National Baseball Congress
The National Baseball Congress of Wichita, Kansas is an organization of 17 amateur and semi-professional baseball leagues operating in the United States and Canada. Since its founding in 1935[1] by Hap Dumont, it has conducted an annual North American championship tournament among its members, The National Baseball Congress World Series has been held annually since 1935, at Wichita's Lawrence–Dumont Stadium through 2018;[2] at Wichita State's Eck Stadium in 2019; and jointly at Eck Stadium and Wichita's Riverfront Stadium starting in 2020.[3]
History
Dumont said he was inspired to start the league after seeing a huge crowd for the circus clown-firemen baseball game[2] in Wichita (the clowns were not allowed to perform on Sundays because of blue laws).
In 1931, he started the National Semi-Pro Baseball Congress Kansas State Tournament[4] on former Ackerman Island[5] in Wichita (located a few blocks north of Lawrence Stadium). After a fire destroyed the old wood stadium, the city built the Lawrence Stadium on its present site.[2]
In 1935, he offered Satchel Paige $1,000 to bring his touring Bismarck Churchills from Bismarck, North Dakota to Wichita.[6] Paige struck out 60 batters and won four games.[2]
With the rise of Minor League Baseball, the league now is for amateur athletes.
Leagues
As of January 2017, there are 17 member leagues.[7]
| League | Headquarters | State |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Baseball League | Palmer | Alaska |
| California Collegiate League | Santa Barbara | California |
| CenTex Collegiate Baseball League | San Antonio | Texas |
| Chicago Suburban Baseball League | ||
| Great Southwest Collegiate League | ||
| Houston Collegiate Summer League | ||
| Jayhawk Collegiate League | Wichita | Kansas |
| Kansas Collegiate Baseball League | ||
| Mile High Collegiate Baseball League | ||
| Ohio Valley League | ||
| Pacific International League | Seattle | Washington |
| Rocky Mountain Baseball League | Lakewood | Colorado |
| San Diego Coastal Collegiate League | ||
| Southern California Collegiate Baseball League | Palm Springs | California |
| Sun Belt Collegiate League | ||
| Sunflower Collegiate League | ||
| Western Baseball Association | San Diego | California |
Championships
The first National Baseball Congress World Series was held in 1935.[2][8]
* In 1948, the London Majors defeated Fort Wayne in the best-of-seven-game Can-Am Congress Series, 4-3.
Graduate of the Year
Many players have gone to professional teams. Since 1975 the NBC has recognized a "Graduate of the Year"[10]
| Year | Player | MLB Team | NBC Team(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Ian Kinsler | Detroit Tigers | Liberal BeeJays ('01) |
| 2015 | Hunter Pence | San Francisco Giants | Liberal BeeJays ('03) |
| 2012 | Michael Young | Texas Rangers | Alaska Goldpanners ('96) |
| 2011 | Heath Bell | San Diego Padres | El Dorado Broncos ('97) |
| 2010 | Mark Teixeira | New York Yankees | Maryland Battlecats ('98) |
| 2009 | Tim Lincecum[11] | San Francisco Giants | Seattle Studs ('04) |
| 2008 | Joba Chamberlain | New York Yankees | Beatrice Bruins ('04 & '05) |
| 2007 | Jeff Francis | Colorado Rockies | Anchorage Glacier Pilots ('01) |
| 2006 | B. J. Ryan | Toronto Blue Jays | Hays Larks ('96) |
| 2005 | Morgan Ensberg | Houston Astros | Santa Barbara Foresters ('96) |
| 2004 | Nate Robertson | Detroit Tigers | El Dorado Broncos ('96 & '98) |
| 2003 | Albert Pujols | St. Louis Cardinals | Hays Larks ('99) |
| 2002 | Lance Berkman | Houston Astros | Hays Larks ('95) |
