Are you ready for baseball?

We cannot alter or remedy the medical challenges that life has dealt to individuals with disabilities. What we can do is offer them the chance to enjoy the joy and benefits that come from our national pastime – baseball.

There is something magical about playing the game that lights up an individual's eyes. However, for those facing serious physical and mental disabilities, this opportunity can often be hard to come by. Traditional baseball diamonds were not designed with wheelchairs and crutches in mind.

The Miracle League eliminates the obstacles that prevent individuals with mental and physical disabilities from accessing the baseball field, allowing them to experience the joy of America’s favorite pastime. The main barriers for these individuals often stem from the natural grass fields used in conventional youth leagues. To address this, Miracle League teams play on a custom-designed, rubberized turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other assistive devices, while also helping to prevent injuries.

But it’s more than just playing a game. The Miracle League is about making new friends, building self-esteem and confidence, and being treated just like other individuals. To assist the athletes, the Miracle League employs a "buddy" system – pairing each player with an able-bodied peer. This results in a bond that is indescribable. The Miracle League serves individuals who suffer from any physical or mental disabilities, which often leads to their exclusion—whether intentional or not—from conventional youth baseball leagues. According to the 2000 Census Bureau, there are 5.2 million individuals in our country with disabilities between the ages of 5 and 19, and this number substantially increases when including young adults.

The first Miracle League field opened in Conyers, GA, in April 1997. The concept quickly spread, and by 2002, fields had opened in South Carolina, Alabama, West Virginia, California, and Chicago. Currently, there are more than two hundred Miracle League organizations across the country, including in Puerto Rico and Canada. Approximately one hundred leagues have completed their rubberized turf fields, with another hundred either under construction or involved in fundraising for new fields. The Miracle League serves over 200,000 individuals with disabilities nationwide.

The Miracle League has an aggressive plan to help local communities build Miracle League complexes worldwide. For instance, they aim to build 500 fields, which will serve 1.3 million individuals with disabilities. The Bloomington-Normal complex is the first of its kind in Central Illinois.

Our mission is to:

Provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to play baseball, regardless of their abilities. Promote community support and sponsorship of the Miracle League. Promote the construction of special facilities that meet the unique needs of Miracle League players and their families. Our players may not be able to run the bases or hit the ball as well as some of their peers, but they possess an equal amount of love and determination to play baseball. We aim to help them achieve this dream.