This is the Springfield Metro Baseball League

In 2007 the league was founded to create a "public" league that would play an extended schedule with many upgrades versus other open registration programs in the Springfield, Missouri "Metro" area.  The league also would maintain the fair treatment of players through inclusive playing rules and the creation of "competitive" teams with an annual draft.  Starting with 37 players the league created three teams in summer 2007 and played in the Springfield Parks system.  In 2008 the league expanded to 7 teams.  In 2009 the league moved into Price Cutter Park in Ozark and expanded to 11 teams including the new Senior division for older players. In 2011 the league grew to 15 teams in three divisions including the new Minors division. 2013 was the largest league ever with 18 teams in the three divisions.  In 2014 the league embarked on its second "retro" season and switched to using wood bats only (ash & maple) in the summer league as part of its permanent identity.  Each season going forward the divisions move around visiting different decades of the 20th century, wearing authentic looking uniforms, using wood bats, and even providing music of the eras at the park.  In 2015 the league decided to move to the Barnhouse and Optimist Fields on the west side of Springfield and discontinued the 12 & under Minors division, but we still hosted the largest number of players in the two remaining divisions ever.  Since 2015 the summer league has hosted at least 11 teams in the Majors and Senior divisions.  We also have a fall league that grew from 4 teams in 2008 to around 10 teams each year since.  The Fall league plays an eight game schedule mostly on weekends in Sept/Oct and is open to registration from non-Summer players as well.  The league continues play at the west side parks with both the 19 & under Seniors and the 15 & under Majors divisions.  Players anywhere from 11 to 19 can sign up to play, there are no try-outs in the league.  In 2018 the league launched the new Sunset division for players over 20 who participated in the Senior league with Metro as 18 or 19 year-olds.  The Sunset division plays a limited summer schedule and is not open registration.  Each year the league also hosts an Opening ceremony with visiting former MLB players and now employs family members of some of the greatest hall of fame players every year as honorary commissioners.

It took five years to go from youth players up to the 19 & under and 15 & under age groups.  These leagues mirror the last set of leagues run in Chicago by the league founder and director.  Each year this league sees many players enter and some leave, some have even gone and returned.  The league offers a unique experience not only within Springfield, but we feel anywhere in the country.  The league hopes to occupy a place in the Springfield area as the "public" league for baseball players aged 11 to 19 years old for years to come.  In some players cases, it now may give them baseball for an indefinite number of years.

Special thanks are owed to the Niles, IL baseball league, the Crystal Lake, IL Babe Ruth league, and the Lake in the Hills, IL Youth Athletic Association for their influence in the creation of this league.