Bucs give back with Miracle League Fantasy Camp

For more than a decade, Pirates Charities, the philanthropic arm of the Pirates, has played a vital role in the construction of nine Miracle League fields -- eight in the Pittsburgh region and one in Bradenton, Fla., the team’s Spring Training home.

The first was the Miracle League of Southwestern PA, whose facility is located at Graham Park in Cranberry Township, about 30 minutes north of Pittsburgh. The Pirates helped christen that complex in 2009 and have visited several times since. That includes Saturday morning, when they participated in a Miracle League Fantasy Camp for children and young adults with special needs.

And the Pirates didn’t just show up. They came strong.

Chairman Bob Nutting, president Travis Williams, manager Derek Shelton, bench coach Don Kelly and a group of players -- catcher Jason Delay and pitchers Tyler Beede, David Bednar, Chase De Jong and Zach Thompson -- were all in attendance. General manager Ben Cherington also stopped by despite the fact that the MLB Trade Deadline is on Tuesday.

“Sometimes projects like this get a lot of attention at first, then something else replaces it, but we’re blessed because the excitement is still there 14 seasons later,” said Mike Sherry, president of the Miracle League of Southwestern PA. “Miracle League is still a top-of-mind program and a lot of that is because of Bob Nutting and the Pirates.

“It’s cool to see that lineup, with players and coaches and ownership, come out and visit our field. It helps to put the Miracle League back on top of the mountain, especially after the pandemic. And it says, ‘We’re still here. We’re still flying it high, baby.’”

Saturday’s event, hosted by Pirates Charities and sponsored by Baseball Fantasy Camp for Kids, included players from seven other Miracle Leagues -- in Upper St. Clair, Moon Township, Murrysville, Indiana and Altoona in Pennsylvania and Wheeling and Morgantown in West Virginia. Participants rotated through stations where Pirates players and coaches provided tips on hitting, pitching, fielding and baserunning.

“Anything we can give back to the community is important, and the Miracle League is so special, just being here and seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces,” said Shelton, who celebrated his 52nd birthday on Saturday. “You see the joy in people’s faces, not only the athletes, but their parents and siblings. It makes you realize how much everyone loves the game and how important this is to them.”

Holly Recker signed her son Luke up for the Miracle League of Southwestern PA’s inaugural season back in 2009. Luke, who has cerebral palsy, is now 23 years old and loves being involved in the program more than ever.

“We’ve been involved with the Miracle League since Luke was just a little, tiny kid,” Recker said. “He’s grown up here. We’re here every Saturday in the summer and every Saturday in the fall.

“Miracle League changed Luke’s world. It gave him the freedom to come to a place where everyone is the same. No one judges. We’ve made so many friends here. Without crying, I don’t know what else to say other than the Miracle League is a wonderful organization.”

Stories like that are among the reasons the Miracle Leagues are a point of emphasis in the Pirates’ overall community relations plan. And why Nutting, personally, has a deep connection and commitment to the program.

“Seeing it start from the small seed of this very field and expand into the Pirates supporting nine total fields -- the number of kids impacted, the number of parents impacted, the number of families impacted has been remarkable,” he said. “There are so many places where we [as a society] get divided today, and too few places where people come together.

“One where they do come together, frankly, is baseball. And one of those, frankly, is the Miracle League program. These families go through a lot of challenges. It’s nice for them to know there are a lot of people who care and are pulling with them.”

The Miracle League players who took part in the fantasy camp also received a commemorative medal, a Pirates jersey and cap, the opportunity to create their own baseball cards, lunch, and autographs from players, coaches, and mascots.

“We’re happy any time we can get out to the Miracle League,” Shelton said. “And anything you do that involves children, and children with special needs, keeps you grounded.”