Tag: 2026

2026 Schedule release!

The Chicago Metropolitan Baseball Association (CMBA) is proud to announce its 32nd season with the release of the 2026 schedule, kicking off another exciting summer of amateur adult baseball across Chicago. Opening Day is set for Saturday May 2nd, with competition running through late July and playoffs in August.

Since its founding in 1994, the CMBA has completed a season every year, continuing a long-standing tradition of competitive amateur baseball in the City of Chicago.

This season marks a highly anticipated return to its historical home, Winnemac Park, where CMBA teams will once again take the field for league play for the first time since 2023. Thanks to a new partnership with the park district, Winnemac will remain the central hub for league games allowing each team to play a substantial number of games there.

Recent renovations at Winnemac have introduced artificial turf and lights, allowing for a major scheduling improvement: weekday games will now begin at 6:15 PM, replacing the previous 5:50 PM start times required before lights were installed.

In addition to Winnemac, Laramie Park will continue to serve as a key venue for interleague matchups, offering another accessible location..

Each CMBA team will play a 29-game regular season schedule, featuring a structured mix of league play and interleague competition.

  • 22 of their 29 games will take place at Winnemac Park.
  • Intra-league CMBA play will feature four-game season series against each league opponent, reinforcing rivalries and ensuring balanced competition across all five teams.
  • Interleague competition against Chicago Suburban Youth Baseball Association (CSYBA) clubs for the second consecutive year. 2026 brings a new divisional structure: Midwest Division teams will play a two-game series against CMBA opponents, while West Division teams will face CMBA clubs in single-game matchups.
  • Cross-league matchups with Benito Juarez Men’s Baseball League (BJMBL), continuing a partnership that CMBA has been part of since 2023. BJMBL teams will feature a two game series, one taking place at Piotrowski Park and the other at Winnemac Park.

Community & Special Events

CMBA continues to prioritize community involvement alongside competitive play. On April 18th, league members will participate in an Earth Day volunteer event, supporting local efforts to maintain and improve our shared baseball spaces.

Later in the summer, the league will host its All-Star Game at Winnemac Park as part of the annual Winnemac 4th For All celebration. This community-focused event provides a perfect backdrop to showcase top CMBA talent while engaging with the surrounding neighborhood.

Season Outlook

With a full 29-game slate, consistent four-game intra-league series, expanded interleague structure, and upgraded facilities at Winnemac Park, the 2026 season is positioned to deliver a much improved season.

The CMBA remains committed to delivering competitive amateur baseball while strengthening connections within the communities where we play.

Continue reading “2026 Schedule release!” →

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