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No Matter Where You Live, There’s a Cape League Team to Satisfy Your Baseball Craving

http://www.chathamanglers.com/

For the Cape Cod Baseball League, 10 seems to be a perfect number. There are currently 10 teams in the Cape League. But it wasn’t always that way. Cape Cod Baseball League’s John Garner noted that in the 1920s the Cape League was pretty much what we know it as today. It was just a bit smaller.

“They had 6 different teams. I know at that time, they had teams in Orleans, Chatham, Barnstable, and I believe also Sandwich, and Osterville had the first powerhouse in the 1920s.”

Over the years teams were added, dropped, or moved due to changing interests. In 1988 the last two expansion teams in Bourne and Brewster were added. After that, the 10-team system was solidified. But about 10 years ago there was a very real possibility to add more teams to the league. Garner said the town of Sandwich had the most interest and sparked a serious discussion. 

“There was a lot of interest, so much so that we actually had a game for Sandwich for three consecutive years. I’m gonna say around 2002, 2003, 2004 - and the Hyannis Harborhawks, which were the Hyannis Mets at the time, actually had a home game in Sandwich.”

Finding more top college athletes to play in the Cape League wouldn’t be a problem. There’s a waiting list each season to get on a CCBL roster. Finding volunteers has proven to be the most challenging task. But not due to a lack of interest. It’s actually the opposite. Fans without a team to call their own have joined the community of one nearby. Longtime Orleans Firebirds volunteer Don Lassiere said that the team had a large support system spanning the entire Lower Cape.

“We had a volunteer core that ranged from Orleans all the way out to P-town. A lot of very dedicated people. And it made it a good fun time, because we got to know a lot of different people and a lot of different communities.”

Another team that has a lot of out-of-town volunteers is the Cotuit Kettleers. Cotuit is close to Mashpee and Sandwich, and the team draws a lot of volunteers and fans to their town. In fact, after moving to Mashpee, Lassiere said he’s become one of those out-of-town volunteers for the Kettleers.

“I got really involved with the team. It was an incredible experience bringing the community together, enjoying baseball every evening in beautiful Eldridge Park. It was a great experience and what I’m able to continue down here in the Cotuit area.”

In more recent years the discussion to add a team has pretty much stopped. Still, no matter where you live there’s a Cape League team nearby to satisfy your baseball craving. Jennifer Rose is one of those fans who has found her summer spot at Lowell Park. She sees the current number of teams as the right amount.

“I think the 10 teams that Cape Cod has is so steeped in tradition that it's perfect the way it is. It gives everybody a chance to do something different and follow their aspirations, so I think 10 is perfect.”

And maybe that tradition is kept alive for a reason. Including this year’s MLB Draft, 292 Cape League players are currently playing in the Majors. That is more than every other summer baseball league combined. So whether or not the town on the team is yours, the success of a League built on local volunteers is something that all Cape Codders can call their own.