Our Story
In St. Petersburg, Florida, Mike Fintak and Charles Castle recognized a troubling trend: low-income children were being priced out of America’s favorite pastime, baseball. With exorbitant registration fees and costly equipment, many kids were left without the opportunity to play. This realization ignited a passion in Mike and Charles to create a solution. They founded Burg Baseball, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making baseball accessible to all children, regardless of their financial background.
Understanding the demographics of midtown and southern St. Pete, where many families live at or below the poverty line, they set out to provide a safe and engaging environment for youth. The founders believed that baseball could teach valuable life skills such as discipline, teamwork, and determination, which would benefit these children both on and off the field.
Despite initial challenges, including a lack of funding and resources, Mike invested his own money to purchase equipment and cover startup costs. With the support of local sponsors and community leaders, Burg Baseball began to take shape. The league quickly gained traction, and through hard work and dedication, it has become a vital part of the community.
Today, Burg Baseball has waived registration fees for over 90% of its players, thanks to the tireless efforts of volunteers who have contributed more than 34,000 hours of service. The league has positively impacted the lives of over 1,800 youth, providing them with the opportunity to play baseball and develop essential life skills.