An extraordinary new baseball league is coming to Joliet for children with disabilities--

The Miracle League of Joliet

The Miracle League of Joliet is a non-profit organization that provides children with mental and/or physical challenges, an opportunity to play baseball as a team member in an organized league. There is something about playing the game of baseball that light up youngster’s eyes, but for children facing physical and mental challenges, that opportunity can often be difficult to conquer. The Miracle League will provide these children a chance to play America’s favorite pastime…baseball! The Miracle league provides opportunities for children and young adult with disabilities to play baseball, regardless of their limitations.

The Miracle League of Joliet field will be located behind the left field fence at Silver Cross Field in Joliet. The playing surface will be made of synthetic turf and have special accessible dugouts constructed to meet the needs of these children and their families. The goal is to have this field opened for the spring of 2008.

The first field was opened in Georgia in 1998, to much success. The main concern, however, was that the league played on the same grass fields as the youth baseball association, presenting potential safety hazards for players. So in spring of 2002 a custom-designed field with a cushioned synthetic turf to help prevent injuries, wheelchair accessible dugouts and a completely flat surface to eliminate any barriers for players was opened. Initially it began with 35 players and now has over 250 signed up to play. As of September 2005, over 22 completed rubberized turf fields and over sixty fields under construction are in the U.S.

The field is only 10,568 sq. ft., baselines are 50 ft. and from home plate line to center field is 115 or 125 ft. Pitchers mound to home plate is 33ft. The game is simple:

  1. There are 2 innings
  2. Each player bats once each inning
  3. All base runners are safe
  4. Every player scores a run before the inning is over (last one up gets a home run)
  5. Each team and each player wins every game. (Umpires describe this as the only       league where no one ever gets mad at them.)
  6. The game is limited to 1-1/2 hr.

There are Coaches, Team Moms, Umpires and Buddies to assist the Miracle League Player. The buddies are mainstream children (usually around jr. high and high school age). These can be children who play baseball, are in youth church groups or are a part of Boy and Girl Scouts, just to mention a few.

There is a minimal charge to play, usually about $35, which covers insurance and jersey, but no child will be turned away because of finances (many times a donor is found to fund these children).

Season is usually 6 weeks long in the spring and 6 weeks long in the fall when the temperatures are cooler. Games are typically played three times a week (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays). Games will be played before the Joliet Jackhammers games if they are at home. This site was chosen so that the children will not only be excited about playing baseball, but will be able to say they play where the Minor Leagues do, and what a great feeling they may take away with them.

These children get a reprieve from their daily challenges as soon as they step or roll out onto the ball field. And children with special needs aren’t the only ones who benefit from the action on the field. Through the buddy program, youth players and community volunteers partner with the players to provide assistance and encouragement. This partnership benefits both sides as they share the great American pastime and form friendships.

And let us not forget about the parents. They get a chance to sit in the bleachers relax and enjoy watching their child achieve the same dream as their peers—to play ball.

Our goal is to raise $768,030.00 to make this “Field of Dreams” come true. There are various sponsorship opportunities available. Community and civic organizations are being solicited for their support and several area business leaders have already donated their services to the Miracle League. I hope we can call upon you to help make this “Miracle Field” come true for some very special children.

Through funding by sponsors and the commitment of volunteers, the Miracle League of Joliet can be built. I hope you can help us with the funding to make the Miracle League of Joliet a reality in the Fall of 2007.

Sincerely,

Sharon Ferro
Executive Director