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These are exciting times for Zurich baseball and 2010 will be a historic year for baseball in Switzerland. In just 3 months from now, Zurich teams will finally be able to host games on a field that not only conforms to all international standards and dimensions, but will be a beauty to play on. Now along with the field in Hünenberg, Zurich will be able to also host official international tournaments such as the European Baseball Cup. 

Building a real baseball field in Zurich has been a dream of ours for over 3 decades and is the fruit of many years of work. Until now, we have been playing on a field that has been just barely adequate, but has still not allowed us to open up our doors to the international community. This is now possible and plans are already under way for a major tournament that would involve teams from all over Europe. 

How was this accomplished, you ask? As is often the case, great things happen as a result of a lot of hard work, luck and a great deal of patience. In late autumn of 1999, we inherited an Association that was almost bankrupt and had to negotiate our survival with the help of our creditors. Cooperation between the Zurich baseball teams was at an all-time low. 

Over the next five years, through the collaboration from all teams, we worked hard to overcome our financial struggles, forget our differences, and focus on our common goals, one of which was a new field. We brought our house in order and began forging important new relationships, especially with those whose help we depended upon, like the City and the Canton. 

Little by little, we began earning the respect of the Zurich political leaders, and became known as a Sports Association that was organized and willing to participate in all activities that would promote our sport. Whenever we were invited to represent Zurich baseball, we showed up, and showed up on time. Through our improved relationship with the City and Canton, we were very fortunate to learn one day of new plans to redo the entire Heerenschürli sports complex. This was opportunity we had all been looking for. 

Since we knew what we wanted, we were able to respond quickly to this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a few days later presented our proposal for the new baseball field. In fact, we were one of the first Sports Associations of Heerenschürli to do so.  

That is when our patience paid off. Even after pushing all the right buttons and making all the right moves, the only thing we could do is wait. And wait is what we did, for 5 long years. During this time, we maintained good cooperation amongst the teams, and good contact with the City and our sponsors. We also anxiously endured 3 crucial votes from the People, the Commune and the City of Zurich - and all were positive in favor of the new field! 

But we know now it was all worth the wait. On November 9th of last year, the new grass was laid onto the new field, and what a jewel of a field it is! We are all very grateful for this opportunity, and those that will be the first to play on it this spring already have goose bumps. 

And so begins a new chapter in Zurich baseball, one that will bring joy and excitement to all who participate in the game we love. Now that we have a field we can be proud of, there is no holding back. We will play the game the way it was meant to be played, and give everything we have to keep the baseball fire burning strong in Zurich. 

So what will be our new dream now that this last one has come true? As we saw with the field, sometimes it is best to dream big, and what could be bigger now than a European Championship?