Rookie of the Year Birthday Party

A baseball-themed 1st birthday party for our little MVP, Rookie of the Year!

This was such a fun party to plan! My husband is a huge baseball fan, specifically the Yankees. His cousin, our son’s godmother, is a big Yankees fan as well. She gave us a baseball rug and monthly onesies for my sprinkle, and that is when I knew, Joey’s first birthday party had to be— baseball-themed ROOKIE OF THE YEAR!

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Lets start planning!

I was flooded with ideas for this party, so I knew I had to get organized. Tons of crafting, lots of prepping, things that take some time.

First thing I did was walk our house so I could map out the party’s flow. This layout would serve as the basic setup for all of our future parties. Once I have a plan, the crafting can begin! Let’s get into this amazing Rookie of the Year birthday party!

A smiling family of four poses in front of a festive baseball-themed balloon arch at a rookie of the year birthday party. The arch features red, white, and blue balloons, with star-shaped accents and a baseball balloon. The family is dressed in matching themed t-shirts, with the parents wearing 'Mommy' and 'Daddy' shirts, while the children wear coordinating 'Sister' and 'Brother' shirts. Sunlight brightens the scene as they stand in front of a sliding glass door, leading to their home.

Decorations to add the perfect atmosphere

June is our baby boy’s birthday month, and for that reason, the main party area was in our backyard. We popped two more party tents in the yard as well. One was for the food setup, and the second was for extra shade seating.

Balloon arches make a great frame for a party space. This one was so easy to make and was perfect. The balloon arch was from Amazon and the first one I had ever made. You can find easy kits here on Amazon.

A close-up of a vibrant red, white, and blue balloon arch decorating a sliding glass door for a baseball-themed party. The arch features a mix of solid and transparent balloons, with some filled with confetti, as well as metallic star-shaped balloons and a baseball-patterned balloon. The reflection in the glass shows trees and outdoor scenery, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Yankee Stadium Arches Entrance

Creating an interesting and enticing entrance for a party can really set the tone. Our front foyer has high ceilings, so they made the perfect place to put the iconic Yankee Stadium arches.

I purchased the arch cut files from the Etsy shop Vector911.

The image shows a cut-out party decoration resembling the iconic arches of Yankee Stadium. The white decoration is placed along the upper part of a wall in a home entrance area, giving the illusion of a stadium-style railing. The design includes repeating arch patterns with vertical bars and decorative elements, mimicking the architectural details of Yankee Stadium. The decoration curves along the wall, adding depth and a unique touch to the space.

The image showcases a cut-out party decoration resembling the iconic arches of Yankee Stadium, placed along the walls of a staircase and entryway. The white decorative railing curves around the space, giving the illusion of a stadium-style balcony. The setting features a high ceiling, a large window allowing natural light to stream in, a chandelier, and a staircase with wooden railings. The decoration adds a creative and thematic touch, enhancing the sports-inspired ambiance in the home.

This took some planning and work. I had to design the cut file like a puzzle piece and then put it together on the wall. But it came out looking great and was a big hit with guests.

The image features a Yankee Stadium-themed party decoration in a home's entryway and staircase. A white cut-out of the stadium's iconic arches is affixed to the upper wall, giving the illusion of a grand balcony. A large printed backdrop depicting a baseball stadium with bright green grass and stadium lights is placed along the staircase, enhancing the immersive sports theme. The setting includes a wooden staircase railing, a cozy home interior with family photos, and decorative elements, creating a festive and stadium-inspired atmosphere.

cut out of Yankee Stadium iconic arches, diy party decoration for a rookie of the year birthday party

To give more of the stadium illusion we put up this photo back drop I found on Amazon click here to find it. Everyone had a lot of fun taking pictures on their way into the party!

Party Favor Boxes

These were the most adorable favor boxes! These I crafted out of card stock. They took a long time, but seeing my guests faces of amazement made it all worth it!

I purchased the cut file from Tailored Vectors on Etsy. This file was easy to use and came with assembly instructions! I wanted to customize these even more with changeing the logo out on some hat boxes. Some hats got the Yankee logo, some got the number 1 and some got the word one. The sticker on the brim had each child’s name on it too.

Inside the boxes were some fun baseball themed favors. Click the links below to shop the favors.

Mini Foam Baseballs
Baseball Bat Pens
Mini Baseball Keychain with Wooden Bat

Matching shirts

I love making my family wear matching tee shirts. I just think it adds such a cute touch to the party. These were easy to make. I bought the files from EMGraphix; they made the perfect tee shirts for us.

I wanted some vintage baseball elements brought into the decorations. My husband’s cousin knew a high school baseball coach who gave me a bucket of used balls which turned out to be a perfect added touch.

A little special touch I added, was digging out my husband’s old baseball trophies and adding them around and decorations.

Concession Stand

For our menu, we wanted to keep it traditional stadium food! We bought a retro-style popcorn machine from Amazon, click here to find it, which has come in handy for our movie night parties. Don’t forget the popcorn kernels and cooking oil. Variety Pack – Orville Redenbachers – Gourmet Popcorn Kernels and Popping & Topping Buttery Flavored Oil.

We borrowed a hotdog tabletop cart from a friend. We also had Pretzels from Philly Pretzel Factory, pulled pork sliders, and sides. Cracker Jacks were a must to have on the table as well. Amazon sells a case of 24 boxes, click here to find them.

I tasked my husband with making the pretzel wall out of 2x4s and wood dowels. It was the perfect display for my guest to grab a pretzel. I put out cheese, mustard and cinnamon butter for the pretzels.

The signs were the easiet thing I crafted for the party. Using Canva (if dont have Canva but love to create you should download it now!) I made all the signs and glued them to canvas from the dollar store to make them sturdy.

Summer time fun activities

June is hot hot hot! Any party we have in the summer we set up water activities for the kids. The slip n slide is so much fun for them. Our yard has the best hill to set it up for them. To pull the baseball theme into this activty I put a sign up that said “Sliding Practice”. How cute is that!

Another cute idea was “batting practice”. We set up a child’s baseball tee and a tub full of water balloons. The kids had so much fun smacking these balloons off the tee or pitching to each other.

Treat table setup

I love offering a varity of desserts at a party, not just birthday cake. Its a great way to get creative with your treat! In this case we had:

Baseball Cupcakes
Baseball Smash cake
Chocolate covered oreos
Fruit platter (I always put out a fruit platter with dessert)

The cupcakes and smash cake were all made by my talented mother! The baseball on the cupcakes are made from white chocolate and using an edible red marker she drew on the seams.

I loved having these vintage-looking printouts. They were the patent plans for a baseball, a glove, and a baseball bat. You can purchase these digital files from Etsy here, and then print them out at home or send them to be printed at a store like Staples.

Rookie of the year was the best way to celebrate our little man turning one. Our little rookie had the best 1st birthday party any MVP could ask for! We really hit this one out of the park!