Anyone Can Sign Up to Participate in the All-Day Wiffle Ball Tournament Before Shane Doan and Other Arizona Personalities Compete in a Primetime Celebrity Home Run Derby
Scottsdale Stadium is trading Major League Baseball for wiffle ball this weekend when Big League Wiffle Ball brings its seventh annual Western Wiffle Ball Classic to the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants Saturday, Oct. 24. The tournament gives spectators a chance to see just how competitive the familiar backyard game can get when experienced players take the field, putting their pitching, hitting and defensive skills to the test in front of fans of all ages. For those who want to do more than watch, participants can register a team of three to five players at blwwiffleball.com, competing in a separate division from the pros.
“Most people have played wiffle ball at some point, but they have no idea how exciting it gets at this level,” said Big League Wiffle Ball founder Logan Rose. “We want everyone to come out to watch or participate and share our love for America’s greatest backyard sport.”
The action continues at 7 p.m. with Big League Wiffle Ball’s inaugural celebrity Home Run Derby, which will bring Arizona Coyotes legend Shane Doan and other familiar Arizona personalities to the plate to compete against local hitters for a $1,000 prize.
Doan spent 21 seasons in the NHL and became the Coyotes’ all-time leading scorer. Now, the former captain will see how his skills
translate to hitting wiffle balls, going to bat against competitors that include baseball influencers DSARM and Damian Henderson, local influencer @mrazsports and radio personality Johnjay Van Es. Altogether, eight celebrities will participate in the derby.
Local hitters can also compete for a spot. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., anyone interested can pay $10 for a qualifying attempt, giving them 60 seconds to hit as many home runs as they can. The eight participants with the most home runs will then advance to the evening’s open bracket, with the celebrity and open-bracket winners facing off against each other in the final round.
Whether coming for the tournament, the Home Run Derby or both, spectators can spend the day watching a sport that uses familiar equipment, but demands considerably more skill than the typical backyard game.
For tickets or to learn more about Big League Wiffle Ball, check out BLWiffleBall.com or follow developments on Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.
For sponsorship or general questions, email lrose@blwwiffleball.com.
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