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Tell us about Roy Hobbs Baseball and what makes the organization so special?
Roy Hobbs Baseball is an amateur baseball league comprised of men and women 35 years of age or older, playing on hundreds of teams throughout the United States and the world really. We attract “serious” ballplayers in eight age divisions — up to 75 years or older — who love the game, play the game and take their fun seriously. After a four-year absence, the women’s division returns this fall. Roy Hobbs has a special relationship with Fort Myers? Yes, our first World Series was held here in 1993, and we hosted 50 teams. This year, we’ll have a record 260-plus teams from the United States, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Ukraine, Canada, Russia and more. In all, we expect 10,000 to 15,000 players and their families to visit Lee County. And for the record, our headquarters are here too, located at the Player Development Complex on Edison Avenue. Tell us about the World Series, how it’s played and where it’s played. Everything about Roy Hobbs Baseball is big league. All of our games are played on professional ball fields — JetBlue Park (Red Sox), CenturyLink Field (Twins), City of Palms Park (former Red Sox stadium) and the former Red Sox minor league complex, historic Terry Park. This year, because of the tournament size, we’ve added Charlotte Sports Park (Tampa Bay Rays). We’re playing up to 50 games a day, under the sun or lights. And tickets are only $1 for the day. It’s a great family outing. And how cool are the games? We have players of all ages, and now genders, all walks of life — many successful business people, former minor league players, former major leaguers, even former pro football players like Doug Van Horn and Doug Flutie and his brothers. Many of our players bring their families, parents and grandparents. Some of our players are 80 years old or older, and they’re in great shape. I want to be kicking it like they do when I’m their age! What is it about Southwest Florida that works so well for Roy Hobbs Baseball? For a lot of our players, this is their annual vacation — they love visiting Fort Myers, Sanibel and Captiva. This is one of the largest amateur sporting events in Lee County annually, and since 1993 we’ve brought in more than $100 million in economic impact. And we know that 20% to 25% of our participants wind up relocating here. Would we be as successful anywhere else? I don’t think so.
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