Springfield crowd tries for record for wearing Groucho glasses

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- It was an unusual crowd gathered at Hammons Field to see baseball, with more than 3,000 people wearing those goofy Groucho Marx-style glasses, likely a new world record.

The fans watched the Springfield Cardinals beat Frisco 8-3 from behind those black horn-rimmed glasses with attached eyebrows, a large plastic nose and a bushy mustache.

They were attempting to beat a previous record of 1,750 Groucho-wearing people who had gathered in Oklahoma in January. The glasses are based on Marx, an American comedian who was also a part of the Marx Brothers.

The fund-raiser was organized by Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training, with fans paying $7 for tickets and glasses.

"I like it a lot," said fourth-grader Genae Cole, 9, of Springfield, as she lifted the big nose of her Groucho glasses to talk. "It's cool to see other people look funny in [the glasses] and laugh at them."

Sheila Parker of Springfield said the event brought more exposure to the Team In Training, which helps people train for events such as marathons while raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

"People can learn what they do," Parker said.

The local group now has about 39 participants training for upcoming marathons in San Francisco and Kansas City, each raising at least $2,000 to $3,800 to run the races.

"It's very challenging," said Richard Johnson, the running coach for the team, who bought 42 tickets. "You have to raise the money and train for the marathon."

One of the runners is Wendy Shepard, a local teacher.

"I'm healthy enough, I'm young enough, why not?" she said.