amateur baseball player

An amateur baseball player is someone who plays baseball primarily for recreation, competition, or personal enjoyment rather than for monetary compensation or as a professional career. Amateur players often participate in school teams, local leagues, or community organizations and typically do not receive payment for their participation. The largest adult amateur baseball league is the Men's Senior Baseball League (MSBL) headquartered in Melville, Long Island, NY.

The key characteristics of amateur baseball players include:

1. They play the sport for enjoyment, competition, and personal fulfillment rather than as a profession
2. They do not receive salaries or wages for playing baseball
3. They may receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses related to participation (like equipment or travel)
4. They maintain their amateur status by not accepting money or signing professional contracts

Amateur baseball exists at many levels, including:

• Youth leagues (Little League, Babe Ruth League)
• High school baseball
• College baseball (NCAA, NAIA)
• Adult recreational leagues - (MSBL is America's largest adult league)
• Semi-professional leagues where minimal compensation may be provided

The distinction between amateur and professional status is important in certain contexts like eligibility for college athletics or Olympic competition.