In Payette, Idaho, where Baseball Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew first learned to swing for the fences, a special field continues his legacy of giving back to the community. The Harmon Killebrew Miracle League Field stands as the only facility of its kind in Idaho, helping children and adults with special needs experience the joy of baseball.
The Miracle League removes barriers that often prevent children and adults with disabilities from playing baseball. The field features a specialized rubberized surface that allows wheelchairs to navigate easily, while volunteer “buddies” assist players during games. Every Thursday during the season, the field comes alive with laughter, cheers, and the crack of the bat as players of all abilities take their turn in the spotlight.
Killebrew, who hit 573 home runs during his Hall of Fame career, never forgot his small-town roots. Through his foundation, he raised over $10 million for charity and established the Legacy Program to build Miracle League Fields in Payette and other cities. According to KTVB news coverage of the 2019 post office dedication ceremony, Stephanie Davis, vice president of the Miracle League, said “Harmon found his happy place on the miracle leagues fields. He even spent the last few days of his life sitting on a miracle league dugout, cheering on the miracle league players.”
According to reports from the 2019 post office dedication ceremony, former Congressman Raul Labrador said of Killebrew: “He wanted to be remembered for being a good man, for treating people kindly and with respect.” The Miracle League field in Payette ensures that this wish becomes reality every time a child crosses home plate to the cheers of teammates and families. It’s a fitting tribute to a man who understood that the greatest home runs aren’t always measured in distance, but in the difference they make in people’s lives.
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