Challenger Baseball is a baseball league for kids and adults with developmental disabilities from ages 5 on up. Since 1994 the main goal of St. Louis Challenger Baseball has been to make friends!

The fundamental goal of Challenger Baseball is to make friends. As our players who have disabilities play baseball they have the opportunity to make friends with teammates and their buddies. Buddies are kids and young adults (between the ages of 10 and 25 who don’t have a disability) who hang out with our players on the field and assist them if they need a bit of help.

Every person regardless of their developmental disability can play Challenger Baseball. Players not only have a great time playing baseball, but also experience pulling together as a team, being cheered by a crowd, and being encouraged by their peers. All players receive a full uniform: jersey, pants, socks and a hat. And all players get a trophy at the end-of-the-season picnic.

How it Works
Beyond following basic safety rules, Challenger baseball tailors the game to the skill levels of the players. Challenger players play on the same fields, use the same equipment, and wear the same full uniforms as traditional teams.
Teams are supported by coaches and by our buddy system. As our buddies make friends the also help by pushing players using wheelchairs around the base paths after a hit or by helping a player retrieve a ball that gets past them, among other things. But the most important thing a buddy does is to be a friend to our players.