Dubai Little League: From Humble Beginnings to Thriving Baseball Community
By Pierre Herubel
Published: Fri 20 Oct 2023, 5:40 PM
Dubai, UAE – In early 1996, Andy and Sally Ritter, a couple new to Dubai, had a dream of bringing baseball to the city. However, there were no existing programs or leagues in Dubai at the time. Determined to make their dream a reality, the Ritters began working towards starting a Dubai Little League program.
With the support of the American School of Dubai (ASD), the Ritters gathered a group of 10-12-year-old kids and formed a baseball team. They challenged the Abu Dhabi Little League All-Stars to a two-game tournament, and to everyone’s surprise, the Dubai team emerged victorious in both games.
Inspired by their success, the Ritters organized a small group of parents to serve as the Board of Directors for the newly-formed Dubai Little League. They applied for a Little League Charter, which was granted in 1997. The league initially practiced on ASD’s grounds and played games at the Dubai Softball League’s fields at the Metropolitan Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road.
The first season of Dubai Little League had 12 teams in three divisions, with 120 participants from 10 different countries. Each team was sponsored by a company, which not only provided necessary funds but also increased the league’s visibility within the community.
While the league continued to grow, there was a constant concern about losing their playing fields due to the Dubai Municipality’s development plans. To address this issue, the president of the Dubai Little League, Roger Duthie, proposed that if the government provided suitable land, the league would raise the funds needed to build baseball fields. The government agreed, and construction began in 2003.
By the 2003-04 season, the league had over 200 players from more than 20 nationalities. Over the years, the fields were expanded and improved, including the addition of lights for night games. The league introduced a Challengers Division in 2010 to include special needs children, further diversifying their player base.
The Dubai Little League didn’t let the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic stop them. The league board worked tirelessly to keep the venue running and raise funds for its sustainability. They even managed to bring the Los Angeles Dodgers to Dubai annually for clinics and autograph sessions.
As of 2023, the Dubai Little League has over 500 baseball and softball players representing 27 different nationalities. In addition to the youth teams, there are five adult baseball teams playing in an all-wood bat league and another 100 players in the Mixed Emirates Slow Pitch League.
“Baseball and softball in Dubai and the UAE are alive and kicking,” said DLL president Roger Duthie. “The interest from kids and parents to continue this organized and structured program is what our community is all about. We are a volunteer-based organization and we are looking forward to our biggest and best season coming up in 2023–2024.”
With its dedicated volunteers and growing player base, the Dubai Little League has ensured that baseball thrives in the city.
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