Town Team Baseball
Encyclopedia
Town Team Baseball is a variety of amateur baseball
played in the United States
. In Town Team baseball, sometimes also called townball, the team
s represent either a given city
or town
, or a commercial enterprise which sponsors the team. Usually a statewide governing body sets uniform rules for two or more classes, including proximity (how close the player must live to the town for which he plays) and other eligibility rules, pay or stipends
for players and coaches, boundaries, and rules to prevent players from switching teams without reason. Such governing bodies may also coordinate annual statewide playoffs, facilitate communication between teams and leagues, and help to arrange for training and placement of umpires.
since the 1920s. Townball enjoyed its peak of popularity in the 1940s and 1950s, with as many as 799 teams participating in the 1950 season. The first town baseball team in Minnesota is believed to have been Nininger's
, in 1857. Although many towns in Minnesota have fielded baseball teams continuously since the 1880s, townball as we know it really came into existence in 1924 with the organization of the State Tournament, masterminded by the Saint Paul Pioneer Press and Saint Paul Dispatch
writers Roy Dunlap and Lou McKenna. One year later, the AM-ABL was formed as a governing body for Townball in Minnesota. This organization still exists as the Minnesota Baseball Association
.
Numbers of teams and leagues operating in Minnesota peaked between the end of World War II
(1945) and the arrival of Minnesota's new Major League Baseball team, the Minnesota Twins
, in 1961. Since the minimum number of players required to field a team for a single game with no substitutions is nine, then at least 7191 (and in actuality a much larger number) individuals participated in Minnesota townball in the peak year, 1950.
played Class AA townball in Minnesota and Wisconsin and remarked, "I made more money playing [town team] baseball than I did playing for the Minneapolis Lakers...And we won an NBA title while I was playing for them." Another perspective came from a former official from Bird Island
, Fabian Sheehan: "We priced ourselves out of the business, but we sure had a good time doing it."
Nonetheless, some teams were able to turn a profit at this level. Former Fergus Falls
pitcher Harley Oyloe said, "As far as Fergus Falls, anyone who was around back then remembers those days and talks about them still. You tell the young kids that we used to have two or three thousand fans for a game and they think you're nuts."
At the Class A level, teams were permitted two players from outside the local area, and salaries were still unlimited. Class B teams were required to draw all their players from a 15 mile radius from city limits, and no salaries were permitted, although many players were enticed to relocate to towns with B-level teams by offers of employment in local schools or establishments. Because this was the most economical level of Townball, it was also the most prevalent. However, it was always the least prestigious level of amateur baseball in Minnesota. It was not unheard-of for a town to field a B-class team in addition to an A or AA level team. Some towns even fielded three teams, with lower-level teams developing talent and feeding it to higher-level teams.
The Class B / Class C state tournament is awarded to different towns throughout the state each season. Typically, 2 towns in close proximity host the tournament. The tournaments for both classes are held in conjunction with each other at the same venues.
, Carmen Cozza
, Bobby Dill, Paul Giel
, Bud Grant
, Sam "Toothpick" Jones
, Dana Kiecker
, Jerry Kindall
, Dick Lanahan, Tom Mee, Eugene McCarthy
, Gread McKinnis, Les Munns, Frank O'Rourke
(the sports and western author, not the Major League infielder), Jim Pollard, Jim Rantz, Frank "Pep" Saul
, Howie Schultz, Herb Score
, Dick Siebert
, Whitey Skoog, Moose Skowron
, Hilton Smith
, Terry Steinbach
, Dick Stigman
, Hy Vandenberg
, Rudy York
, and Bert Blyleven
(for one game in the 2007 season), Jim Eisenreich
.
, under the auspices of the Nebraska Baseball Association, there were nine leagues fielding over 50 teams. By 2009, the organization has grown to 75 teams and reaches beyond the borders of Nebraska to accommodate out of state teams that have no other league in which to belong. Just three years old, the Nebraska Baseball Association has begun to pick up momentum and increased exposure. More towns are now assembling teams.
The Nebraska Baseball Association structure was made possible with the research and assistance from the North Dakota Baseball Association, South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association, and the Minnesota Baseball Association. Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota are the only states in the country that have amateur state baseball organizations featuring legitimate qualifying district and state tournaments. Wyoming is seeking assistance from these states to establish another state baseball organization.
