Miracle League player Asa Gutierrez and Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler have a ball at the groundbreaking. Photo by Kelly Gavin.
The Miracle League Breaks Ground in Southlake's Bicentennial Park
By Linden Wilson, Assistant Editor
The crack of the bat. The thudbrof a ball hitting the glove. The called third strike of an umpire. Who among usbrhasn't relished the smells, sights and sounds of our national pastime, whetherbrhitting a single for your alma mater, boldly stealing second at a Memorial Daybrpicnic or messily snacking on Cracker Jacks and hot dogs post-game during yourbrdays as a little league player. But unfortunately for plenty of youngsters,brhome base couldn't be farther away.
However,brnothing could keep one formidable youth in Atlanta from the game. In the latebr'90s, Michael, a 7-year-old in a wheelchair, cheered on his 5-year-old brotherbrat every one of his games, even though he couldn't play himself. The team madebradjustments so Michael could join in, and the league's heightened awareness ofbra problem — those with disabilities being denied something as American as applebrpie — eventually led to the creation of the Miracle League in 2000.
On Maybr1, 2013, ground was broken in Bicentennial Park, site of Southlake’s firstbrMiracle League field scheduled to be completed by 2014. Famous faces dottingbrthe crowd included Texas Rangers stars Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus, the team’sbrgeneral manager Jon Daniels, Texas Ranger Hall of Famer Jim Sundberg andbrSouthlake Mayor John Terrell. They all joined Miracle League of SouthlakebrPresident Phillip Meyer for the beginning stages of their mission to ensure thatbrall area children will be able to participate in our proud tradition ofbrbaseball.
Making of a Miracle
The organization's creationbrcould be called, for lack of a better word, miraculous. The first MiraclebrLeague field opened 13 years ago in Atlanta. Wheelchair-bound Michael'sbrparticipation in the sport led a local baseball association to create a teambrfor several other handicapped children. When the association discovered thatbrthere were more than 75,000 children in the Atlanta metro area withbrdisabilities who could not join any team sports, they enlisted the aid of localbrcorporations and volunteers, breaking ground on the city's Miracle Leaguebrcomplex in late 1999. It opened four months later with a roster of 120 players.brA boy who had been in a coma only one week beforehand threw the first pitch.
Twobryears later, the roster more than doubled, and parents began to realize thatbrnot only did the Miracle League provide a way for their children to playbrbaseball, but it also allowed them to spend time just being normal kids. They werebrable to engage in physical activity, cheer one another on and form friendshipsbrthat might not have been possible otherwise. The players, who have autism,brDown's syndrome, vision impairments and other physical challenges, play on abrrubberized field with painted base paths and bases designed to prevent injuriesbrand guarantee that wheelchairs and walkers are no obstacle;brwheelchair-accessible dugouts are also built together with each field. Today,brthe Miracle League has expanded to include at least 250 organizations acrossbrthe country and around the world, including Canada, Puerto Rico and Australia.
Inbr2004, Doug Inman, a prominent Arlington-based business entrepreneur in thebrmedical-instrument field, became deeply touched by what he had seen and heardbrof the Miracle League on television. He called it a “spiritual experience” andbrspoke to his close friend, Jim Sundberg, about how to bring it to the DFW area.
“Doug approached me about looking at a film,” Sundberg said.br“So I went to his house, and he popped in a Miracle League video. He was inbrtears watching it, and he impressed upon me the need for a local field. It'sbrbecause of Doug's vision that we are where we are today.” Inman, who passedbraway in 2007 from melanoma, raised an initial $400,000 to construct thebrMetroplex's first Miracle League field on land donated by the City of Arlingtonbrat Randol Mill Park, and the field was completed in 2006. Two additional fieldsbrin Frisco and Irving (which opened in 2006
and 2009, respectively) were also built before the plan was put in motionbrto create a field in Southlake.
Field of Dreams
The seed of the dream ofbrbringing the Miracle League to Southlake was first planted in 2009 whenbrlongtime resident Meyer, much like Inman, became inspired by the league'sbrmission. He read about the Miracle League of Arlington's buddy program in hisbrSunday newspaper and knew he wanted to join. Every Miracle League player isbrassigned a buddy during games to assist, cheer and make sure he or she staysbrsafe moving from base to base. Meyer, a vice president and investment associatebrat Merrill Lynch, wanted to be a part of a different kind of charity, andbrMiracle League was just that.
“I'dbrspent so much time on corporate boards and wanted to do something outside thebrbox and outside of my comfort zone,” he said. “I don't know anyone who isbrdisabled, so it was very different for me. Being around those children who arebrhandicapped but can still play baseball was such a unique and positivebrexperience.” Meyer had been volunteering as a Miracle League buddy in Arlingtonbrfor under a year when he was met face-to-face with a health problem that restrictedbrhis own mobility. A routine surgery to remove a tumor in his cheek led to abrmore serious discovery.
“Duringbrthe recovery process, they found that I had a blood disorder,” he said. “Ibrspent six months going to UT Southwestern Medical Center, having to go throughbrinfusions and transfusions. This was going to limit my physical activity, so Ibrwanted something to replace golf.” Meyer reached out to the national MiraclebrLeague about founding a Southlake chapter. He also met with Jim Sundberg'sbrdaughter Bri, who serves as the director of marketing and development for thebrMiracle League of DFW, and was put in touch with Mike Mills, also a Southlakebrresident and noted area baseball coach.
