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A timeline featuring the Renegade’s 25 year history

May 1, 2025 | Renegade Notes, Renegades in the Community, Renegades In the News and Media

In the fall of 2000, the Association of Blind Citizens Boston Renegades were formed.  We are just one of eight teams in the 49 year history of the league to have celebrated 25 years.  During this time, we have accomplished so much on and off the field.  Every Renegade coach and player had a hand in the success of this organization!  We thought it would be a walk down memory lane and incredible to list milestones and accomplishments as an organization.  We have also had quite an impact on the league as a whole.  To help the visually impaired, we won’t make any fancy time line graphic.  We will list things chronologically thru time and bullet point cool moments in our history.  With that – let’s start the beeping and go back in time!

2000

Rob Weissman standing talks with John Oliveira sitting on a bench watching the game

Rob Weissman talks with John Oliveira at a scrimmage in the fall of 2000 in Brookline

  • Rob Weissman joins the Lowell LAB Retrievers as their head coach bringing experience with adaptive sports, sports marketing and extensive knowledge of baseball to the team
  • Bryan Grillo and Ron Cochran join Rob Weissman to volunteer with the Lowell team.  Ron joins as a pitcher.  Bryan joins as a coach/extra player
  • John Oliveira of the Association of blind citizens organizes a scrimmage in Brookline between two of his groups (Brookline and New Bedford) and the Lowell LAB Retrievers
  • The Association of Blind Citizens Boston Renegades are formed

2001

    • The LAB Retrievers lose their non profit status, Rob Weissman, Ron Cochran and Bryan Grillo all leave the team
    • The Renegades appear in their first ever media, the Boston Globe
    • The Renegades play their first ever game against New Bedford
    • The Renegades travel to Lowell to play the new Lowell Lightning (winning their first ever game against a team who had a player with NBBA experience) and their first ever game footage is filmed 

2002

      • The first ever team road trip and hotel stay occurs with a trip to New York with the Long Island Bombers winning
      • The Renegades attend the team’s first NBBA World Series in Illinois
      • Renegades win first ever official NBBA game vs the Tyler (Texas) Tigers 5-3
      • Guy Zuccarello sets Renegade rookie record for most stops per game making 11 stops in just 5 games (currently still the rookie record)

2003

      • Rob Weissman signs on to coach the Boston Renegades as John Oliveira focuses on the operation of the team
      • Bryan Grillo is the first coach recruited by Rob Weissman to help coach the Renegades
      • Renegades create their own scoring system and becomes the first team to track pitch by pitch stats.  These stats are eventually used to help support rule change proposals tied to amount of strikes for a strike out, impact of dead balls and late bases
      • Renegades attend Bolingbrook – midwest regional for the first time
      • Renegades win first ever game and get first ever shut out under coach Weissman against the start up Florida Sand spurs 11-0

2004

Kae is at the plate in full uniform at practice in Cleveland Circle with Rob Weissman catching (on his knees - no stool)

Kae Rausch, the first Female Renegade to score a run and make a play on defense is getting an at bat during practice in 2004

      • Renegades roll out what we believe may be the league’s first-ever first code of conduct (NBBA rolled theirs out in 2018 – 14 years later)
      • Rick Myers joins the coaching staff and will eventually become the 3rd coach with 20+ years of experience with the team
      • Darren Black sets team record with 12 defensive stops in a loss vs the Chicago Comets
      • Renegades win first ever extra inning game against Chicago Bluffs 6-5 in 8 innings in Bolingbrook
      • Renegades appear in the World Series consolation championship game in Columbus, Ohio and lose to the Long Island Bombers 9-7 in their first ever televised game

 

2005

Coach Weissman huddles the team before game with Jack Clancy aiming a camera at the huddle for movie footage

A Renegade huddle in first ever home game in 2005 being filmed for their documentary

