Category: Announcements

CMBA to Participate in Winnemac Fourth For All All-Star Game

The CMBA is proud to participate in this year’s Winnemac Fourth For All celebration through our 2026 All-Star Game, taking place on Saturday, July 4th at 2:00 PM at Winnemac Park.

This year’s event is especially meaningful as part of the community celebration surrounding the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The CMBA All-Star Game will serve as one of the featured attractions of the day and will take place ahead of the evening’s headlining events.

Over the past several weeks, the league has been working closely with the Winnemac Park Advisory Council to coordinate planning, promotion, and press surrounding the event which will provide a great opportunity to showcase our league, our players, and amateur baseball in Chicago.

Most importantly, this is going to be a great community event.

There will be live music, food trucks, activities throughout the park, and a full day centered around bringing people together in one of Chicago’s great neighborhood green spaces.

This year’s All-Star Game will feature CMBA All-Stars against CSYBA All-Stars.

All-Star Selection Process

Each CMBA team will provide five All-Star representatives.

Managers may determine their representatives however they choose, whether through manager selection, internal team voting, or another process. You may nominate whichever players you feel are deserving, though I recommend the following general structure:

  • 2 outfielders
  • 2 infielders/catchers
  • 1 pitcher

These players will be recognized by the league, and we intend to highlight them on the CMBA website as representatives of the top performers from each club.

Help Us Spread the Word

This is an exciting opportunity for the CMBA to be visible within the broader Chicago community and to continue building momentum for the league.

Please help spread the word across your teams and encourage players, families, and friends to attend.

We’re looking forward to a great day of baseball and community at Winnemac Park. More info here.

CMBA Kicks Off 2026 with Earth Day at Winnemac Park

The Chicago Metropolitan Baseball Association (the CMBA) is excited to kick off the season by giving back to our home field.

After several years of uncertainty, 2026 marks our first full season back at Winnemac Park. Reestablishing this as our home has been a major step forward for the league, and the CMBA is committed to supporting the park that supports us.

As part of that commitment, the CMBA will be participating in the Chicago Park District’s 41st Anniversary Earth Day citywide park cleanup at Winnemac Park:

Saturday, April 18
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Winnemac Park

Players, friends, family, and community members are all welcome to join us. Whether you’re part of the league or just want to support a great local park, we’d love to have you out there.

This event is about more than cleanup, it’s about building a strong, lasting relationship with the park and community. Plus, it’s only a few hours (about the length of a baseball game!) and a perfect way to start the season.

Sign Up Here!

We hope to see you there—and afterward, don’t be surprised if a few of us continue the tradition with a post-cleanup visit to one of our team sponsors.

Baseball Returns to Winnemac: CMBA Prepares for the 2026 Season

The CMBA is gearing up for the 2026 season and we’re excited to welcome back all five returning teams: the White Sox, Electrons, Hawks, Hounds, and Blazers. This season also continues our interleague partnerships with BJMBL and CSYBA, giving teams the chance to face fresh competition while keeping our strong league identity.

After a two-year hiatus, the CMBA is also returning to Winnemac Park, which has recently been renovated with a new artificial turf field. To strengthen ties with our park and community, we’ll be organizing pre- and post- season volunteer events this season and are planning on joining the “Winnemac Fourth for All” event with an All-Star game.

The regular season is scheduled to begin May 2 and run through August 2, with playoffs wrapping up in mid-August. The full season schedule is expected to be released in April, so stay tuned for more details.

Behind the scenes, the league is also taking steps to strengthen its organization for the future, including moving toward a board-led structure and formal nonprofit status to support transparency and long-term growth.

In 2026 we plan to continue building a strong league, growing the game, and strengthening the baseball community around the north side of city — giving people a place to compete, connect, and be part of something together.

Support Henry Szumal’s Fight Against Leukemia

CMBA community — we want to share that Henry Szumal, an Electron and member of our league since 2011, has recently been diagnosed with leukemia.

Over the years, many of us have competed alongside Henry and know the impact he’s had on the field, including 381 innings pitched, a 40–18 career record, a 2.90 ERA, three Team Cy Young awards, and the first playoff shutout in Electron history. Off the field, he has given back to the game as a coach at Lane Tech.

Henry is facing this diagnosis alongside his fiancée, Jo, and their two-year-old son, Ben. As he begins treatment, there will be significant medical expenses and time away from work while they focus on his health and their family.

If you’re able, please consider supporting his GoFundMe or sharing the link to help Henry, Jo, and Ben during this difficult time. Support Henry’s Fight Against Leukemia on GoFundMe

CMBA President Honors BJMBL Opening Day

Jeff Panagopolous threw out the first pitch of the Benito Juarez Men’s Baseball League (BJMBL) opening day ceremony. This special honor was extended in recognition of the new interleague agreement between BJMBL and CMBA, allowing for game exchanges during the 2024 season.

The opening day was a resounding success, featuring a lively atmosphere with taco stands, beverage vendors, and enthusiastic fans. Jeff Panagopolous remarked, “They really have a nice set up for their games on Sundays.”