2026 NBBA Beep Baseball World Series is Concluded.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
50th Anniversary Beep Baseball World Series Returns to Chicagoland as Indy Thunder Wins Seventh Championship
Historic week in Aurora features 21 teams, 84 games and a two-game championship finale.
***AURORA, Ill., Aug. 15, 2026.
Fifty years after the National Beep Baseball Association was founded in Chicago in 1976, the Beep Baseball World Series returned to Chicagoland for a historic week of competition, celebration and growth for the sport.
The 2026 NBBA Beep Baseball World Series was held August 2 through August 8 at Stuart Sports Complex in Aurora, Illinois. Twenty-one teams from across the United States competed. A total of 84 games were played during the week, culminating with the Indy Thunder capturing their seventh World Series championship.
During the World Series, NBBA President Richie Flores told FOX 32 Chicago that beep baseball gives athletes an opportunity “to be competitive on an equal playing field and also to be respected as a true athlete.”
The tournament was organized by the National Beep Baseball Association with support from the DuPage Sports Commission and Aurora Sports Alliance, along with event planning expertise from Sholeh Events.
Championship Saturday went the full distance for the first time since the 2018 World Series in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
The Indy Thunder entered the championship round undefeated in the double-elimination tournament, requiring the Gateway Archers to win twice to take the title. Gateway won Game 1, defeating the Thunder 22-16 and forcing a winner-take-all second game.
Game 2 came down to the final inning. Holding an 11-9 lead, Indy locked down defensively and retired the Archers 1-2-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning to secure the championship.
Indy Thunder player Justin Holland was named to both the All-Offensive and All-Defensive teams, while teammate Gerald Dycus earned All-Offensive Team honors.
Five players hit home runs during the tournament. Holland was joined by Oklahoma Lookouts rookie Connor Thaxton, Dontre Hunt of the Indy Edge, Alex Gonzalez of the Bayou City Heat and Casey Krouse of the Philly Fire.
The week also celebrated the history of the sport. A special 50th anniversary celebration recognized five decades of beep baseball, honored teams and individuals who have contributed to the NBBA and welcomed four players into the NBBA Hall of Fame. The World Series concluded with the annual awards banquet recognizing the athleticism and accomplishments displayed throughout the tournament.
NBBA Second Vice President and Public Relations Director Darren Keepers calls the World Series “Christmas in August,” when hundreds of players, families and friends reunite through a shared passion for the sport.
“Everyone comes to compete, but the spirit of the World Series is about much more than wins and losses,” Keepers said. “It is about independence, inclusion, community and proving what is possible.”
The 2026 World Series also brought beep baseball to a wider audience.
Both championship games aired on the ISC Sports Network, ISC app and YouTube, providing worldwide access to the championship. The NBBA Stream Team broadcast 12 games during the week and also recorded both championship games for alternative broadcasts.
The tournament received media coverage throughout the week and also served as the setting for the production of two independent documentaries about beep baseball.
Community partners, sponsors and donors played a major role in making the 50th anniversary event possible. The DuPage Sports Commission and Aurora Sports Alliance helped secure an $85,000 State of Illinois grant in support of the World Series.
Perry and Lindsay Kamel of DNA Vibe made a significant contribution to the health and recovery of the NBBA membership by providing 550 red light therapy muscle recovery wearable devices, allowing members to take a device home following the World Series. The NBBA thanks Perry and Lindsay for their generosity and continued dedication to the health and recovery of its members.
John Parker and Peter Cancro provided 550 Jersey Mike’s subs for members and volunteers during the opening game. Primo Brands and Schnucks provided hundreds of cases of water, while supporters of the NBBA Sponsor a Ball campaign, along with the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox, helped provide 250 beep baseballs for tournament play.
Additional support was provided by the Delta Gamma Foundation, RefQuest, Costco, Glen Capek in loving memory of Jim Capek, Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind, Glenview Lions Club, Beep Kick Ball Foundation, Foreseeable Future Foundation and Dave Campbell. The West Aurora High School Bands performed the national anthem during opening ceremonies.
The NBBA extends its appreciation to its sponsors, donors, volunteers, officials, host organizations and community partners who helped make the 50th anniversary World Series possible.
Five decades after beep baseball established its roots in Chicagoland, the 2026 World Series brought the NBBA back to where its story began while showcasing how far the sport has come and the opportunities ahead for its next 50 years.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL BEEP BASEBALL ASSOCIATION
Established in 1976, the National Beep Baseball Association facilitates and promotes competitive beep baseball for athletes who are blind or visually impaired. The NBBA brings athletes, volunteers and communities together through competition while supporting the continued growth of beep baseball throughout the United States and beyond.
MEDIA CONTACT
National Beep Baseball Association
Darren Keepers
PR@NBBA.org
Visit the NBBA on the web at NBBA.org