Latest Miracle League Minnesota News
Miracle League Minnesota Summer 2006 Recap
Posted September 29, 2006 — The first season started with our Opening Day in Blaine. Well over 500 people were in attendance. There were kids from all the area Miracle Leagues in attendance to celebrate the opening of the first Miracle League field. Mike Redmond (“Red dog”), catcher for the Twins, retired Twins player Ron Coomer, Twins executives, and TC were also there. Mike Redmond was amazed when “all” of the Miracle League players together unloaded the first pitch at him. Fortunately for Mike, all the baseballs were foam. The event made for a great picture. Then, after the great folks from Subway fed everybody, we played baseball on the field. It was a great day for baseball, our national pastime.
The magic in the Miracle League is that miraculous things can happen. The only reason that this update is tough to write is in figuring out the order of where to start. In the early part of the year we had an amazing offer from the Minnesota Twins, the Harmon Killebrew Charities, and Subway, to help us build another Miracle field. We have just completed four Subway/Miracle League days at various Twins games, as well as the Harmon Killebrew golf tournament where the proceeds of approximately $150,000 (“Can you believe it?”) will be used to build the Subway/Killebrew Miracle field in Minnetonka. We had great fun bringing our players and buddies onto the field and out onto the pitchers mound so we could share with all fans in attendance at the Twins game information about the Miracle League.
The night before the Harmon Killebrew golf tournament, there was a dinner, silent auction and live auction event on the field of the Metrodome. Twin City Co-op Federal Credit Union was a great sponsor. Other sponsors included Subway and Cambria. Some of our players were there and demonstrated by playing a shortened version of a Miracle League baseball game on the actual Twins field. It was very touching to have a few of the kids and parents talk to Harmon about what the Miracle League means to them. It was really moving to see the faces all of those in attendance as they watch our Miracle League video. At the end of the evening, we learned that Sam Ashkar from Bennett Park had purchased a signed Killebrew bat. Sam will be donating the bat to Bennett Park where it will be displayed at the Subway/Killebrew Miracle field.
Mankato has received site approval for a Miracle field at Caswell Park. A great team has been assembled by Joanne Hovey-Mcbride who is assisting in coordinating construction and fundraising for the field. Over half the funds have already been raised for the field, which is really exciting. If all goes well, they may be pushing dirt yet this fall!
Rochester had their Opening Day ceremonies on August 19, 2006. The Rochester Group, led by Ron Hanson, together with the Leadership Group that is part of the Greater Rochester Chamber, did an unbelievable job in getting a great field built. Tony Oliva excited all the people talking about how fantastic it was that Rochester has now given all kids the opportunity to play baseball just like he had growing up.
On August 20, 2006 there were over 50 Miracle League players, their buddies and parents who traveled from Duluth to attend a Subway/Miracle League day. Their presence at the game, that also brought them onto the field in front of a “sell out” crowd, helped communicate to the people of Minnesota that the Miracle League is stretching everywhere to give all children an opportunity to play baseball. Ed Gleeson, leading the charge for the Duluth Miracle field, and company are very close to getting their site pinned down.
If that isn’t enough, there is yet more exciting news! We have been approached by the Lakeville Baseball Association to start working on field in the south suburbs. We have met with the City of Lakeville twice and have a selected the site on 185th and Dodd Rd. Talking about miracles how is this for amazing. Shortly thereafter, a woman who ran a program in Burnsville contacted the Miracle League inquiring if there were plans for a field south of the river. Dana has since agreed to provide her experience in helping run the Lakeville Miracle League program in cooperation with the Lakeville Baseball Association.
