Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirk Pruitt.
Kirk, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The North Texas Amateur Baseball League began operations in 1988 with four teams.
We are a baseball (hardball) league for adults 18 years of age and older. We are the Dallas chapter of the national organization, Men’s Senior Baseball League When area men discovered they could play hardball (not softball), they flocked to the league bringing the number of teams up to 39 in two different age groups (18+ and 25+).
The league took a hard hit following the economy sag after 9/11, then another hard hit during the Great Recession in 2008-2010. In 2010 the league was down to just 11 teams.
Since then, the league has rebounded brilliantly, growing to its current level of 36 teams (combined with the Fall season teams the total is closer to 50).
In 2017 the league will play over 400 games per year on fields throughout Dallas and the surrounding area with players in four different age groups 18+, 35+, 45+ and 55+.
There are a number of things that were/are key to our growth. First, we switched to all volunteer staff, which allowed us to break up the chores of running the league and spread them out over a larger talent pool. Next, we (re)instituted our Rookie League, which gives newbies a place to play and assimilate into the league. Finally, we ramped up our charitable efforts. We’d always held a golf tournament here or had a raffle there, but never really got serious about it until 2012.
In July, 2012, we struck a deal with Dr Pepper and the Frisco RoughRiders for use of Dr Pepper Ballpark. The only stipulation from them was that we needed to raise at least $5,000 for charity. With exactly six weeks to prepare, we chose the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas and made an announcement to the league. It took more than just a little arm twisting, but we raised over $7,500 that day and the RoughRiders invited us back the next year. Since then, the NTABL has raised over $120,000 for the hospital through our All Star Game days at the stadium.
The entire league pitches in along with the hospital, who bring patients or former patients to the games. The kids are treated like rock stars and are included in team photos, they are announced during the starting lineups and throw out the ceremonial first pitch. They also receive gifts from the players such as “autographed” baseballs and game used bats. The unintended happy consequence of this was, players WANTED to be a part of it. Not just from our league, but managers started bringing teams over from other leagues just to participate in this event!
In December 2014, the league’s charitable arm, the North Texas Amateur Baseball Foundation was granted 501(c)(3) status by the IRS. Since then we’ve been slowly building up our cash reserves and have reached out to several local of local charities, branching out our giving.
Has it been a smooth road?
The day-to-day operations of running the league are never 100% smooth sailing.
Chasing grown men down for money they have agreed to pay is never pleasant. 90% of our players pay their team fees in a timely manner, but it seems like we have to chase that last 10%.
Since we do not own our fields, we have to rent them from local schools and municipalities. Sometimes we have more games than places to play, or the places we are scheduled for have to bump us off. It can make for some harried moments, but we’ve learned a thing or two over the years and are pretty successful in heading problems off at the pass.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with North Texas Amateur Baseball League – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We provide a place for adults to play baseball (not softball). We are known for being well run, having the best competition, the best fields and out charitable work.
The NTABL has been recognized nationally as a premiere league in the USA and many of our leaders and players have received national recognition as well. We are most proud of our members, who return year after year and make the NTABL one of the best baseball leagues in the nation.
Pricing:
- Average player cost about $15 per game.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dallasmsbl.com
- Phone: 469-277-7246
- Email: contactus@dallasmsbl.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/northtexasamateurbaseball
- Twitter: @NTABL
Image Credit:
NTABL
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