2007 Class A
State Champions: Lincoln Lawlor Polecats
State Runner Up: Lincoln Reds
State tournament site: Dunlap Field, Cairo, Ne.
District tournament sites: Hastings, Ne.; Crete, Ne.
2007 Class B
State Champions: Ogallala Moose Lodge #1624
State Runner Up: Hartington Bankers
State tournament site: Dunlap Field, Cairo, Ne.
District tournament sites: Schuyler, Ne.; Hartington, Ne.
2008 Class A
State Champions: Lincoln Dirtbags
State Runner Up: Kearney Kernels
Tournament MVP: Jeremy Fries, Lincoln Dirtbags
State tournament site: Kearney, Ne.
2008 Class B
State Champions: Wakefield Capitals
State Runner Up: Yutan Pilots
Tournament MVP: Max Greve, Wakefield
State tournament site: Wakefield, Ne. Eaton Field
District tournament sites: Sidney, Ne.; Tekamah, Ne.; Chadron, Ne.; O'Neill, Ne.; Wakefield, Ne.
2009 Class A
State Champions: Lincoln Diablos
State Runner Up: Kearney Kernels
Tournament MVP: Kevin Hanley, Lincoln Diablos
Class A state tournament site: Kearney, Ne.
District tournament sites: Omaha, Ne., Lincoln, Ne., Gibbon, Ne., Alliance, Ne.; Scottsbluff, Ne.
2009 Class B
State Champions: Hartington Bankers
State Runner Up: Haxtun, Colorado Bombers
Tournament MVP: Brett Bosn, Hartington Bankers
Class B state tournament site: Wakefield, Ne.
District tournament sites: Ashland, Ne.; Wakefield, Ne.; Cairo, Ne.; Imperial, Ne., Chadron, Ne.
2009 Roy & Ross Speece Umpire of the Year: Tim Higgins, Grand Island, Ne.
2010 Class A
State Champions: Kearney Kernels
State Runner Up: Lincoln Reds
Tournament MVP: Kyle Kraska, Kearney Kernels
Class A state tournament site: Kearney, Ne.
District tournament sites: Omaha, Ne., Lincoln, Ne., McCool Junction, Ne., Scottsbluff, Ne.
2010 Class B
State Champions: Haxtun, Colorado Bombers
State Runner Up: Chadron Titans
Tournament MVP: Jake McClain, Chadron Titans
State tournament site: Sidney, Ne.
District tournament sites: Pierce, Ne.; Yutan, Ne.; Scotia, Ne.; Haxtun, Co.; Chadron, Ne.
2010 Roy & Ross Speece Umpire of the Year: Mike Davis, Yutan, Ne.
2010 Max Greve Player of the Year: Travis Boyll-Kearney Kernels
2011 Class A
State Champions: Omaha Tigers
State Runner Up: Lincoln Reds
Tournament MVP: Caleb Zimmer, Omaha Tigers ***first legion player to earn MVP***Omaha Central
State Tournament sites: Brown Park
at John Stella Field, Omaha Central at Boyd Park
Class A Max Greve Player of the Year: Kevin Hanley, Lincoln Diablos
Roy & Ross Speece Umpire of the Year: Ray Manske
2011 Class B
State Champions: Valley Roughriders
State Runner Up: Mead Steam Engines
Tournament MVP: Chris Riley, Valley Roughriders
State Tournament sites: Dunlap Field-Cairo, Grover Cleveland Alexander field-St. Paul
Class B Max Greve Player of the Year: Jake Stutzman, Cairo Camels
are:
In 2009, amateur baseball in North Dakota re-organized into a league known as the Great Plains Amateur Baseball league. The league featured two divisions, with the "Three Rivers" Division representing teams that were at the AAA level, and the "Southeast Division" representing teams at the AA level and below.
In 2009, Fairmount won the league championship. In 2010, Enderlin was league champion.
In 2011, the league organized under a new name, the North Dakota Amateur Baseball League. The league will feature 16 teams, split into four divisions of four teams each. The league tournament is scheduled to be played in Valley City July 30–31.
