Friday, July 03

Welcome to the Baseball Traveler newsletter. Today is National UFO Day, a great time to remind you that the Great Falls Voyagers of the Pioneer League were named in honor of the Mariana UFO incident. Let's talk about Minor League Baseball.

Last season I wrote about Iowa Cubs team photographer Dylan Heuer, who founded the Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf. This year's camp was particularly memorable; read all about it below.

The Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf, established by Iowa Cubs team photographer Dylan Heuer in 2015, took place in Des Moines from June 15-21 this year. It was the biggest iteration yet, offering 45 Deaf and Hard of Hearing kids ages 7-14 a place where, as Heuer puts it, "They could communicate freely, build confidence, develop friendships and feel a true sense of belonging."

This year's camp was highlighted by a collaboration with the USA Deaf Baseball team, who were in town to prepare for the 2026 World Deaf Baseball Championship (scheduled to take place in Japan this November). Heuer, who also serves as USA Deaf Baseball's visual media coordinator, wrote in an email that "the players and coaches spent several days with campers throughout the week, serving as instructors, mentors and role models."

He continued, "There was something uniquely powerful about spending time with athletes who shared their lived experiences as Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. The campers saw successful Deaf adults pursuing their dreams, competing internationally, travelling the world, building careers and thriving on and off the field."

Several Iowa Baseball Camp for the Deaf participants also served as batboys and batgirls for the USA Deaf Baseball team during the latter's three-game exhibition series against the Mid-Iowa Baseball League All-Stars. These games took place at Polk City's Moeckly Ballfield, built in a cornfield for a "Field of Dreams" TV series that did not come to fruition. 

Heuer noted that the games at Moeckly Ballfield "showcased a full-circle moment for the camp." Bo Gerbracht, a camp participant from 2015-17 who is now a pitcher at Central College in Pella, Iowa, joined the USA Deaf Baseball team as a non-roster invitee.

"Gerbracht pitched in Game 2 and started in left field in Game 3, providing younger campers with a powerful example of what can be achieved through dedication and perseverance," wrote Heuer. "He even impressed the team enough that they offered him a spot on the roster for Japan."

As in previous years, a camp highlight was ASL Night with the Iowa Cubs. This evening with the Triple-A Cubs affiliate features ASL-themed jerseys and campers signing -- as opposed to singing -- the national anthem and Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

"More than 300 members of Iowa's Deaf and Hard of Hearing community attended the game, making it one of the largest Deaf community gatherings in the state each year," wrote Heuer.

The next morning, the campers returned to Principal Park for a morning of pick-up games as well as personalized instruction from I-Cubs players BJ Murray and Eric Yang. Each child was prominently displayed on the videoboard as they hit, fielded and ran on the field. Heuer remarked that this was one of many "memorable experiences that the children will never forget" and this, of course, is the point.

"IBCD has evolved into much more than a baseball camp. It has become a community, and a place where children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing can develop confidence, friendships and a lifelong love for the game."

The Columbia Fireflies are taking the field as the Synchronized Hippos on July 18, a new alter-ego inspired by an incorrect Jeopardy! response. You’ll want to know the backstory behind this promo, one of the goofiest endeavors of the 2026 season. Please know that Ken Jennings is already on board.

READ ABOUT THE COLUMBIA SYNCHRONIZED HIPPOS HERE

News of the Synchronized Hippos broke too late for me to include them in this month's Promo Preview column, but no matter. There are still plenty of great promos for you to (metaphorically) sink your teeth into, from 19-letter team names to the anticipated return of a bizarre theatrical production.

READ THE JULY EDITION OF PROMO PREVIEW HERE

On last week's episode of The Show Before the Show podcast, Ashley Salinas of the Hickory Crawdads chatted about her team’s recent promotion in honor of the 1951 Granite Falls Graniteers. They were one of the worst Minor League teams of all time, but their ineptitude eventually led to a groundbreaking moment. The episode also features Kelsie Heneghan’s interview with Minor League managerial legend John Shoemaker, who I profiled in the previous edition of this newsletter.

LISTEN TO THE SHOW BEFORE THE SHOW PODCAST HERE 

We close with an inevitable bit of Minor League Baseball wishcasting: LeBron James is looking for a new team to play for, and it shouldn’t surprise you that teams across the country are hoping he pulls a Michael Jordan and pursues a baseball career.

CHECK OUT A SAMPLING OF LeBRON’S MINOR LEAGUE SUITORS HERE 

Thanks for being here. Get in touch anytime via email at benjamin.hill@mlb.com and please follow me on Instagram (@thebensbiz), X (@bensbiz) and Bluesky (@bensbiz.bsky.social). 

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