      • The production of a feature length documentary begins filming the Boston Renegades
      • Carolyn Tassini joins the team as a trainer and becomes the first Renegade with medical experience on the coaching staff
      • Renegades play first home game in Newton, Mass against an out of state team, the Long Island Bombers losing 17-5
      • Kae Rausch becomes first female player to ever score a run for the Renegades in a game vs the Long Island Bombers
      • Steve Houston becomes the first player to join the team who has played baseball as a sighted person at the college level
      • Renegades play against their first international opponent, Taichung county, Taiwan
      • Dan Cotter becomes the first ever pitcher to allow 100 runs in a career against the Long Island Bombers in Houston, Texas

2006

Tom Walsh makes contact with a ball during a dmo in 2006 with Dave Fardo catching

Tom Walsh making contact with Dave Fardo catching

      • Renegades roll out their Web site – just the 2nd team in the league to have a web site at this time
      • Ron Cochran rejoins beepball to pitch for the Renegades
      • Renegades begin a relationship with city of Watertown to have safe, quiet fields that are near public transportation
      • Carolyn Tassini moves to Philly and is connected to the PA Wolfpack to help them coach and organize their start up team
      • NBBA moves to a new World Series format and Renegades finish 9th
      • Joey Buizon and Dino Vasile become the first Renegades to ever score 5 runs in a game against the Columbus Vipers
      • Tom Walsh becomes first rookie to ever hit over . 400 in a season
      • Red Sox invited to take part in their first ever pre game ceremonies at Fenway Park

2007

JJ, Dino, Kae celebrate

JJ, Dino and Kae celebrate the teams 1st win over Long Island

      • The Renegades change their defense base alignment from single shorty to double shorty
      • Melissa Hoyt becomes just third female to ever appear in a game for the Renegades
      • Renegades 12-run their first opponent in team history – downing the Stockton Stingrays in a 2 innings 12 run rule
      • Ron Cochran becomes the first pitcher in team history to reach 200 runs allowed in his career
      • Renegades snap 7 – game losing streak to rival, Long Island Bombers
      • Renegades have first ever winning season at 10-9
      • Renegades play IBM in their first ever scrimmage game vs sighted people 
      • Rob Weissman begins to lobby the NBBA to change the way substitutions work to allow more players to play in a game
      • Renegades start their Youtube channel in September 2007 – likely first NBBA team on Youtube

2008

Rob Weissman stands with Bob Kraft, Myra Kraft and Andre Tippett

Rob Weissman receives Community MVP Award from the Patriots

      • The New England Patriots award Rob Weissman with an award for excellence in volunteerism and a grant for the team
      • The Renegades appear on Chronicle for the first time
      • For the second time in team history – the Renegades host a double header (in Watertown) vs the PA Wolfpack 
      • Long Island Bombers beat Renegades by 18 runs for biggest lopsided loss in team history
      • Rob Weissman and Rick Myers work with Umass Lowell Baseball Research Center to understand why league bats are breaking and help improve bat safety
      • Renegades play the Bridgewater Lions in first ever Charity game. The Renegades win 12-7

2009

JJ, Rachel and Justen lock hands for good luck in a tense game as O'Neill stands behind them with his head down and arms crossed

JJ Ward, Rachel Buchanan, Justen Proctor and Joe O’Neill On the bench during the extra inning victory over the Long Island Bombers

      • Shayne Cantan joins the Renegades as its youngest player in team history at 17 years of age.  His brother Justen Proctor also joins, making them the first ever brother duo in team history
      • Renegades become first team to actively track defensive positional stats in league history (and influence league to make change 15 years later)
      • Renegades play most innings in team history- and set record for most defensive stops in a game (21) playing a 9 inning extra inning win over Long Island Bombers
      • Renegades play first- ever charity game against the Woburn Host Lions, kicking off and start a years-long relationship with this club

