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| Shissler Recreation Center during a youth game. | PHOTO: Shissler Recreation |
There’s a rhythm to baseball in this city, an unspoken connection that runs deep through its history, from Connie Mack’s A’s to the Phillies of Schmidt and Carlton, Utley and Rollins. But for all the big-league moments, for all the grand triumphs at Citizens Bank Park, baseball’s roots here are about more than just the majors.
They’re found in the dusty diamonds of neighborhoods like Fishtown and Kensington, in the dreams of kids who don’t have a team bus or TV contracts—just the love of a game.
It’s those roots that I, as the founder of the Philadelphia Baseball Review, am turning my focus toward with a renewed mission to ensure the game thrives where it matters most—at the ground level, in the hands of the city’s youth.
Our New Mission
Igniting Philly’s passion for baseball through bold storytelling and transformative programs that empower youth, cultivate leadership, and create a supportive community, ensuring every child thrives on and off the field.
The shift comes at a crucial time. Across America, baseball in inner cities is in retreat. Little League teams that once crowded urban parks are fading, giving way to basketball courts and football fields. The game's decline in these areas is well-documented, and nowhere is it more poignant than in a city like Philadelphia, where the game has long been woven into the fabric of life. The numbers are stark, but they tell only part of the story. This isn’t just about statistics—it’s about opportunity, about using baseball as a vehicle for young people to learn, grow, and find themselves in a game that has always been as much about life as it is about sport.
I see baseball as more than just a pastime. It’s a lesson in perseverance, in how to handle failure and find leadership in unexpected places. A game where even the best fail seven times out of ten serves as a metaphor for life, and my hope is that the Review’s new mission can bring those lessons to kids who need them most. Baseball offers a unique path for young people to learn not only the fundamentals of a sport but also the fundamentals of growth—learning from mistakes, handling pressure, understanding teamwork, and finding strength in resilience. These are the lessons I believe will shape the next generation of Philadelphia’s youth.
For nearly 20 years, the Review has been the city’s go-to source for all things baseball, from the Phillies to the local amateur scene. That work will continue, but with this new mission, the Review’s scope is expanding. The goal is simple: to reinvigorate the game in neighborhoods where it’s been fading, to bring baseball back to the streets, and to ensure that kids, especially in inner-city Philadelphia, have the chance to play, learn, and grow through the sport.
The plan is ambitious but rooted in a belief that baseball, perhaps more than any other sport, can build bridges in a community. Philadelphia’s baseball story is one of grit and resilience, of underdogs and comebacks. It’s a sport where success is built on failure, and where even the longest drought can be overcome with a single swing. That’s the narrative I want to bring back to the city’s youth. Through the power of journalism and community building, the Review will work to highlight the amateur and youth baseball scenes, not just as a feel-good sidebar to the Phillies but as a critical part of the city’s baseball future.
Our New Vision
Philadelphia stands as the beacon of youth baseball, where every child, regardless of skill, finds inspiration and opportunity to achieve greatness, supported by a vibrant community dedicated to growth, connection, and lasting impact.
One of the key elements of this new mission is a concerted effort to partner with local organizations to provide resources, access, and exposure for young athletes in underserved areas. It's not just about showcasing games and tournaments—though that remains important—but also about raising awareness of the challenges these communities face in maintaining fields, accessing equipment, and finding coaching. I envision a future where the Review not only tells these stories but actively contributes to creating solutions.
Partnerships with community centers, recreational leagues, and youth programs will be crucial. Plans are already in place for several week-long summer baseball camps in 2025, in collaboration with a pair of youth ministries in Kensington. It’s part of a broader push to get baseball back into the hands of kids who otherwise might never have the chance to play. It’s a long road ahead, but it’s one I believe is essential for both the future of the game and the future of the city’s youth.
We also have an inaugural Amateur Baseball Awards Dinner scheduled for August 2025. It's another way we plan to spotlight all of the good in the baseball community.
The Review will also continue to cover the Phillies and Major League Baseball with the same rigor and passion that have made it a staple for Philadelphia baseball fans. But now, those stories will be complemented by a deeper look at the next generation—the high school phenoms, the weekend warriors, and the kids playing pickup ball on the corner. I want to show that baseball isn’t just about the bright lights and big contracts. It’s about the everyday joy of the game, and it’s about ensuring that every kid in this city has a chance to feel that joy.
My personal connection to the game runs deep. Growing up in Juniata Park, I lived for the summer days spent playing in neighborhood leagues. I know firsthand what baseball can mean to a kid with big dreams but limited options. After my playing days, I turned to writing, spending two decades covering the Phillies and the sport I love. But the realization that more needs to be done—that baseball in Philadelphia can be more than just a spectator sport—has driven this new mission.
As the Philadelphia Baseball Review steps into this next phase, the goal is not just to be a voice for the game but to be a force for its future. From the streets of South Philly to the parks of West Philly, the Review aims to be a part of the movement to keep baseball alive and thriving in a city that, despite its challenges, has always been a baseball town at heart.
In a time when so much of the baseball conversation is about the business of the game, the Philadelphia Baseball Review is reminding us all that the heart of the game is still in the dirt, the grass, and the hands of the kids playing for love, not money. This new mission is about making sure those hands stay on the ball for generations to come.
This is baseball journalism with purpose.
