Adaptive Baseball for the Blind

by Bob Branco

When I was at the Perkins School for the Blind, I participated in several sports, including bowling and baseball. Forty years ago, baseball was not adaptable for the blind the way it is today, so the children at Perkins played regular baseball. The pitcher would throw the ball to home plate on a bounce, and as soon as the batter heard the bounce, he swung. When the player ran the bases, he would be called to the next base if he couldn’t see where he was going. I felt at the time that the game was well suited for someone blind or visually impaired, because of all the assistance we received by our fellow playmates and staff members.

Under those circumstances, I would feel the same way today about regular baseball. Having said that, a new form of baseball was invented exclusively for the blind. The new game, known as Beep Ball, is similar to regular
baseball in some ways, but it also had different rules designed to make the game more convenient for blind participants.

First of all, the ball is slightly bigger than a regular baseball, and when not in use, has a wooden pin inserted inside. When the ball is ready for use, the pin is removed, allowing the ball to release a loud continuous beeping sound. With this sound, everyone in the game has a better idea of where it is. As the ball continues to beep, fielders can locate it easier, and the batter knows when it’s being thrown by the pitcher, given him an opportunity to hit it. In Beep Ball, players do not run the bases the way they do in regular baseball.

There are two bases, one where third base normally is, and one where first base normally is. Each base makes a sound, and someone will activate it when the ball is hit. If the ball is hit toward third, the base is activated, and the base runner would head there. If the ball is hit toward first, then the runner would head for that sound. The object of the game is to reach your base, whichever one it is, before a fielder finds the ball. If the runner successfully reaches base, a run scores, and he/she then heads back to their bench.

The game has less rules than regular baseball. In other words, there are six fielders, and all they have to do is position themselves around the field to find the ball before a batter reaches his destination. If the fielder locates the ball first, it’s an out. There are still three outs in an inning of Beep Ball.

In 2001, I had the pleasure of managing a Beep Ball team in New Bedford, and we played a few games against other teams throughout the state. I found it to be quite a learning experience, although not difficult. In case you
didn’t know, Beep Ball has its own World Series, so it is organized.

We should be grateful that many sports are adaptable for persons with disabilities, allowing us a chance to use our skills.

Here is a video example that showcases and explains Beep Ball.