Host Families

Please open your hearts and share in the dream.

The Babe Ruth League is committed to giving young baseball and softball players a once-in-a-lifetime experience when participating in the World Series events. Part of this experience is giving each team an equal opportunity to travel around the country, which is why the Babe Ruth League uses the Host Family program to house all of the players during their week long stay.

Host families are the cornerstone of the Cal Ripken World Series and local community involvement. Without these volunteer families, this event would not be able to take place. Hosting the young players who travel to Winchester from all over the country serves as a great opportunity to meet new families within the community and to make a lifetime of memories with existing and new friends. Each year 50 families are needed to house approximately 104 players participating in the tournament.

Several host families are still needed for the 2009 Cal Ripken World Series. We understand that becoming a host family requires a large time commitment with the expectations of housing and feeding players, laundering clothes, entertainment during down time, driving to and from practices, games, and activities, and also maintaining a good line of communication with World Series staff. In return, you will receive the satisfaction of partaking in the experience of a lifetime.

While a lot is expected of host families, there are many benefits: "adopt" some great kids for one week...many host families still correspond with their former players years later, learn about different cultures, meet new families within Winchester, and witness some great baseball at a state-of-the-art youth field.

When you sign up to be a host family, you will be assigned to a team. Your team leader will contact you to organize travel arrangements, welcome parties, carpooling schedules and other fun activities for the World Series. When applying, each family will have to pass a background check and a home inspection. These processes are not complicated and are for the safety of the children.

For more information about hosting, please e-mail Ellen LeMay or call her at (781) 756-0583.

Read one family's experience of being a host family during a recent Cal Ripken World Series.