This week we welcome guest blogger Matt Murphy, creator of Field of Seams. Read on to learn about how and why Matt supports youth baseball in Chicago parks.

Ever since I graduated from high school and my baseball playing days were over, I was desperate to find a way to stay connected with the sport. After months of brainstorming, I thought what better way to reconnect than to give back to the sport that had given me so much in my life. During this time, I was still at Indiana University majoring in Entrepreneurship & Corporate Innovation so it made perfect sense for me to start my first “business” as a non-profit organization.

Growing up I always had a baseball seam bracelet around my wrist. It was something I always loved and people around me were drawn to it. I decided to sell these bracelets under the name Field of Seams and donate all proceeds to the Play Ball Chicago initiative. In partnership with the Chicago Parks Foundation, I worked to grow inner city youth baseball and softball in the city of Chicago by donating the proceeds of this fundraiser. I was so excited to not only have my own little business up and running, but to be a part of something that was so near and dear to my heart.

The bracelets are not available for purchase right now, but I hope to relaunch one day in a larger scale. Baseball will always be a major part of my life and I am forever indebted to the sport. I hope people will continue to support Play Ball Chicago and I’m eager to carry this passion with me as I coach my first year at Walter Payton College Prep.