Put Me In, Coach, I’m Ready to Play

Mudville never saw anything like this. In 110 towns across the country, cushioned synthetic-turf fields will soon allow children and adults with disabilities to play ball, thanks to the Miracle League, a nonprofit organization devoted to giving every child a chance to play baseball.

The organization has taken off like a pop fly since its inception in 1997. It began in Conyers, Ga., when a Rockdale Youth Baseball Association (RYBA) coach invited a disabled child to play on his team. The Miracle League formed one year later in conjunction with the RYBA and, in 2000, completed construction of a special complex with funds established by the Conyers and Rockdale County Rotary Miracle League Fund. The complex includes a cushioned turf field to prevent injuries and wheelchair-accessible dugouts and restrooms.

Today, 62 similar fields are under construction and another 48 are on the drawing board. Now a national force, Miracle League has set a goal of 100 fields by the end of 2004 and 500 fields by the end of 2008 including some international sites. Mike Younie, Miracle League director for the Geneva, Ill., field, whose first season kicks off this month, says the majority of children playing in the league come from group homes and are in walkers and wheelchairs, which is why the field has special accommodations for players with mobility issues.

“The fields are made of Mondoturf, which is soft and springy like an outdoor track surface,” Younie says. “All the lines and the bases are painted on. No one can trip if he or she is on crutches. If it’s rainy, you won’t get stuck in the mud.” Younie adds that the field is smaller than a traditional baseball field and is approximately 150 feet from the left to the right wall.

Miracle League rules are uniform among all the fields throughout the United States: every player bats once each inning; all base runners are safe; every player scores a run before the inning is over; and the last batter up gets a home run.

All children with disabilities are paired with an able-bodied “buddy” to assist the player. “The buddies help them bat, throw, ensure their safety and route them on,” Younie says. “It’s someone on the field who’s not mom or dad. [The game] informs a community of what it’s like to work with and make friends with people with disabilities.”

Although Miracle League has a standard set of rules and generally serves children 8 to 19 years old, Younie says the Geneva field is working with a wider age group, including adults older than 19 and children from 3 to 7 who can play in the newly introduced T-ball league.

Miracle League Association Executive Director Diane Alford says part of the organization’s growth can be attributed to corporate sponsorships, donations and affiliations with several Major League Baseball teams, including the New York Mets, who donated a field in Port St. Lucie, Fla.; the Chicago White Sox, who donated a $150,000 grant toward the construction of the Geneva, Ill., field; the Atlanta Braves; the Chicago Cubs and the Anaheim Angels.

According to organizers, players find Miracle League games a source of enthusiasm. Parents say children often insist on playing despite bouts with kidney stones, broken bones and recent hospitalizations. With a love of the game so strong, Miracle League children could undoubtedly teach the Mudville nine a thing or two.

To volunteer, sign up a player, locate the nearest Miracle League field in your area or to obtain information on starting one, call 770/241-8694 or visit www.miracleleague.com.