In 1997 Rockdale Youth Baseball Association’s coach, Eddie Bagwell invited Michael Moore to play baseball on his team. Watching this 7 year old in his wheel chair attending every game and practice, while cheering on his 5 year old brother play America’s favorite past-time. The desire to play baseball was truly in the eyes of this young man.
So in 1998, the Rockdale Youth Baseball Association formed the Miracle League to further its mission of providing opportunities for all children to play. The league began with 35 players.
There were no programs for the Miracle League to copy. It was decided that:
- Every player bats once in an inning
- All base runners are safe
- Every player scores a run before the inning is over (last player up gets a home run)
- Community children and volunteers serve as “buddies” to assist the players
- Each team and each player wins every game
In 1999, the Miracle League gained support and became a source of pride for all involved as participation grew to over 50 players. The dream of building a unique field developed and with the help of community volunteers and companies, the design and construction of the first Miracle League complex was underway.
It would include a custom-designed field with a cushioned rubberized turf to help prevent injuries, wheelchair accessible dugouts and a completely flat surface to eliminate any barriers.
Presently there are over 300 Miracle League Organizations across the country including Puerto Rico, Canada and our newest member in Mexico. The Miracle League is proud to serve over 200,000 children and young adults with disabilities.
