Player registration for the 2020 season has commenced. Last season Herts Baseball Club unveiled two new teams in NW London giving it a total of five teams playing in the BBF senior baseball leagues. The number of adult team players rose by a staggering 54.7%. In 2020 the club will be on a mission to turn this army of new players into teams that can compete in the playoff races of the various British baseball leagues.
ADULT BASEBALL LEAGUES
How many teams will represent Herts in 2020? The next few weeks will be crucial as the number of players registering will determine how many teams will be entered before the BBF league entry deadline of 31 January; how many will play in Hemel Hempstead and how many will play in London; which BBF leagues the teams will play in.
KEY DATES – ADULT TEAMS
- 26 January- players report for indoor Spring Training
- 1 March – teams return to the ballpark for the for the first time in 2020
- 14-15 March – Start of the 2020 Herts Spring League (subject to confirmation of the BBF League Opening Day)*
- March – Great Britain National Team Tryouts (senior and youth teams)*
- 5 April – BBF League Opening Day (subject to confirmation)*
- May – Midweek Evening Baseball commences
- 13-14 June – MLB London Series (see details below)
- August-September* – BBF Postseason Playoffs and National Championships
- September-October – Hunlock Series
* – these are preliminary dates. The BBF will be making its official announcements in due course.
YOUTH BASEBALL
The Herts youth players are probably suffering the most without baseball this winter, but they will not have to wait much longer. Registration for youth baseball players will be launched next month.
MLB LONDON SERIES – CUBS vs CARDINALS
Following 2019’s incredible sold-out slugfest between the Red Sox and the Yankees, 2020 will see the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs going toe-to-toe. On June 13-14, London Stadium will be transformed into Europe’s largest ballpark as it becomes MLB’s home once again. These are regular season games with everything on the line. Get ready for a day to remember both on and off the field. Various events and activities will take place as part of the MLB London Series and details will be announced in due course.
WHICH BALLPARK WILL YOU PLAY YOUR HOME LEAGUE GAMES AT?
The two Herts baseball teams based in North West London made their BBF League debut in 2019 and the club is implementing the gradual process of adding the baseball infrastructure at Basing Hill Ballpark. 2020 player registration has just commenced (see details below). Now that the club has two ballparks, the online registration form will ask players to indicate whether they prefer to play their home league games in Hemel Hempstead or in NW London, or whether they would be happy with either. This will provide vital information to club management when they configure the team rosters for the new season.
HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE 2020 HERTS BASEBALL SEASON
For those who already have a Herts Online Clubhouse account they will be prompted to register when they log on next time (click here to go to the Herts Online Club House and log on with your existing username and password). Those who are new to Herts Baseball Club and do not have an online account can register as members by completing this form. For more details about joining our teams in 2020 click here or contact us.