“We then met with John Slocum,brwho's on the Southlake Parks and Recreation board, and the city's plans forbrBicentennial Park just collided perfectly with our vision of what we wanted tobrdo,” Meyer said. “Our other option hadbrbeen to either go out and buy land or try to get a donation from thebrcorporation. But Bicentennial Park is the perfect location.”
Southlake'sbrfirst park, Bicentennial was acquired by the city in 1970 and developed by thebrTexas Parks and Wildlife Department. Back then, it covered just 10 acres ofbrland. As the years went on it continued to grow, and by May of 2000 it had swelledbrto 76 acres with its last land acquisition given by former city councilmemberbrRalph Evans. In 2007, the city decided to give Bicentennial Park a massivebrmakeover, and the award-winning first phase was finished in September 2011 withbrthe completion of the Pinto and Mustang baseball fields.
“They are straight out of the movie Field of Dreams,”brTerrell said. “They have certainly set the stage for what is to come in thebrnext phase of improvements, including the Texas Rangers Miracle League Fieldbrand the new 1.3-acre, all-inclusive custom playground.” The playground willbralso incorporate a fourplex, new concession and restroom facility, a parkbrboulevard connection to White's Chapel Boulevard and walking trails for anyonebrwho wants to go exploring.
“We are blessed and excited that our dream for a premier andbrnostalgic park is being realized,” Terrell adds. “We've waited a long time forbrthis day, and there's been a lot of planning that has gone into this.”
Lemons Into Lemonade
Meyer, whose daughter, Addie,brwas part of the duo who sang the national anthem during the groundbreakingbrceremony, calls the evolution of the Miracle League of Southlake abrlemon-into-lemonade story, and that couldn't be closer to the truth. Thebrsupport from the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation, led by Sundberg as itsbrpresident, provided much-needed assistance in getting the plans off the ground.brIan Kinsler, the Rangers' star second-baseman, said he was happy to help anbrorganization that brings baseball to children who love to play but might notbrhave access to the sport.
“That'sbrthe cool thing about the Rangers Foundation,” he said. “We give kids, whetherbrthey're inner city or special needs, the opportunity to play. To bring that joybrto them is really cool. Our foundation's main goal is to help out children, andbrobviously we're a baseball organization, so it always goes back to that.brAnytime baseball's involved, I like to be around.”
Sundberg,brwho received nodding heads of agreement from the audience at the groundbreakingbrwhen he called Ian and superstar shortstop Elvis Andrus — who recently signedbran eight-year, $120 million contract extension — “the best double play combination in the major leagues,” was inbrawe of the turnout. His voice was fraught with emotion as he conveyed just howbrmeaningful the day was to everyone who helped and everyone who calls Southlakebrhome.
“ThebrMiracle League is not only about partnership, but it's also about friendship,brand friendship is really extending a hand of support and encouragement to onebranother,” Sundberg said. “I consider everyone who's a part of this a partnerbrand a friend. The Miracle League is a true experience when the parents of thesebrkids get to go and watch them play. It's a big part of their life.”
ThebrMiracle League of Southlake, which received a $100,000 donation from the TexasbrRangers Baseball Foundation, has been so successful that before a shovel wasbreven put into the ground, every sponsorship spot filled up. Along with the supportbrof the Rangers, sponsors include Gamestop, the Kim Miller Group (as part of thebrKeller Williams Luxury Group), and Classic Chevrolet as the scoreboard sponsor.
“It'sbrquite amazing, the support we've received,” Meyer said. “This will absolutelybrbe a centerpiece for the city of Southlake.”
Take Me Out to the Ball Game
The kids on hand to see thebrfield of their dreams come to life included Sam Klein, Brandon Thompson, AmberbrMcDonald and Asa Gutierrez. Just like on game days, they were all smiles, evenbrstopping to sign autographs for their own adoring fans, including Kinsler. WhenbrSouthlake pastor Bob Mason prayed over the new field, his poetic wordsbrresonated with every parent in attendance.
“I travel all over the world on a regular basis,” he said.br“We do work with orphanages and children who have gone through tsunamis,brearthquakes and hurricanes in Haiti, South Africa and Southeast Asia. When Ibrsee God's hand helping those children, I am so deeply moved and blessed, justbras I am for this event.” The groundbreaking was a true family affair — Sundbergbrlit up as he expressed how much he loves working alongside his daughter Bri,brand Meyer echoed how much time, effort and dedication she puts into her job.
“Two years ago, Bri came into my life, and if anyonebrknows Bri, they know she's a force to be reckoned with,” he said. “One thingbryou don't ever do is mess with her Miracle League kids.” Upon its completion,brthe Texas Rangers Miracle League Field will become a sanctuary where players canbrbat, run the bases, play the outfield and form lifelong memories, just like Sundbergbrdreamed about when he was a kid.
“WhenbrI was growing up, I can always remember wanting to be a Major League baseballbrplayer,” he said. “I wanted to play baseball. I grew up across from a ballparkbrand was in the field every day. My dad drove me several times during the year,br180 miles to watch the Cubs play. To be on the field, to smell the grass, tobrrun around is almost American. It is American. This concept allows every kidbrthe opportunity to play baseball.”
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