BABE RUTH BASEBALL

Babe Ruth, is the oldest and most successful 13 -16 year old baseball program in the country After a 40 year hiatus, we are bringing Babe Ruth Baseball back to Brookline Massachusetts as an important alternative to existing offerings at this age.

The program will include instruction on par with the nations leading club teams. We will hold on-boarding clinics designed to help new or returning players hone their skills. Great baseball for every player, regardless of skill level, will be our priority.

Our Babe Ruth affiliation means Brookline will have the opportunity to compete against traditional rivals Parkway and Newton for the Babe Ruth state title and a chance to go to the Babe Ruth World Series. And with so many strong Babe Ruth programs in our area, each of our spring teams will have the chance to compete against neighboring towns as well.

What is your philosophy? We believe the trend towards early sports specialization is undermining recreational sports programs and robbing communities of important connection points for teens. We believe baseball in particular, with its universal fit and appeal, can play an important role in bringing kids of varying background and abilities together to teach kids about teamwork, sportsmanship, tolerance, inclusion, humility and being a constructive part of a diverse community. We believe that this inclusive experience is as valuable for players of great ability as for players limited ability. We believe from our research that the most successful community baseball programs are those that invest in training and development for kids of all skill levels in order to offer a great baseball experience.

What are the big differences between the Brookline Babe Ruth League and BYB Seniors? Brookline Babe Ruth enjoys all the benefits associated with our affiliation with the world’s most successful Big Diamond Youth Baseball Program. We can participate in the Babe Ruth Mass State Championship and World series tournaments. Also, as a member of an Eastern Mass community of over 80 Babe Ruth Programs, our spring teams can play games against spring teams from the many strong Babe Ruth Programs in our area including Parkway, Newton, Dedham and Watertown. That means we can play quality baseball regardless of our enrollment levels.

What are the unique aspects of your program? First, our instruction. We believe we have created a one of a kind community baseball program that combines the best aspects of a community baseball program with a level of instruction on par with elite travel teams. Second, we are told our emphasis on community service is quite unique. Third, our culture. We are a community oriented program focussed on integrating players of all abilities into single cohesive league in which the strongest players, acting as leaders and mentors. are encouraged to build up their teammate’s confidence.

What is the community service component of your program? Is it mandatory? We believe that the attention we lavish on our kids and their activities carries the risk that kids see the world as being all about them. We want the kids in Brookline Babe Ruth to to understand that opportunity they have to play baseball, the volunteers, the coaches, the fields they play on, are benefits of being part of a community. We want to encourage them to give back to their community in some small way over the course of the season, by completing a small volunteer project with their teammates (e.g., park cleanup, elder center volunteer work, story reading, etc.). Service may also include fundraising for our scholarship program. The program isn’t mandatory, but kids will be recognized for their efforts with plaques, unique logo wear. Deserving kids who exemplify BBR values will also be eligible for our scholarship program.