There remain a handful of teams that are technically independent and not affiliated with any league. They play independent schedules and are still eligible for the state tournaments in August.
in Lake Norden
. The 2010 champions for South Dakota
were:
~ Nick Bruning State MVP
~ Nick Bruning, Bryce Ahrendt, Nate Alfson, & Tyler Pierson members of the BV Merchants who made ALL-STATE Team
Amateur baseball in the United States
Amateur baseball is a form of baseball in which the players either are not paid for playing, or receive only a modest stipend or employment arranged by the team's boosters...
played in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In Town Team baseball, sometimes also called townball, the team
Team
A team comprises a group of people or animals linked in a common purpose. Teams are especially appropriate for conducting tasks that are high in complexity and have many interdependent subtasks.A group in itself does not necessarily constitute a team...
s represent either a given city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
or town
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
, or a commercial enterprise which sponsors the team. Usually a statewide governing body sets uniform rules for two or more classes, including proximity (how close the player must live to the town for which he plays) and other eligibility rules, pay or stipends
Payment
A payment is the transfer of wealth from one party to another. A payment is usually made in exchange for the provision of goods, services or both, or to fulfill a legal obligation....
for players and coaches, boundaries, and rules to prevent players from switching teams without reason. Such governing bodies may also coordinate annual statewide playoffs, facilitate communication between teams and leagues, and help to arrange for training and placement of umpires.
History
The history of Town Team Baseball varies from state to state. In addition to the states included below, Townball was played in Iowa, Kansas, and Wisconsin.Minnesota
Townball has been played in MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
since the 1920s. Townball enjoyed its peak of popularity in the 1940s and 1950s, with as many as 799 teams participating in the 1950 season. The first town baseball team in Minnesota is believed to have been Nininger's
Nininger, Minnesota
This article is about the ghost town. For the township, see Nininger Township, Dakota County, MinnesotaNininger is a ghost town in section 18 of Nininger Township in Dakota County, Minnesota, United States.-History:...
, in 1857. Although many towns in Minnesota have fielded baseball teams continuously since the 1880s, townball as we know it really came into existence in 1924 with the organization of the State Tournament, masterminded by the Saint Paul Pioneer Press and Saint Paul Dispatch
Saint Paul Dispatch
The Saint Paul Dispatch was a daily newspaper in Saint Paul, Minnesota from 1868 until 1985. In 1885, The Dispatch Printing Company was formed when George Thompson purchased the Dispatch newspaper. The DPC then bought the St. Paul Pioneer Press in 1909 and ran the two newspapers. It was acquired...
writers Roy Dunlap and Lou McKenna. One year later, the AM-ABL was formed as a governing body for Townball in Minnesota. This organization still exists as the Minnesota Baseball Association
Minnesota Baseball Association
The Minnesota Baseball Association is the governing body for amateur Town Team Baseball in Minnesota....
.
Numbers of teams and leagues operating in Minnesota peaked between the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
(1945) and the arrival of Minnesota's new Major League Baseball team, the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, in 1961. Since the minimum number of players required to field a team for a single game with no substitutions is nine, then at least 7191 (and in actuality a much larger number) individuals participated in Minnesota townball in the peak year, 1950.
Historic divisions
Historically, Townball teams in Minnesota were divided into three classes: AA, A, and B. In Class AA leagues, teams were permitted three players from outside the local area, and salaries were unlimited; essentially, whatever the team's owners or shareholders could afford, they could pay. Because the unrestrained competition and unlimited budgets bankrupted many teams and forced others to move to a lower class, this form of Townball disappeared in Minnesota by 1960, its leagues all victims of their own excesses. Legendary football coach Bud GrantBud Grant
Harry Peter "Bud" Grant, Jr is the former longtime American football head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for eighteen seasons. Grant was the second and fourth head coach of the team...
played Class AA townball in Minnesota and Wisconsin and remarked, "I made more money playing [town team] baseball than I did playing for the Minneapolis Lakers...And we won an NBA title while I was playing for them." Another perspective came from a former official from Bird Island
Bird Island, Minnesota
Bird Island is a city on U.S. Route 212 in Renville County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,042 at the 2010 census.The city is named for a nearby 60-acre island. At one time, the island, was surrounded by sloughs and covered with many huge, beautiful trees, which were a refuge for...
, Fabian Sheehan: "We priced ourselves out of the business, but we sure had a good time doing it."
