The Cape Cod Baseball League released its 2021 schedule on Tuesday evening, less than three months after it announced the cancellation of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Chatham's 40-game schedule is slated to begin with an opening day game at Falmouth on June 12, 2021. 

“Having missed out on 2020, we’re excited to get back to the ballpark and watch the cleats hit the dirt,” CCBL Commissioner Eric Zmuda said in the league’s statement. 

2021 Schedule

After the cancellation of the 2020 season, the league worked on the 2021 schedule with hopes to release it around July 4 so that “everyone could have this to look forward to,” Chatham Athletic Association President Steve West said. Though schedule-release normally takes place in early winter, West said that because it’s summer, people are thinking about baseball — in particular, Cape League baseball  — so the timing made sense. 

Much of the league’s 2020 plans have been pushed back to 2021, and the similarity in schedules shows that, West said. The 2021 schedule debuts a 40-game season, something the league planned to introduce in 2020, and the All-Star Game is set to return to Spillane Field in Wareham after this summer’s missed opportunity. 

For Chatham, the Veterans Field fireworks show that was scheduled for July 2 this year has been tentatively scheduled next year for Saturday, July 3 — an off-day for the Anglers. West intentionally requested that day off when the league was constructing the schedule. 

Following the Fourth of July weekend, the Anglers also have three consecutive home games, their most of the season and “a darn good week” for three home games, West said. 

Since the CCBL’s April 24 announcement that the summer season was canceled, seven former Chatham A’s were selected during this year’s shortened MLB Draft, including No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson, and six others signed as undrafted free agents following the draft’s conclusion. 

In 2019, the Anglers won the East Division with a 24-18-2 record, but were swept by Harwich in the ensuing East Division Series. An eight-win stretch over the course of nine games in July propelled the A’s to the top of the standings, and the regular season ended with Chatham’s first division title since 2013. 

With 11 months remaining until the Cape League’s expected return, the full 2021 league schedule can be found here.