The Miracle League

"Give a little love to a child, and you will get a great deal back."

   - John Ruskin (1819-1900), British social theorist

Here's a wonderful story about people helping people by The Christian Science Monitor staff writer Elizabeth Lund. It's a heart-warming account of how the Miracle League and its volunteers are helping handicapped kids learn how to play baseball:

"Ken Ware kneels behind his son, Cal, steadying the little boy, who stands inches from a T and a bright yellow ball. Together they raise a metal bat, which slips back and bonks Dad in the head.

'You can do it, Cal,' says the game's emcee over the intercom system.

The two finally take a swing together, knocking the ball three, maybe four feet. Mr. Ware picks up the boy and runs with him past first base, second, and third. By the time they reach home plate again, everyone in the park is cheering, even the opposing team."

In these games there are no strike-outs, runners are never tagged out and every player gets to bat and hit the ball. There are two innings played and the final score is always a tie. Each player is worthy and welcome. All are equal.

This wonderful program was started by Eddie Bagwell, a Conyers, GA, coach who was moved to invite a wheelchair-bound child to join his baseball team. His experience with this youngster led him to begin wondering if some of the other 79,000 disabled children in the Atlanta area would like to play too. The rest is history:

"The Conyers field opened in 2000...Since then, 11 other custom diamonds have been built across the U.S. at a cost of roughly $450,000 each. Another 60 fields are under construction, with community organizations and individuals picking up most of the tab."

For most of the kids, the games are the highlight of their week. Their little faces are always beaming, whether they're in the dugout, at bat or in the field. Their parents are getting a kick out of them too. They can focus on their children's abilities rather than their limitations, and watching them play helps put the difficulties of rearing a mentally or physically challenged child on the back burner for awhile.

Another benefit of the games is that spectators who don't have disabled children are learning to become more comfortable responding to these youngsters. All of the kids' efforts are rewarded with lots of clapping, hugs, kisses and encouragement by everyone in attendance. It's a win-win for everyone, but most of all for the children.

My hat is off to the volunteers and contributors who are making this happen, the parents and children who are participating and Ms.Lund at The Christian Science Monitor for giving us a heads-up on the whole thing. People like these make me proud to live where I do.