Website Manager

In conjunction with Major League Baseball, PONY Baseball and Softball and various partners will host an unprecedented 24 hours of ‘PLAY BALL’ on Thursday, June 21^st, the Summer Solstice, in Fairbanks, Alaska. The special effort is in celebration of one of baseball’s most unique spectacles – the 113^th Midnight Sun Game. Given the city’s unique geographic location, Fairbanks sees 24 hours of daylight during the Summer Solstice. Throughout the 24-hour period, there will be a number of softball and baseball activities, for both adults and kids, hosted by Major League Baseball, PONY Baseball and Softball, USA Baseball and USA Softball.

During the “Open Session” PLAY BALL events, approximately 600 kids, ages six to 12, from local youth organizations and communities, will run through informal baseball- and softball-centered ‘PLAY BALL’ stations that provide fun activities highlighting the many ways the game can be played and enjoyed. Each participant will receive a bat & ball set, PLAY BALL-branded t-shirts and wristbands to take home. Registration for the open sessions is available at the following link: www.PlayBall.org/events.

Other activities throughout the day will include games featuring different baseball and softball-focused organizations. The numerous games and activities throughout the day will culminate with the 113^th Midnight Summer Game, which has been played annually in Fairbanks for over a century. For years, baseball fans from all over the world have gathered to watch the collegiate summer baseball team, the Alaska Goldpanners, play in this special contest. The game, which is scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. Alaska Time, does not use any artificial light.  Full schedule is below (all times AKDT):

Since 2015, Major League Baseball and its many partners in the PLAY BALL initiative, have hosted hundreds of PLAY BALL-focused events throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada.