Breaking barriers with beep baseball: Dr. David Wanczyk's journey to Senegal

Following up on the 2017 publication of "Beep," his book on the accessible form of baseball designed for the blind and visually impaired, Dr. David Wanczyk, an assistant professor of Instruction in the English Department at OHIO, partnered with the U.S. Embassy and embarked on an inspiring trip to Senegal, where he taught poetry classes and introduced beep baseball to the continent. 

The World of Beep Baseball  

Accessibility in the sporting world has accelerated with the advancement of technology. More sports now have versions that accommodate people with specific disabilities. 

In “Beep,” Wanczyk, explores the innovation and intensity in the sport of blind baseball. He redefines the perception of disability in sports and how beep baseball shows an image bigger than disability - it shows athletes playing their hearts out for a championship. 

Wanczyk, a coordinator for special programs and an editor of the New Ohio Review within OHIO’s creative writing program, follows teams and joins them on the field to produce an inside narrative about the game and its players. The project allowed him to visit a few countries on different continents, and his recent trip to Senegal signified a pioneering moment as he introduced Beep baseball to a group of students from a school for the blind. 

It marked the first time Beep baseball was ever played on the African continent. We spoke with the author about this experience while working on the book and how far Beep Baseball has come since its inception. 

Q & A with Dr. David Wanczyk 

Q: What is beep baseball? 

A: Beep baseball is an adaptive sport that helps visually impaired and blind people play baseball. The concept of adaptive leverages technology to give people with disabilities access to a game or sport. One of the challenges in beep baseball is whether it is a charitable exercise or competitive, and I try to answer that with my experience and journey in its world through my book.   

Q: When did you get exposed to beep baseball, and why did you focus on beep baseball specifically? 

A: I’ve always loved baseball, and when I read about it and its rules in an article, I decided to attend a local game in 2012. I initially thought it would be a charitable experience. It was as competitive as any sport. I loved the culture on and off the field and how beep ball showed a certain maturity about how sports may not be the most accessible thing to a group of people, but nothing stopped them from being competitive once they stepped on the field. 

Q: How long has it been around, and how much has it grown in development and popularity? 

A: My research showed me that people had conversations about baseball for blind people as early as the 1900s, but this version started in the mid-70s after Charlie Fairbanks invented a ball with telephone parts that made the ball ring. The first World Series happened in 1976. So it’s been around for 50 years. Since I started researching the sport in 2012, it’s thriving in 3 other countries outside the United States. The difference between it and regular baseball is that the hitter and pitcher are on the same team and work together to hit the ball, so it’s a unique type of coordination.

Q: What was the journey to Senegal about, and why Senegal specifically?

A: It was an OHIO-sponsored trip in collaboration with the US Embassy. It allowed me to travel to Senegal to teach poetry and show them a demonstration of beep baseball. It was the first ever organized beep baseball game on the African continent, a milestone in promoting inclusivity and accessibility in sports. It was groundbreaking to be a part of that moment. 

Q: Is Beep Baseball a Paralympic sport? 

A: Not yet. But it’s getting there bit by bit. The countries that host beep baseball right now are on different continents, and a game has to be played on all continents before it can achieve Paralympic sport status. It’s steadily growing towards recognition.

Q: What is the book about, and what stories did you capture?

A: The book documents the rivalry between the Austin Blackhawks, a team in Texas, and their international rival, Taiwan Homerun from Taiwan, who compete for a championship. 

Q: How long did it take to put the book together? 

A: Five years in total. I started writing in 2012, and I finished it around 2015. 

Q: How does this book and your experience speak to sports accessibility and using technology to augment the sporting experience? 

A: I believe people realize that adaptive sports, like beep baseball, is not just about opportunity. It is about competition and spirit. The book is just a journey capturing an impactful story of appreciating individuals participating in something with passion