Students Grades 4-12 and Little Leaguers

Poetry Contest

The National Baseball Poetry Festival is a celebration of poetry whose themes focus on Baseball and/or Softball! The Festival takes place at Polar Park, May 3-5.  All grades 4-12 students and Little Leaguers are invited to submit poems with a baseball and/or softball theme, for example: opening day, ballpark food, Polar Park, first pitch, athletic heroes, uniforms, ball parks, Little League, dugout chatter, the season of the game, etc.

Categories

  • Youth Grades 4 – 12
  • Little Leaguers

Teacher Resources

Contest Rules

  • The contest is open to ALL 4th-12th graders and Little Leaguers.

  • Submit one poem only related to the theme of baseball.

  • Poem must not exceed 200 words.

  • Entry will be evaluated for creativity, originality, and style by a panel of educators, university students, and community members.

Prizes

  • Winners must attend the Festival in order to be recognized on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

  • Winners attending the Festival will receive a National Baseball Poetry Festival t-shirt!

  • Winners will include up to 20 elementary school students, 20 middle school students, 20 high school students, and 20 Little Leaguers.

Guidelines for Submission

  • Deadline: All entries must be submitted by or before noon on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 (ET).

  • Submission: Please submit your poem in the body of your email to baseballpoetryfest@gmail.com (no attachments will be accepted).

  • Must Include: Category of Submission (Grades 4 – 12 or Little Leaguer); Poet’s Name, School, Grade, Email (if applicable); Guardian Name & Email.

  • Winners Notification: Winners will be notified by or before Friday, April 26, 2024 via email.

College Students & All Poets Everywhere

Call for Submissions

The National Baseball Poetry Festival invites submissions of poems that deal with any aspect of the gamesmanship, nature, and atmosphere of Baseball and/or Softball, for example: opening day, ballpark food, childhood memories, first pitch, athletic heroes, uniforms, ball parks, Little League, body English, dugout chatter, the season of the game, etc.

No restriction on form. Poets may submit up to 3 poems for consideration. Each poem should fit on a single page. The thematic views of baseball/softball and the game will be given wide interpretation by the judge(s).

Categories

  • Adults 18+
  • College/University Students

Publication

  • Winners (up to 20 per category—College/University and Adult 18+) will be published on BaseballBard.com (Founder, Mark Sickman)

Prizes

  • Winners attending the Festival will also receive a National Baseball Poetry Festival t-shirt!

Guidelines for Submission

  • Deadline: Noon, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 (ET).

  • Submit: 1-3 poems in Word format to baseballpoetryfest@gmail.com.

  • Must Include: Category of submission (Adult or College/University), poet’s name, address, phone number and email address.

  • Winners Notification: Friday, April 26, 2024 by email.