2010

Trophies on a table

The first ever Beast of the East trophies and the Cup

      • The Renegades create one of the leagues first team Facebook pages and post for the first time in January
      • Rob Weissman work with Ted Fass and Jim Hughes of Long Island and Greg Gontaryk of Philadelphia to create the first ever Beast of the East
      • After years of lobbying, the substitution rule, the Renegades proposal is passed.
      • Rob Weissman works with the NBBA to create a new score sheet that is used till 2023
      • Renegades change their defensive strategy and deploy a double caller system on defense
      • Aqil Sajjad becomes the first player in team history to score a run in his first at bat vs the Indy Thunder
      • Dino Vasile scores his 100th run against NJ Lighting to become first player in team history with 100 runs scored and 100 stops on defense
      • Renegades host and win, with a 6-1 record,  the first- ever beepball tournament played in New England as part of the newly formed Beast of the East with a 6-1 record
      • Renegades introduce Phoenix bats to the NBBA as a way to improve bat safety and invite them to World Series to demo bats
      • Renegades play 100th game of history and defeat Cleveland Scrappers  8-6
      • Shayne Cantan becomes first (and just 2nd) player to ever score 50 runs in a season

2011

Justin with his hands on his knees awaits the Long Island pitcher to start his cadence with his brother standing behind him at third base

Justen Proctor awaiting one of his record breaking stops

      • Dino Vasile becomes the first player to become a coach.  He coaches for parts of 3 seasons (2011-2013) and then returns in 2025
      • Renegades win the Beast of the East tournament for the second time with a 6-0 record
      • The Renegades defeat the Austin Blackhawks twice – marking the first time the Renegades have defeated a franchise who has won a World Series
      • Justen Proctor sets team record with 77 defensive stops in a season

2012

Guy stands with his MVP trophy and his spotters

Bryan Grillo (spotter), Guy Zuccarello and Justin Manjourides (spotter) pose with Guy’s MVP trophy in 2012

2013

standing on a field on a cold rainy April night at Fenway

Joe McCormick and Justin Manjourides on the field at Fenway

2014

Joe McCormick with a bat on his shoulder and the camera angle from the ground shooting up with dark skies

Photo by Dina Rudick/Boston Globe – shows Joe McCormick in his legendary pose

2015

Brandon stands with his cane and a vest with his son in front of a case with his gear in it

Brandon Chesser stands with his son and his Austin Blackhawks uniform in Cooperstown

      • Renegades win 5th Beast of the East title with a 6-0 record
      • Dan Cotter becomes just the 2nd pitcher in team history to reach 200 runs scored against NJ Lightning in Beast of the East in NJ
      • Renegades win 100th game in team history defeating Arizona Phenom 15-5 in a 3 inning 12 run game
      • Coach Weissman picks up his 100th win of his career in a 10-2 victory over NJ Lightning
      • Renegades set team record scoring 16 times in an inning vs the Tyler Tigers
      • Boston Renegades appear at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown to demonstrate the sport

2016

The team mobs Christian Thaxton after a game winning hit

Jamie Dickerson lets out a primal scream as the Renegades walk off and get into the Championship game

      • Renegades put on a camp in Bristol, CT with Oak Hill and Chapter 126 to try to grow the sport in CT
      • Renegades put on a clinic in Westfield, MA to try to grow the sport in Western, MA 
      • Renegades win the 6th straight Beast of the East with a 6-0 record
      • Renegades defeat the Southwest Slammers 12-4 in their 200th game of their NBBA career
      • Renegades beat the Chicago Comets for first time breaking a 10 game losing streak to this opponent
      • Renegades become the first team in league history to go from worst team in the league to making the World Series championship game
      • Rick Myers and Rob Weissman develop relationship with Easton bats and work with them to understand why bats are bending 

2017

Weissman, Thaxton and Cochran pose with Christian’s MVP award in 2017

2018

Rob, Christian and Ron stand in front of a case at the Baseball hall of fame where Thaxton's bat is on display

Christian and his pitcher and catcher (Ron and Rob) at the hall of fame with his bat on display for setting the NBBA record in 2018

2019

Ron and Shawn Devenish – during Shawn’s WS offensive all star run performance in 2019

