Hi Madrile�os,
I just moved to Madrid from Germany and I�m looking desperately for someone to play Baseball or Softball with. I don�t want to join a team or anything, just want play some games for fun.

Does anyone know a place where the Baseballers tend to hang out (preferrably near Arg�elles) or does anyone here like to throw the ball around for a while?

Thanks in advance for any hints,
Raoul

Raoul my man! So glad you decided to post here. I was back in the U.S.A. in December of last year visiting the family and showing my Spanish girlfriend around the big apple and I bought a baseball glove, bat and some baseballs and softballs.

Probelem is that they have been collecting dust since and I can not seem to find anyone into throwing the ball around. Till now...

So, I had an idea, we can get together and maybe even hope that others will read this message thread and join in. I am an amateur but I love the game.

I am inspired so I think I am going to put a classified ad in In Madrid newpaper and in there online version as well (www.in-madrid.com) to see if anyone wants to get a pick up game going.

My girlfriend (although a Madrile�a and knows little about the game) also has a glove and will surely join us, anyone else?

I live... well from the view on my webcam, you can guess where so let me know when you want to get together. I have sent you a private message with my tel. # so you can call me and you can send me a private message by clicking on the icon above this post if you want to send me one.

You can also post another response here for all to see and maybe we will get the ball rolling on this

Saludos,
jer...

Jer,

What about a rubber ball and broomstick, play "stick ball" in the Plaza?

Now that would be cultural shock for anyone, and probably lead to arrest but... Hey! Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

JP (Who hates paying fines!)

Hey Savage.

Been there, done that, got the t-shirt but the Plaza floor is too unpredictable for bounces and the "Ayuntamiento" ("Town Hall") rejected my proposal to lay down hard wood parquet floors

These Spaniards are just soo set in their ways

Saludos,
jer...

Yesssssss! A group interested in some BBall. That's all good by me. Myself and at least two other American guys as well are also interested.

We have cars so, if you all know of a decent place, we can get there. Please keep us posted!

By George, I think you guys are going to end up having a ball. I played baseball and sofball for over 50 years. I quit playing softball at the ripe old age of 59, only because of a physical problem, that wouldn't allow me to continue.

My second oldest son, while visiting Spain, brought a football along, and while they were spending a week on a beach north of Barcelona, he and his Spanish brother began tossing the ball around on the beach. Eventually others, from all over Europe and the US joined in. They ended up having touch football games in the sand twice a day, and it was amazing how many new friends everyone made. I see no reason that softball couldn't do as well, if you can find a place in the park where you can throw the ball around, and hit each other fly balls. People will gather.

Our Spanish son (spent two years with us here in the US finishing high school) became adept enough at baseball during those two years (since my kids are all athletic), that he actually played on the high school baseball team, and lettered in the sport his senior year. It was a very proud moment for all of us. He even got a chance to play in the Illinois State Baseball tournament.

Since Spaniards love sports, they will probably end up taking to the game in a hurry. Because gloves are hard to find, you might opt for a 16" softball as well, since that is played bare handed, and the ball doesn't travel too far, and you don't really need a dirt infield as much to play. Eventually it could grow into the 12" ball, when people have gloves.

Having coached football, baseball, and softball, I know that it doesn't take people long to get the hang of the games. If they express an interest, it develops fast. Especially when everyone can participate, and even though not the greatest in the beginning, have a great time. Softball is the easiest of them, to master.

Having played in three World Championships myself (slow pitch softball), I met people from all over the world, and one of the best teams we played against one year was a team from Spain. Even though four of the players were American ex-pats, the stars of the team were Spaniards. They started playing just like you're indicating, and in the end, became highly competitive.

Do it! This is one of the few cultural things that the US can export without it being misrepresented. It's just plain fun!

JP (Who wishes he could still go out and play - )

Wow, this may actually come together after all. I have 6 interested in total and with your 3 Tony (including yourself), that makes for a whole team last I checked

JP sounds like you were a real pro, our gatherings will be co-ed and will be amateur at best but it is will be fun. If you find yourself in Madrdi this spring and want to make a comeback (if you are feeling up to it), look us up

Saludos,
jer...

Hey everyone. A little update from my point of view. My Spanish-American buddy in Manzanares is actually ordering some balls, bats, gloves, etc. from Torrejon and is really serious about it. He knows a few people also interested in playing.

Let's start talking about places. My buddy's talked about trying to rent a place up on the base, but I also wanted to put this to the multimadridians in case somebody knew of a park around the area.

I'm a lefty with my own glove and have a couple of old, crappy right handed gloves available for anyone who may be without.

Let's talk turkey.....When? Weekends? Where? Anyone know of any place? How many people are interested in playing?

I'm good for at least 3 including myself. probably more like 5 though. Talk to me folks....

Hello!

I supose that, to play baseball you'll need a lot of square feet of grass. Have you ever been in Juan Carlos I park. It's a huge park with lawn, and mostly flat. Maybe there you'll find a good place to play baseball.

One question, what is softball?.

Bye!

Hey totx, thanks for the suggestion on a place to play.

The not very technical explanation of Softball would be that it is like baseball but the ball is bigger, about twice the size, and the bats are aluminum instead of wood like baseball bats although in the end you can play with any bat. The Softball bats are also wider at the end that hits the ball.

In the U.S.A. both sports are played but while softball does have its pro players, it is not the "Amercan Passtime" and does not have the prestige or the amount of fans that baseball does.

I like softball because it is more relaxed, also, in softball you are more likely to get mixed co-ed teams (co-ed means both men and women) so it is more fun and anyone can play. Baseball is much faster paced with pitching and all while Softball is slower and calmer.

You can check out the billions of websites on Softball to get a better idea of what it is like, start with the obviouse www.softball.com

We will end up playing Softball rather than baseball here in Madrid in the Spring.


Hey tonytorero, I have a glove and a bat and my girlfriend has a glove as well.

As I said, I have started a "Softball/Baseball" folder on my PC and currently have 7 interested (including my gal and I). Will keep adding as I get interested players and we will see what happens for some games in the Spring, ok?

I assume we should wait till then, no? I hope those who have e-mailed me are still interested then.

Weekends are perfect, aside form being the only time we could get games together.

I think this will come together well but the hardest part is finding a field decent enough to play on.

Is the one at the base expensive to rent?

I have a car but I fear many of those interested may not. If we end up ddriving there (having to), we could also arrange for a depaerture point in the city. For example, 11pm from the Plaza Castilla (just an example) or maybe the "intercambiador de Moncloa" (depending on the location of the place we find to play at). A few of us (I for one volunteer to take 2 others in my car) who have cars could meet those wh do not there and we could all head out to the field.

How's that for talkin turkey

On to the field hunt!

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. Are there too many bushes in the PLAZA DE ORIENTE to play ball

I would love to take out one of those "Guardia Civil" guys guarding the Palacio Real as I dive for a fly ball

I don't know about the 'picoletos'(guardia civil guys), but I would like to play 9 innings with one of those cool little triangular hats they wear. Though I would have to turn it around in order to keep the sun out of my eyes!

I think the 'meeting point' idea is a good idea. We'll see where we end up finally playing at. If at all possible though, we can make it a preference to try and find a place connected to the 'metro' network.

I'm not sure about the cost of playing at the base (if any for veterans???) , but I'll definately find out and let you know.

Ya, playing in the spring would make most sense, though if these guys I know start 'chomping at the bit' before then, I'll let you know and we'll see if we can drum up support early. I don't know. We can play it by ear....

Even if you guys just want to throw the ball around before the Spring, let me know, I'm in

Saludos,
jer...

There is a baseball field in Madrid!! It is in the "Polideportivo de La Elipa" - it's in Moratalaz; metro: Estrella; bus: 71. I don't know what we would have to do to use it, if it is good enough, but I guess that it would be enough with one of the players being a resident of Madrid, and paying a fee.

(Jer, I'm sure you remember it, but I e-mailed you about joining all of you when you begin the "season". Please, keep me updated!)

Hey MAX, thanks for the tip on where to play. Did you get the field idea out of the InMadrid newspaper in March? I saw the baseball article in there and had never known there was a field there before.

We may end up there, I will look into the cost and steps to take in order to have access to the field.

Saludos,
jer...

p.d. I will also definitely keep you in mind for the games, I think we have like 15 people interested

You won't believe this, but I went out yesterday night, I went to an Irish pub, and pick one "InMadrid" up, without looking at it at all. I got home and began to post messages in Multimadrid. Then I finished, and went to read the "InMadrid", and I found it.

I knew that because some relatives of mine live around there, and when we went to visit them my father used to tell me that.