Join us on the Sports Philanthropy Podcast as host Roy Kessel sits down with Rob Weissman of the Boston Renegades and the Association of Blind Citizens to discuss his journey in building one of the nation’s longest-running adaptive sports programs. Rob shares how the effort began with wheelchair hockey and grew into more than 25 years of beep baseball, supported by volunteers and community partners. He also reflects on the challenges of sustaining a nonprofit, the excitement of partnering with the Boston Red Sox, and his vision for expanding opportunities that showcase resilience, inclusion, and the joy of competition.
Rob Weissman
Rob Weissman has dedicated over two decades to advancing adaptive sports and inclusive opportunities for athletes with visual impairments. He currently serves as Head Coach for the Boston Renegades, a premier beep baseball team under the Association of Blind Citizens. His role spans leadership, coaching, strategic partnerships, and the constant effort of growing visibility and sustainability for nonprofit adaptive athletics.
Under his stewardship, the Boston Renegades have celebrated key milestones, including full participation in the National Beep Baseball Association and sustained community engagement that reaches beyond the field. Rob’s vision has helped the organization secure collaborations with major institutions and sports franchises, reinforcing the legitimacy and excitement of competition for athletes with vision loss. His work demonstrates what’s possible when passion, experience, and outreach intersect.
Rob’s journey is marked as much by resilience as by results. Operating in a volunteer-driven nonprofit space, he has maneuvered through financial constraints, talent recruitment, and institutional inertia—all while building a meaningful legacy for athletes and communities. Whether mentoring players, coordinating events, or advocating for inclusion across sport, his leadership continues to expand the landscape of adaptive sports in meaningful, lasting ways
Boston Renegades
The Boston Renegades are one of the most established and active beep baseball programs in the National Beep Baseball Association (NBBA). Founded around the year 2000, they quickly made their mark by attending their first NBBA World Series in 2002. Over the years, the Renegades have cultivated a reputation for competitiveness, consistency, and community impact—even pausing for only a single COVID year in their streak of World Series appearances.
As a program of the Association of Blind Citizens (ABC), the Renegades offer blind and visually impaired athletes the chance to compete in baseball through an adaptive form called beep baseball. In this version of the sport, players rely on sound to locate the ball and bases, creating an environment where athleticism, teamwork, and auditory awareness define the game. Through practices, tournaments, and outreach events, the Renegades bridge sport and inclusion, helping participants reclaim the joy of competition and community.
The team is powered largely by volunteer coaches, staff, and supporters who navigate logistical and financial challenges to sustain the program. Fundraising events, local partnerships, and community buy-in help cover travel, equipment, and other costs that make the Renegades’ participation possible. But beyond the operational hurdles, it’s the mission—offering inclusive sport, inspiring confidence, and reshaping perceptions of vision loss—that truly defines the Renegades’ legacy in adaptive athletics.
0:41 – Early passion for sports: neighborhood pickup games, first love of baseball, and the joy of unstructured play.
2:17 – High school/college athletics: track (400m, javelin), summer baseball, then intramurals; eventual shift from playing to coaching as the body “barked.”
3:58 – Seeds of adaptive sports: college dorm floor with disabled students; bonding over sports and inventing inclusive rules.
6:08 – Wheelchair hockey origins: organizing opponents, events, equipment, and even playing able-bodied goalie; big crowds and media drop-ins.
9:50 – First look at beep baseball: invited to a small Boston startup group while injured; curiosity turns to commitment.
10:12 – “Dot” swing breakthrough: one coaching tip leads to instant contact—an aha moment that convinced Rob he could make an impact; recruits friends Ron Cochran and Brian Gillum.
12:42 – Early obstacles: aligning multiple orgs, scarce funding, and constant recruitment needs in a 100% volunteer model.
15:50 – Fundraising evolution: from can-shakes and Lions Clubs to Challenged Athletes Foundation grants, event fundraisers, COVID-era online squares, and corporate charity games with blindfolded participants.
27:00 – Adaptive gear & rules: everyone wears blindfolds for a level field; the beeping ball (derived from old payphone parts) costs ~$40 and teams burn through dozens each season.
21:52 – What’s next: push for a national title before the roster ages out, recruit younger athletes, stage the first beep baseball game at Fenway, and help launch new teams in Puerto Rico and Montreal.
