Cape Cod Baseball League: Inexpensive Baseball and Access to Major League Talent

Since 1885, the best college baseball players have spent their summers on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, proving themselves in the premier summer baseball league. The Cape Cod Baseball League has acted as an unofficial farm league for the majors, as one out of every seven current major leaguers spent time there. Baseball greats who passed through the Cape Cod Baseball League include Jeff Reardon, Thurman Munson, and Carlton Fisk. Among current players, standout Cape Cod Baseball League alumni include Barry Zito, Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Bagwell, Chace Utley, Mark Mulder, and Jason Varitek.

I knew all this before attending my first Cape Cod Baseball League game. What surprised me when I arrived at the brand-new Doran Park, home to the Bourne Braves, was how modest the game remains. The presence of corporate sponsors is inconspicuous--just a few flags and signs along the outfield fences and occasional mention over the loudspeaker. There are no McDonalds stands pumping out hamburgers or Dairy Queens squeezing out soft-serve and ice cream treats. Instead, there is a modest snack bar and an outdoor grill staffed by local volunteers. There are no grandstands, no upper deck, no tickets, even. Entrance is by donation only and you can sit almost anywhere you like. Many people had lawn chairs set up on a grassy hill behind home plate. My girlfriend and I found a seat at a picnic table along the left-field foul line, near where the Bourn bullpen pitchers were perched on another picnic table. Throughout the game, they'd joke with each other, talk to the fans, and cheer on their team.