| 2001 | Luis Gonzalez | Arizona Diamondbacks | North Pole Nicks ('87) |
| 2000 | Eric Karros | Los Angeles Dodgers | North Pole Nicks ('87) |
| 1999 | Trevor Hoffman | San Diego Padres | Nevada Griffons ('87) |
| 1998 | Robin Ventura | Chicago White Sox | Santa Marian Indians ('86) |
| 1997 | Brett Butler | Los Angeles Dodgers | OK City Utility Towers ('77)/Hutchinson Broncos ('78) |
| 1996 | Chuck Knoblauch | Minnesota Twins | Clarinda A's ('87) |
| 1995 | Mark Grace | Chicago Cubs | North Pole Nicks ('85) |
| 1994 | Jimmy Key | New York Yankees | Kenai Peninsula Oilers ('81) |
| 1993 | Barry Bonds | San Francisco Giants | Fairbanks Goldpanners ('83)/Hutchinson Broncos ('84) |
| 1992 | Andy Benes | San Diego Padres | Clarinda A's ('87) |
| 1991 | Bob Welch | Oakland A's | Boulder Collegians ('76) |
| 1990 | John Olerud | Toronto Blue Jays | Kenai Peninsula Oilers ('88) |
| 1989 | Rafael Palmeiro | Texas Rangers | Hutchinson Broncos ('84) |
| 1988 | Mark McGwire | Oakland A's | Anchorage Glacier Pilots ('82) |
| 1987 | Joe Carter | Cleveland Indians | Boulder Collegians ('79) |
| 1986 | Roger Clemens | Boston Red Sox | Hutchinson Broncos ('82) |
| 1985 | Tony Gwynn | San Diego Padres | Boulder Collegians ('80) |
| 1984 | Ron Kittle | Chicago White Sox | Chicago AHEPA ('78) |
| 1983 | Dave Stieb | Toronto Blue Jays | Kenai Peninsula Oilers ('77 & '78) |
| 1982 | Steve Rogers | Montreal Expos | Liberal Bee Jays ('80) |
| 1981 | Steve Kemp | Pittsburgh Pirates | Liberal BeeJays/Fairbanks ('73) / ('74) |
| 1980 | Bruce Bochte | Oakland A's | Anchorage Glacier Pilots ('71) |
| 1979 | Dave Winfield | San Diego Padres | Fairbanks Goldpanners ('71 & '72) |
| 1978 | Ron Guidry | New York Yankees | Liberal Bee Jays ('70) |
| 1977 | Chris Chambliss | Atlanta Braves | Anchorage Glacier Pilots ('69) |
| 1976 | Randy Jones | New York Mets | Anchorage Glacier Pilots ('71)[12] |
| 1975 | Mike Hargrove | Cleveland Indians | Liberal BeeJays ('72) |
See also
References
- "Kansas Sports Hall of Fame - Dumont, Ray "Hap"". www.kshof.org. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- "History of the NBC". nbcbaseball.com. National Baseball Congress Foundation. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
- Spedden, Zach (July 29, 2019). "Future NBC World Series to be Split Between Ballparks". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
- "Museum Partners | MiLB.com Official Info | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
- Larsen, Travis M. (2006). "Ahead of the Curve : A History of the National Baseball Congress Tournament in Wichita, Kansas,1935-2005". Master's Theses. Fort Hays State University.
- Steiz, Dale. "Lawrence Dumont Stadium History". Wichita Historic Delano District. Archived from the original on August 27, 2008.
- "Leagues & Teams". nbcbaseball.com. National Baseball Congress Foundation. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
- "National Baseball Congress World Series". nbcbaseball.com. National Baseball Congress Foundation. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
- "Past NBC World Series Finalists". nnbcbaseball.com. Archived from the original on March 23, 2011. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
- "NBC Graduates of the Year". nbcbaseball.com.
- "PIL Player & NBC 2009 Graduate of the Year Earns 2nd Cy Young Award". pacificinternationalleague.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2009.
- "Twenty Seven Years of Gold at the National Baseball Congress World Series - 80th Year in 2014". pannervault.com. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
External links
- National Baseball Congress website