Miracle League: Baseball for All Abilities

Gary Morton, a former softball coach, established the San Francisco Peninsula chapter of The Miracle League in 2015. This organization provides a platform for children and adults with intellectual, physical, and developmental challenges to play baseball. Morton was deeply moved to create the league after witnessing children in wheelchairs playing baseball, an experience that resonated with him following the passing of his daughter, Sarah.

The league currently supports 120 participants during its spring and fall seasons at Hawes Park in Redwood City. Volunteer buddies, often high school students, provide one-on-one support to each player. Looking ahead, the league is set to play at Mitchell Field in Redwood City, which has been upgraded with safer synthetic turf for wheelchairs, and has secured funding for accessible dugouts.

Morton has since stepped back from daily operations due to his own health challenges, but he remains a passionate advocate for the league. The Miracle League emphasizes inclusivity, offering scholarships to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent anyone from participating. They are actively seeking more volunteers, particularly to assist adult players.