Toronto removes absurd ‘no home runs’ rule at local baseball diamond

by Nisean Lorde for Post City Posted: May 7, 2024 Photo: Courtesy L-R: Tim Bettridge/Google Photos, @GravitasMSN/X

The City of Toronto has removed controversial signage that displayed a list of questionable rules for the baseball diamond at MacGregor Playground in East York.

The sign, previously displayed on a fence at the baseball diamond in the park located at 346 Lansdowne Ave., noted that the use of hardballs or aluminum bats was not permitted. It also warned that “competitive high-level play” was not allowed and that home runs were not allowed.

“Underhand pitching only” the sign read, stating that balls must remain in the park area.

The sign was reportedly put up in 2019 after complaints from residents at the nearby Enigma Lofts building on St. Helens Ave., with some people noting that playing baseball on that diamond could result in damage to neighbouring homes and property.

Former Chief City Planner Jennifer Keesmaat wrote that the sign was written by a “hapless bureaucrat” and jokingly encouraged people to “[s]wing for the fences.”

A city spokesperson confirmed to CityNews that the “no home runs permitted” rule is now redundant since the city installed protective netting in the diamond’s outfield area to catch home run balls.

The sign’s removal is now generating some backlash, with some praising the city for removing signage that they believed was overly bureaucratic and others stating that the rules were there for a reason.

“This is the result of whinny [sic] people living in the vicinity of this ball diamond. They all got together and demanded their councilor make these changes. The bat ping was too loud, hard balls are dangerous, competitive games are rowdy. City Councilors cave quite easy to this,” one X user wrote, presumably in favour of the sign’s removal.

Others highlighted that the rules were there to protect toddlers playing in the park.

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