“The Bethesda Big Train” of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Base Ball League has been in existence since 1999, and 23 of its players have advanced to the Major Leagues.
The field is named after famed Washington Post sportswriter Shirley Povich, where a bronze statue of him and pitcher Walter Johnson was unveiled in 2021.
Bruce Adams, writing on The Big Train website: Do you know who owns the Big Train? YOU DO! When founders John Ourisman and Bruce Adams launched the Big Train more than a quarter-century ago, they consciously named the organization the Bethesda Community Base Ball Club.
“While our main fundraiser is our annual Baseball & Holiday Auction each fall, contributions to our ‘We Are Big Train’ Spring Campaign, along with the annual membership drive we started in 2024, are essential sources of income,” Adams wrote. “There is no way we could produce the quality experience you expect when you come to Povich Field with just the revenue from the sale of tickets, concessions, and souvenirs.”
In celebration of their 26th season and looking to expand their fan base, they are offering Big Train fan membership (adults, $50 or more; youths under 18 years old, $25) to the Bethesda Community Base Ball Club, a community-owned organization founded in 1998. The goal is to increase the donor base from 427 to 1,000 by 2025. Membership in the club will also be used to make updates to the field and concession stands.
Each new member will receive a membership card certifying them as a proud supporter of Big Train baseball and a member of the Bethesda Community Base Ball Club. Some of the perks of being a club member include advanced notice of ticket sales, merchandise, and other sponsored events. Also, members will receive a ten percent discount on tickets, beverages, and food from the Home Run Café, as well as souvenirs and merchandise sold at Povich Field.
The team also stated that “no one person or small group of people owns Big Train baseball. Our founders wanted to be clear that the Bethesda Community Base Ball Club belongs to the community. You own the Big Train!”
More information about becoming a member can be found here.
