Baseball without sight seems impossible, but, as members of the media and the Yankee organization found out, it is very possible and quite exciting to watch.
Speaking with players, you can really get a sense of what this sport means to them. It allows people with visual disabilities the opportunity to play baseball, a sport they would not otherwise be allowed to play.
Joe DeJesus, 17, has only been playing for a year and a half. “This is a very challenging sport. It means everything to me because I love baseball, but I can’t play baseball. This is a form of baseball that allows me to participate. ”
Ted Fass, founder of the Long Island Bombers, said, “You can just play baseball. This is the closest sport to the real game of baseball. I like the freedom.”
As they explained the rules, it became clear that this was not an easy sport at all. Each aspect of the game provided its own challenging nuances and it was hard to believe that the game was being played by people who were visually impaired.
Hitting
The game of Beep Baseball uses a grapefruit sized ball with a speaker that emits a repetitive “beep” so that the players can hear where the ball is. Because all players have different levels of impairment, everyone is blind-folded, creating a level playing field.
The pitcher, who is sighted and on the same team as the batter, stands only 20 feet away. They deliver the ball underhand, but timing is the key. The pitcher forms a rhythm with the batter, saying, “Ready … pitch” for each delivery, a move that is practiced frequently. The pitcher has to know where the batter likes to swing, and the batter must swing the same each time.
The batter gets four strikes, or misses, to hit the ball, and one “take” where the batter can let the ball pass and not swing. There is no walking, as in traditional baseball.
On paper it might sound somewhat easy to get the timing down, but to actually put on the blindfold and step up to the plate without sight is intimidating. Playing baseball or softball, we are taught to “keep your eye on the ball.” That is not the case in this sport. Trusting teammates is taken to a whole other level.
Next: Hitting, Fielding
Base Running
The bases are not your typical white bases, but look more like a tackling dummy. The bases emit sound when activated and will continue to do so until they are knocked over.
When a batter hits the ball, either base can be activated, and the player will not know where to run until after the hit. Then, blindfolded, they must run towards that base and knock it over. If they do so before the fielder has secured the ball and raised it in the air, a run will be tallied. Otherwise, they are out.
Players have no fear with running into the base, going full speed, though they often end up on the ground. Fass noted that you only have about six seconds to get to the base before being called out.
Fielding
There are six fielders, all blind-folded as well, and one sighted spotter. The fielders are numbered by zones, generally one shallow and one deep for left, right, and center field, but each team can align its players to their choosing.
Once contact is made, the spotter can shout the zone number that they believe the ball will land to guide the fielders. The spotter can only yell one number, so if they are wrong, or accidently shouts the wrong number, they cannot fix their mistake.
Fielders, using gloves, batting gloves, or bare hands, use the sound of the ball to find it. The umpire will call the runner out once the ball is raised in the air by the fielder. Many of the Bombers showed no inhibition, often diving after the ball, sacrificing their body to make the play.
Even observers of Beep Baseball have to adapt to the game. After a hit, the fans must be quiet until the play is over so that the fielders and runners can hear the ball and the base.
Games last 6 innings, with three outs for each team per inning.
The Long Island Bombers will play in the 2011 Beep Baseball World Series from August 2–August 7 in Indianapolis, Ind.
You can follow Kristen @Call2theBullpen
