I don’t know Isaiah’s age or last name. He’s a stocky, tanned, thickset Sooner with a thick mess of curly brown hair and the same twang as all his teammates. His acned baby face and constant smile endear him to everyone around, which wouldn’t matter without that naturally generous and hospitable attitude, a tremendous work ethic, and an easygoing manner that brings everyone together. Most importantly, for the weekend I spent in Tulsa, Isaiah fully understands what Sandlot Baseball means and embodies it in a time when polarization emphasizes the importance of everything he, the Tulsa Breeze, and every other Sandlot Baseball team works for.
Sandlot Baseball is about breaking down all barriers to playing baseball1Cost shouldn’t be a barrier to joining a team and playing locally. You don’t need a fancy field or fancy equipment to have a good time. Do you identify as a gender that typically isn’t welcome in baseball? No problem. Maybe you’re of an ethnic, cultural, or other background that has no connection to baseball. No problem. and building a positive community focused on enjoyment and improvement. That means putting your ego aside during, but especially after, a game to laugh and genuinely enjoy the other team. It means showing up for your team when possible because it’s important, even though it’s entirely voluntary. It also means welcoming back someone who hasn’t been able to consistently attend so they know there’s still a spot for them in the group. Is the field a mess because of a storm? Even if you’re tired and would rather not, you grab a rake and pitch in.
Your work to improve yourself in skills or attitude is most valuable in its ability to affect the team positively, and everyone trusts the group to view this whole experiment through that lens.
Traveling halfway across the country to a city that, admittedly, I would likely have never visited otherwise helped me understand how Sandlot compares to the adult league I played with in Oakland or an intramural softball team. While those games were often similar—I was lucky to land with groups who wanted to win but were always charitable and kind throughout—the leagues were insular. Sandlot has strong local roots—the Tulsa teams are beautifully embedded into their city—but maintains tendrils that reach across the country to share information and relationships. Each team is focused on the same outcomes but can change to match their circumstances.
Not everyone who joins Sandlot cares about that broader perspective. Finding a welcoming community is difficult enough, so anyone who joins our Sandlot team and understands the basic tenet of don’t be an asshole is golden. That’s what I took away last fall—this was another league where I wouldn’t be stuck with hyper-competitive athletes stuck in their old playing days. However, on the other side of this trip and after talking with our Tulsa hosts about Sandlot, including how what they’ve done could apply to New Haven, I’m further sold on this broader community and hope to make an impact within the organization for a long time.
But if you’re mostly interested in vibes, Sandlot Baseball is perfectly captured by this video created by my teammate Stephen.
- 1Cost shouldn’t be a barrier to joining a team and playing locally. You don’t need a fancy field or fancy equipment to have a good time. Do you identify as a gender that typically isn’t welcome in baseball? No problem. Maybe you’re of an ethnic, cultural, or other background that has no connection to baseball. No problem.