Mission Minor Baseball Association (MMBA) has been a cornerstone of youth sport in Mission for decades providing affordable, community run baseball programming for kids from ages 5-18 and helping generations learn skills, sportsmanship and teamwork.

A Legacy of Community and the Love of the Game: The History of Mission Minor Baseball

Baseball has always had a home in Mission. From dusty sandlots and improvised diamonds to the well-kept fields at Mission Sports Park, the game has brought generations together parents coaching their kids, friends learning teamwork, and families spending their summers under the lights. At the heart of this tradition stands Mission Minor Baseball (MMBA), a volunteer run organization that has shaped the sporting lives of thousands of local youth.

Beginnings: Building Baseball in Mission

Mission Minor Baseball traces it's roots back to the mid-1980's, when a small group of passionate parents and coaches came together to formalize youth baseball in the growing Fraser Valley community. Before that time, organized play in Mission was sporadic - a few school leagues, weekend games, and cross-town friendlies. But by 1985, the community's love for the sport had grown enough to establish a structured association.

In 1990, the group officially registered as a non-profit society under the name Mission Minor Baseball (1990) Association. The founding volunteers envisioned an inclusive, family-oriented program where every child could learn, play, and develop through baseball regardless of experience or ability.

Growing the Game

Through the 1990's and 2000's, Mission Minor Baseball became a mainstay of the community's spring and summer calender. Teams filled every available diamond, and Saturday's often saw the fields lined with folding chairs and cheering families. The association introduced age divisions from T-ball through 18U, giving players a clear path to grow with the sport.

The early volunteer boards worked tirelessly - organizing fundraising raffles, maintains equipment, lining fields, and even building dugout storage by hand. Partnerships with the City of Mission and local businesses helped improve facilities, particularly at Mission Sports Park, which remains the home of Mission Minor Baseball today.

A Spirit of Volunteerism

The association's success has always been powered by volunteers, Every coach, scorekeeper, and executive member has contributed time and effort to ensure kids have a place to play. Many families have stayed involved for decades - parents who once coached returning years later as grandparents to watch a new generation take the field.

Mission Minor Baseball's culture emphasizes sportsmanship, teamwork, and community spirit. Our motto - that the game should be "fun first" - remains at the heart of every season. This philosophy has made MMBA not just a sports organization, but a community family.

Development and Recognition

Over the years, Mission Minor Baseball has produced players who have gone on to succeed at the college and elite levels. Notable alumni include:

• Dawson Steele - Lake Region State College (NJCAA D2)
• Patrick Tangen - Lake Region State College (NJCAA D2)
• Yosuke Fujie - Connors State College (NJCAA D1)

More Information can be found on our Alumni Page

These athletes represent the skill and dedication developed through MMBA's grassroots programs - but for most players, the greatest achievement is simply learning the game, making lifelong friends, and gaining confidence both on and off the field.

Looking Ahead

As Mission Minor Baseball continues to grow, so too does the vision for baseball in the community. Plans for improved infrastructure, indoor training opportunities, and expanded programming are on the horizon. Yet despite all the change, MMBA remains true to it's roots - a volunteer driven organization built by families who believe that every child deserves the chance to play.

From our humble beginnings in the 1980's to today's bustling diamonds filled with cheering fans, Mission Minor Baseball stands as a testament to what a community can build when it comes together for the love of the game.

Long before Mission Minor Baseball was formally established, the community spirit that defines it today was already alive in places like Silverdale. Families such as as the Fujikawas and their neighbours gathered not just for church or community dances, but also for games played on local farms after the harvest - fields that became makeshift diamonds where children and adults came together for friendly softball games.

These informal gatherings on the Donatelli and Fujikawa farms, and later near the Silverdale Community Hall, reflected the same values that drive Mission Minor Baseball today: friendship, inclusion, and the simple joy of playing together. The shared experience of those early community ball games helped shape Mission's strong sense of belonging - laying the foundation for the organized baseball culture that continues to thrive decades later