Player Age Tables and Field Sizes
National Babe Ruth, which includes the Cal Ripken Division, calculates player ages ("Age Groupings") using a May 1 date cutoff. The size of the field used for our games depends on the age of the player, so we explain that here as well.
AGES AND AGE GROUPINGS
Various youth baseball organizations group their ages differently. Little League uses September 1 for its Age Groupings while National Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken uses May 1 for its Age Groupings. This difference in Age Groupings means that players born between May 1 and September 1 will be considered different ages for Cal Ripken versus Little League.
By offering programs for players from age 8 through age 18, Stamford Babe Ruth can seamlessly accommodate players as they age, and can place players on the teams/age groups and field sizes that best fit their development.
No player under the age of 20 is barred from, or forced to leave, Stamford Babe Ruth because of their age.
The chart below shows the SPRING and SUMMER 2024 Babe Ruth Age Groupings for all ages that our programs cover:
| If your child was born on Any date between : | Your child is this age for the Babe Ruth 2024 Spring/Summer seasons |
|---|---|
| May 1, 2015 to April 30, 2016 | 8 |
| May 1, 2014 to April 30, 2015 | 9 |
| May 1, 2013 to April 30, 2014 | 10 |
| May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013 | 11 |
| May 1, 2011 to April 30, 2012 | 12 (includes "GAP" Players)* |
| May 1, 2010 to April 30, 2011 | 13 |
| May 1, 2009 to April 30, 2010 | 14 |
| May 1, 2008 to April 30, 2009 | 15 |
| May 1, 2007 to April 30, 2008 | 16 |
| May 1, 2006 to April 30, 2007 | 17 |
| January 1, 2005 to April 30, 2006 | 18/19 |
| Any date prior to January 1, 2005 | TOO OLD FOR BABE RUTH |
* Gap Players: Players born between May 1, 2011 and August 30, 2011. These players are considered 12 for Cal Ripken/Babe Ruth because their birthday falls after April 30; however, these players are considered 13 (i.e., too old) by Little League since they were born prior to September 1. These players, who are too old to play Little League, but not yet 13 for Babe Ruth, are referred to as Gap players . Stamford Babe Ruth makes every attempt each year to offer this group of players a separate team playing on a 50/70 infield to help them adjust from Little League distances to the regulation field size. Gap players are also eligible by special waiver to play in our CORE LEAGUE 13-15u.
FIELD SIZES
Unlike Little League , which requires all players under 13 to play on a 46/60 infield (i.e., 46 feet from pitchers mount to plate, and 60 feet between bases) until they graduate to a full -size 60/90 infield, Babe Ruth's Cal Ripken division allows players to graduate to an intermediate sized 50/70 infield as they mature. The 50/70 option benefits two groups of players:
- 11 and 12 year old players who physically mature earlier than their peers , and can graduate to a larger field than the small 46/60 field that Little League requires that age group to stay on;
- 12 and 13 year old players who physically mature later than their peers, and whose development is better served by a gradual transition to the regulation 60/90 field
For our programs, Ripken players between 8 and 11 years old will generally use the same 46/60 infield size that they are accustomed to in Little League. Players between the ages of 11 and 13 may play some or all of their games on a 50/70 infield depending on our determination of each team's relative developmental level and skill set. Players over 13 play all games on a 60/90 infield.
