Cape Cod Baseball League

Enjoy Cape Cod Baseball this Summer 

The ultimate experience on the Cape during the summer is watching top amateur talent compete in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL). The passion that comes with the CCBL is extraordinary and it is not something you’d normally associate with a collegiate baseball league. The league attracts some of the best players in the country. The games run from mid-June to mid-August.

One of the reasons the league captivates so many fans is because of the glamour of having sent so many players to the major professional leagues including the MLB. For many fans, it is an opportunity to witness the best of baseball without the taint of heavy commercialization that comes with large expensive stadiums and endless TV commentary.

Every year, about a dozen players from the Cape Cod Baseball League get selected to play in the MLB. The MLB has been providing financial support to the league for more than four decades now. In the year 2014, 265 alumni of the CBL were playing in the majors. Right now, there are more than 200 CBL alumni currently active in the MLB. Household names that have played in the CBL include Lance Berkman, Jeff Bagwell, Jason Varitek, Barry Zito, Evan Longoria, Nick Swisher, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Tim Lincecum.

History of the Cape Cod Baseball League

The league has a history that dates as far back as the 1800s. Back then, villages organized baseball teams and traveled from town to town to play each other. With the growth of the game of baseball in American culture, the league grew and became a mainstay in Cape Cod culture. The league has been the best amateur league in America since the late 1800s.

After World War I in the 1920s, the team was mostly constituted of GIs who had returned from the war. By the 1940s, most of the teams had amassed a huge roster of college players. The league would be sanctioned by the NCAA in 1963.

Between 1974 and 1984, the league used aluminum bats. It became the first collegiate summer league to use wooden bats when it switched from aluminum bats to wooden bats in 1985. This change, coupled with its ability to attract top talent, made it one of the most popular stops for major league scouts.

Today, players from all over the country come to Cape Cod over the summer to play the league’s 10-team loop. The league consists of the West Division and the East Division. Teams in the East Division are Brewster Whitecaps, Chatham Anglers, Harwich Mariners, Orleans Firebrands, and Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. Teams in the West Division are Bourne Braves, Cotuit Kettleers, Falmouth Commodores, Hyannis Harbor Hawks, and Wareham Gatemen.

Three of the teams changed their names after the MLB, in an exercise to enforce its trademarks, directed teams with names similar to those of MLB teams to either change their names or buy their merchandise only from licensed MLB vendors. The Chatham Athletics changed its name to Chatham Anglers, the Orleans Cardinals are now known as the Orleans Firebrands, while the Hyannis Mets are now known as the Harbor Hawks.

Why the League is the Ultimate Summer Experience

Summer Evening Experience

Summer on the Cape is best spent outdoors. Since the games start in the evenings, you can always find time to watch the games. If you have been working throughout the day, the games will be a great way to unwind and relax. If you spent your afternoon at the beach, you can just head home, grab a lawn chair, and head to the grounds to end the day in style.

Watch MLB Prospects

Several CBL players have gone on to play in the major leagues. Some of the players you will be watching this season will likely go on to become household names. The CBL gives you a great chance to watch these world-class players in a relaxed summer environment on the Cape.

It’s a Family Experience

The league has gone to great lengths to ensure that all games are family-friendly. It’s an alcohol-free league. The games offer a great opportunity for the family to come together to enjoy an authentic Cape Cod experience.  You should bring the entire family along to cheer for your local team. The kids might even leave with autographs from some of the players.

It’s Free

You can attend a game and not spend any money. No matter how many friends and family members accompany you, it’s free to attend the games for the entire season. However, the league accepts donations from fans during games. A hat is passed around and you can donate a few dollars if you want to. The league and its teams do not operate for profit. The donations are used to fund the teams’ operational expenses and various charitable causes on Cape Cod.

Convenience

Ten teams playing in the league and they are spread all over the Cape. No matter where you are on the Cape, you are just a few miles away from the home grounds of a CCBL team. Given the fact that you don’t have to buy tickets in advance and that the games are always free to attend, it’s very convenient to find a game to attend on any given match day. Further, unlike MLB games that usually extend for more than 3 hours, CCBL games are relatively shorter. Games usually end in 2 to 2.5 hours.

Catching a Game

If you are on the Cape during the summer, it is incredibly easy to catch a game no matter where you are staying. The teams are spread out all over the Cape in Chatham, Brewster, Bourne, Harwich, Falmouth, Orleans, Hyannis, Yarmouth-Dennis, and Wareham. They have a 44-game regular season for a total of 220 games with the post-season being made up of a best-of-three quarterfinal, semifinal, and championship series.

It is a short season from mid-June to mid-August because most of the players are college students. There are games 5 to 7 nights a week during the summer. There will definitely be a game within driving distance of your hotel or home if you are on the Cape during the season. Because most of the stands are aluminum bleachers, you may want to bring a blanket or cushion. You can also bring your own folding chairs.

The games are very family-friendly. The entire league is alcohol-free and there’s always food available during games. If you have kids with you, they will enjoy the post-game moments when players sign autographs. Your kid might just get the autograph of a future Hall of Famer. Meeting an MLB All-Star before they make it big is one of those moments your kids will treasure forever.