Winterball
Encyclopedia
Winterball is a common name for a winter baseball league. In general, a winter baseball league does not meet the ideal conditions to play baseball
, but the idea is to keep the players fit for their regular summer seasons.
, Massachusetts
to collect toys for the Toys for Tots
program. Each year during the month of December, one or more 9 inning games is played, snow or shine, regardless of temperature, with the 18+ league (MABL) squaring off against the 30+ league (MSBL).
The fourth year had the largest turn-out since the games inception, and marked the first year that the game was converted to a charity, with the Marines on hand to collect toys for the Toys for Tots program. With the temperature at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, 49 players turned out to play a 12 inning contest.
The sixth year was the most significant, with 57 players competing in two back-to-back 9 inning games. "An entire truckload (literally) of donated toys was filled..." On hand for this event was the Red Sox Stories, an editorial-style program about the Boston Red Sox
featured on the UPN
network.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, but the idea is to keep the players fit for their regular summer seasons.
Boston Men's Baseball League
Winterball is an annual charity event run by the Boston Men's Baseball League in BostonBoston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to collect toys for the Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots
Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve which donates toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas. The program was founded in 1947 by reservist Major William L...
program. Each year during the month of December, one or more 9 inning games is played, snow or shine, regardless of temperature, with the 18+ league (MABL) squaring off against the 30+ league (MSBL).
History
The first Winterball game was played on December 2, 2001 at Fallon Field, and brought 35 players to play 2 games. The outside temperature was 48 degrees Fahrenheit. By contrast, the second event was played the following year on a snow-covered field with the temperature sitting at 33 degrees Fahrenheit at game time.The fourth year had the largest turn-out since the games inception, and marked the first year that the game was converted to a charity, with the Marines on hand to collect toys for the Toys for Tots program. With the temperature at 40 degrees Fahrenheit, 49 players turned out to play a 12 inning contest.
The sixth year was the most significant, with 57 players competing in two back-to-back 9 inning games. "An entire truckload (literally) of donated toys was filled..." On hand for this event was the Red Sox Stories, an editorial-style program about the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
featured on the UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
network.