As Major League Baseball teams begin the annual ritual of spring training, with pitchers and catchers already reporting across Florida and Arizona, the National Baseball Poetry Festival is making its own call to report to baseball poets of all ages.

Founded in 2022, the festival is entering its fourth year welcoming adult and youth poets — professional and novices alike — to make a free submission of a baseball- or softball themed poem. Over the years, submissions from 37 states and seven countries have addressed subjects such as opening day, ballpark food, Little League memories, dugout chatter, heroes, heartbreak, hope and more.

“Spring training is all about exercising your craft and stories, and that’s exactly what the festival encourages poets and writers to do,” said Steven Biondolillo, founder of the National Baseball Poetry Festival. “Poets can make their free submissions with the knowledge that 27 adult and 60 youth poets will be recognized, which makes the festival, by design, welcoming and inclusive.”  

According to Biondolillo, the 2026 Festival has already received more than 120 adult entries and 60 youth entries. “The youth contest is timed to coincide with National Poetry Month [April] and encourages teachers to engage their students with the world’s oldest narrative art form through the lens of sport.” The adult submission deadline is March 27 and the youth deadline April 17.

Festival prizes include certificates, t-shirts, ballgame tickets for poets able to attend the May kickoff event in Worcester, and an opportunity for all winners to read their poems either in-person or online. “This year, for the first time, youth poets unable to join the May kickoff in Worcester will have the chance to read their poems in an online event. Adult winners, on the other hand, are encouraged to join the fun in Worcester in-person.”

Evidence of the festival’s robust growth is the growing number of international submissions, including entries from Canada, Israel, Italy, the British Virgin Islands, India, Nigeria and Turkey. “We’re building a global community,” Biondolillo said.

The 4th National Baseball Poetry Festival will return to Worcester May 7-10, at Polar Park, home of the Worcester Red Sox and hometown of Ernest Thayer, author of “Casey at the Bat.” The multi-day celebration brings together baseball fans, poets, educators, and community members to celebrate the intersection of America’s pastime and the fine arts through readings, workshops, panels, performances, ballgames and conversations.

For more information, including contest entry details, event schedules, and teacher resources, visit baseballpoetryfest.org.

Karen Sharpe is a Rutland resident, poet, and member of the Executive Committee of the National Baseball Poetry Festival. The festival is held each year at Polar Park in Worcester.