      • Renegades roll out a new logo and uniforms for first time since inception of the team
      • The Renegades roll out their first ever team store through Squadlocker to sell merchandise
      • The NBBA adopts a proposal made by Rob Weissman to seed teams at the World Series based on current accomplishments and rosters, not based on previous years final finish 
      • Renegades win the Beast of the East for the 9th straight time with a 5-1 record
      • Drew Crook joins the renegades from Manchester, NH and becomes the third player to score in his first at bat, and first player ever to score in first two at bats against the New Jersey Lightning
      • Larry Haile becomes the first Renegade to 300 runs scored in his career in a win over the Caribbean hurricanes, a team from the Dominican Republic (he finishes his career with 316 runs)
      • Christian Thaxton hits team’s first ever home run against BCS Outlaws
      • Renegades play their first ever night game losing to the San Antonio Jets
      • Renegades take 3rd place at World series and become first East Coast-based team in league history to have two top 3 finishes
      • Christian Thaxton sets team record for most runs scored in a season with 58
      • Larry Haile becomes first and only Renegade to have >700 at bats (710)
      • NBBA rolled out the first ever Rookie of the year award that was influenced by Rob Weissman’s blogs from 2014, 2015, 2016 and one of the award winners is former Renegade, Bee Yang (who practiced with the Renegades but never appeared in a game).
      • Rick Myers and Rob Weissman work with Easton and after testing bats provides recommendations to use bbcor bats. the NBBA votes to allow bbcor baseball bats and change the rules on bat specs for the first time in history.

2020

      • Renegade team events cancelled due to covid but work continues off the field to improve team operations
      • John Oliveira has been the president of the Renegades for 20 years

2021

Cory Joseph picks up the ball for his first ever Defensive stop in his first ever opportunity

      • Renegades return to action but opt out of going to World Series for first time in existence
      • Chris Kimball, Elana Regan, Ivan Rodriguez, Corey Joseph and Brittany Macdonald become the largest rookie class in team history
      • Renegades play first ever home night game in Watertown, defeating Long island
      • Corey Joseph becomes first player to make a defensive stop in his first inning of play against the Long Island Bombers
      • Guy Zuccarello reclaims the all-time record for most stops in team history against the Long Island Bombers with 359
      • Renegades travel to Albany NY to play the Rochester Pioneers and put on a clinic to help them revitalize their program 1
      • Renegades launch a Linkedin page – first in the NBBA to have one
      • Rob Weissman and Bryan Grillo celebrate 20 years of coaching beep baseball

2022

Joe McCormick holds his MVP trophy from 2022

Ron, Mac and Rob celebrate Joe Mac’s MVP run in 2022 with an .800 batting avg

      • Renegades return to World Series and finish 5th – its 5th top five finish in team history 
      • Joe McCormick sets team record hitting .792 in a season
      • Renegades set team record scoring 25 runs in a win against the Gateway Archers
      • Peter Connolly becomes the 3rd pitcher in team history to record 100 runs scored – reaching this mark vs the Houston Hurricanes
      • Joe McCormick earns NBBA World Series offensive co-MVP
      • Joe McCormick becomes the 1st Renegade to earn a League wide TAPI all star honor in its first year as an award
      • Rick Myers celebrates 20 years volunteering for the Boston Renegades
      • Renegades create John Crawford awards to celebrate excellence in volunteerism.  Fran Regan, Peter Connolly, Gina Devenish and Dana Vermilya are first recipients honored

2023

The entire bench is on their feet celebrating

Tyler Mireault returns to the bench after scoring his first career run in his first at bat

      • Renegades produce a video to help NBBA train base umpires to improve player safety across the league
      • Tyler Mireault becomes the second player in team history to score in his first two at bats
      • Renegades appear on the field at Fenway Park for the 4th time in team history as part of disability Awareness night
      • Mike Marciello becomes the first ever coach to appear in a game against the Long Island Bombers
      • Joe McCormick sets the record for most runs in his career in a loss to the Philly Fire (thru the 2024 season, his record swells to 346)
      • Drew Crook appears on Chronicle in New Hampshire
      • Renegades promote a rule change to improve player safety with thrown bats – the rule is passed (oddly enough players from Indy Thunder and Bayou City Heat throw bats in games against the Renegades)
      • Guy Zuccarello sets the team record in games played when he plays vs the STL Sirens (he stands at 223 games played through the end of 2024)
      • Rob Weissman’s streak of catching or pitching ends at 5954 straight at bats either behind the dish or on the mound when Renegades play a 6:00am start vs Indy Edge
      • Shawn Devenish becomes the first player to ever score five runs and make five stops in the same game vs Houston Hurricanes
      • Guy Zuccarello becomes the first player to reach 400 stops in his defensive career (record stands at 432 thru the 2024 season)
      • Christian Thaxton sets team record and ties league record with three home runs in a single World Series
      • Renegades tie team record scoring 25 runs in a 25-23 win over the Bayou City Heat
      • Christian Thaxton becomes the 2nd Renegade to earn a League wide TAPI all star honor
      • Second year of John Crawford awards for excellence in volunteerism are awarded to Teigan Weissman, Gina Devenish, Ron Cochran, Jacob Coiner and Bryan Grillo

