By Loyd McIntosh, For The Tribune
MOODY — The city of Moody came together to celebrate 20 years of making miracles this weekend.
The Moody Miracle League, launched in 2003, has given thousands of children and adults the opportunity to play team sports over the last two decades. On Saturday, April 15, the Moody Miracle League provided the community with free food, carnival games, and an exhibition game for every current player in the league from ages two to 74.
The event also brought out civic leaders, such as Moody Mayor Joe Lee and Red Diamond CEO Bill Bowron, as well as the Moody High School baseball team who spent the day serving as volunteer baseball buddies helping the athletes live out their dreams of playing baseball.
“Community is all about including everyone and that means everyone,” said Bowron. “These children deserve to play a team sport as much as anyone else. Having this facility of this quality in our area is really a gift.”
The first Miracle League in the state of Alabama and only the third in the nation, the Moody Miracle League holds two seasons per year – one in the fall and one in the spring – providing anyone with a mental and/or physical disability a chance to play baseball in an organized league. The league serves St. Clair, Etowah, Jefferson, Shelby, Talladega, Blount, and Calhoun counties and has become a major source of pride and civic involvement for Moody and beyond.
“The Miracle League is the focal point of our entire park. We located it right up at the front of the park so that when you come in, you walk right through the Miracle League so you get a feel for what it’s all about,” said Lee. “It’s a big deal for the city of Moody.”
Since 2016, the league has been under the direction of Steve and Kim Sebastian who, like many of the coaches and other volunteers, became involved after their child started playing in the Miracle League.
“We just lucked into it,” said Kim Sebastian, whose son started playing in the Miracle League when was 11 years old. “We didn’t know anything about it, and we came out for Octoberfest and they were out here doing a ball game and one of the coaches saw us walking by and said to our son ‘Hey, would you like to come over and hit the ball?’
“He hit the ball and ran the bases and had so much fun, so we came up the next weekend and registered him to play,” she added. “He’s been playing ever since.”
In 2023, the Moody Miracle League has 145 players split among 11 teams, five for children and six for adults. In each game, all players hit twice, and every hit is a home run. They also get to play in the outfield with their “buddy,” typically a volunteer who ensures the player doesn’t get hurt from a line drive. During a day of Miracle League games, one will see players in Yankees, Giants, Cubs and other Major League team names putting on batting gloves, chatting with teammates, and hanging out in the dugout waiting for the first pitch, an experience most of them would never have without the Miracle League.
“For a lot of these players, including many of the adults who are homebound, this gives them something to look forward to,” said Kim Sebastian. “They’re disappointed when we have to cancel due to rain, and they constantly ask if we’re going to make those games up. It’s the highlight of their week.”
For the first time in 2023, the Moody Miracle League raised enough money to offer the experience free of charge. The generous donations from individuals, churches, and corporations make it possible for people with physical and mental disabilities to experience the thrill of playing America’s pastime.
“I really enjoy playing ball. I used to have to watch my sisters and them play but now I get to come out here and play,” said Jamie Duffel, a long-time Miracle League player on the adult Yankees squad. Confined to a wheelchair, Duffel is helped by another player, Ralph Rawlings, who helps her to bat and run the bases. “Running the bases is my favorite because I tell him to take off and I feel like I’m running, running, running.”
“Jamie and I are kind of a team together, so we’ve been attending the ball field for many, many years,” said Rawlings. “We’ve gone down to Florida and played with other teams and done a lot of activities with the Miracle League, so it’s been a Godsend.”
To donate, volunteer, or register a player for the Moody Miracle League, go to moodymiracleleague.org.