansas City, Mo.

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Many members of the Westminster cabinet were present including the chancellor and his wife Sarah, Home Secretary Jack Straw, Social Security Alastair Darling, Education Secretary David Blunkett, Culture Secretary Chris Smith and Cabinet Office Minister Mo Mowlam.

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