2024

Bryan poses with Andre Tippett and Guy Zuccarello

Bryan Grillo receives his Community MVP award from the Patriots

      • Tyler Mireault scores seven more times to start his career, scoring in his first 9 at bats…unofficially a league record
      • The Nor’easters support the Boston Renegades
      • The Boston Red Sox foundation supports the Boston Renegades with a grant for the first time
      • Bryan Grillo wins a Myra Kraft Community MVP award and a grant for the team for excellence in volunteerism from New England Patriots
      • Shane Cantan appears on Stories from the Stage, a collaboration of WORLD Channel and GBH
      • Biopic on Srikanth Bolla releases in India and on Netflix documenting the life of Srikanth Bolla and his time with the Renegades is in the movie
      • Renegades lose to Philly Fire in Beast of the East title game in their 300th game played
      • David Sanchez helps create a team in Puerto Rico called the Caguas Hunters.  The Renegades support them with some equipment and Shayne Cantan and Larry Haile compete with them in their first ever exhibition game
      • Rob Dias sets a team record for lowest strikeout rate in a season at 5.3%
      • Elana Regan sets the Renegade female record for most career defensive stops with 16 and sets the single season record for females with 12
      • Ron Cochran celebrates 20 years coaching beep baseball
      • Guy Zuccarello completes his 20th season as a Boston Renegade player
      • Rob Weissman provides info to NBBA award committee to help influence improvements to the Rookie of the Year and Utility man awards
      • David Sanchez starts a team in Puerto Rico called the Caguas Hunters.  Shayne Cantan and Larry Haile support the team by playing in an exhibition with them
      • Third year of John Crawford awards for excellence in volunteerism go to Hunter Weissman, Rasik Waikar, Dana Vermilya and Bryan Grillo

2025

    • This year marks 25 years of beep baseball.  Only 7 other teams in league history have accomplished this feat
    • The Renegades sign Jen Tylock, Michael Donovan, David Marcano and Victoria Bond and have their largest team roster in history (20 players)
    • Rob Weissman creates a first draft of requirements for a league wide scoring application and a plan to compile historical stats
    • Boston Renegades hold their first ever Media day to celebrate their 25-year history and a piece from CBS is aired nationally
    • Christian Thaxton hits .800 (20-25) at the World Series, earning his 5th league Offensive All-star award
    • Christian Thaxton wins a TAP All Star award and is invited to a league All star game played at George Mason University
    • Hunter Weissman is asked to attend the TAPI All Star game to provide play-by-play commentary on the leagues broadcast
    • David Sanchez becomes the first Renegade to win a vote from the NBBA and serve as a board member
    • Fourth year of John Crawford awards for excellence in volunteerism go to Barry Stearns and Nick Morin-Tylock

2026

    • Rob Weissman works with the NBBA scorekeepers to create a new version to track pitcher stats and defense stats in a more accurate manner
    • Rob Weissman works to provide feedback on an automated scoring system that Darren Keepers created to improve the score keeping system and stat tracking of the entire league
    • The Boston Renegades play in the first ever Beep baseball game at Fenway Park
    • David Sanchez influences the league to create packages & Inventory that contain balls and a charger to help new teams get started with equipment when needed
    • David Sanchez Co-founds the first ever beep baseball tournament in Puerto Rico in May with four teams attending
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