Nearly two years after Major League Baseball All-Star activities took place in Kansas City, the impact of the event has had a residual effect.
In 2012, the only thing on the mind of the fans was the distance of the homers for the Homerun Derby at Kauffman Stadium. But after a portion of the money from that day’s All-Star activities was devoted to the construction of baseball fields for people with disabilities, families of the kids with disabilities feel that the community has hit a homerun.
Baseball Hall of Famer Cal Ripken sensed that in Independence, Mo., where he was for the dedication of a field at McCoy Park.
“Enjoying a sport that from a parent’s perspective they didn’t think their kids would be able to enjoy , and all of a sudden now it happens, it’s overwhelming,” said Ripken. “It’s joyful and probably the happiest day of their lives in many ways.”
The Cal Ripken Senior Foundation also contributed to the project. A field for people with disabilities in Olathe, Kan., is also been under construction.