Nonetheless, some teams were able to turn a profit at this level. Former Fergus Falls
Fergus Falls, Minnesota
Fergus Falls is a city in and the county seat of Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 13,138 at the 2010 census.-Today:...
pitcher Harley Oyloe said, "As far as Fergus Falls, anyone who was around back then remembers those days and talks about them still. You tell the young kids that we used to have two or three thousand fans for a game and they think you're nuts."
At the Class A level, teams were permitted two players from outside the local area, and salaries were still unlimited. Class B teams were required to draw all their players from a 15 mile radius from city limits, and no salaries were permitted, although many players were enticed to relocate to towns with B-level teams by offers of employment in local schools or establishments. Because this was the most economical level of Townball, it was also the most prevalent. However, it was always the least prestigious level of amateur baseball in Minnesota. It was not unheard-of for a town to field a B-class team in addition to an A or AA level team. Some towns even fielded three teams, with lower-level teams developing talent and feeding it to higher-level teams.
Today
In some states, townball is all but extinct in its traditional form. In others, particularly in Minnesota, it remains vibrant and popular.Minnesota
Today there are more than 300 active Townball teams in Minnesota, playing in over 30 leagues throughout Minnesota, with major concentrations in the southern and central areas of the state.Modern divisions
The classification system was revamped in 1986 to restore Minnesota amateur baseball to a 3-tiered format. Today the three classes are A, B, and C. Class A is reserved for teams from the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area and Class B teams are typically composed of larger outstate towns and teams that have won the Class C Championship. As of 2000, there were 48 teams in this class. All remaining teams are in Class C. There are over 200 teams in this class. This division is equivalent to class B under the old classification system. The 2011 champions in Minnesota are:- The Stockmen’s Irish in Class A
- The Sauk RapidsSauk Rapids, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 10,213 people, 3,921 households, and 2,599 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,234.1 people per square mile . There were 4,017 housing units at an average density of 878.7 per square mile...
Cyclones in Class B - The IsantiIsanti, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,324 people, 816 households, and 576 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,095.3 people per square mile . There were 834 housing units at an average density of 393.1 per square mile...
Redbirds in Class C
The Class B / Class C state tournament is awarded to different towns throughout the state each season. Typically, 2 towns in close proximity host the tournament. The tournaments for both classes are held in conjunction with each other at the same venues.
- The 2007 tournament was held in HamburgHamburg, MinnesotaHamburg is a city in Carver County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 513 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land. County Road 50 serves as a main route in the community...
and Norwood Young AmericaNorwood Young America, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 3,108 people, 1,171 households, and 833 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,855.8 people per square mile . There were 1,201 housing units at an average density of 717.1 per square mile... - The 2008 tournament was held in ChaskaChaska, MinnesotaAs of 2005, there were 22,467 people and 8,194 households residing in the city. The population density was 1,640 people per square mile . There were 6,235 housing units at an average density of 454.1 per square mile...
and ShakopeeShakopee, MinnesotaShakopee is a city southwest of downtown Minneapolis in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Scott County. Located on the south bank bend of the Minnesota River, Shakopee and nearby suburbs comprise the southwest portion of Minneapolis-Saint Paul, the thirteenth largest... - The 2009 tournament was held in ArlingtonArlington, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,048 people, 828 households, and 523 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,395.1 people per square mile . There were 859 housing units at an average density of 585.2 per square mile...
and GaylordGaylord, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,279 people, 897 households, and 592 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,435.3 people per square mile . There were 930 housing units at an average density of 585.7 per square mile... - The 2010 tournament was held in WillmarWillmar, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 18,351 people, 7,302 households, and 4,461 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.9 people per square mile . There were 7,789 housing units at an average density of 657.8 per square mile...
and Bird IslandBird Island, MinnesotaBird Island is a city on U.S. Route 212 in Renville County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 1,042 at the 2010 census.The city is named for a nearby 60-acre island. At one time, the island, was surrounded by sloughs and covered with many huge, beautiful trees, which were a refuge for... - The 2011 tournament was held in GlencoeGlencoe, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 5,453 people, 2,103 households, and 1,446 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,045.6 people per square mile . There were 2,169 housing units at an average density of 813.7 per square mile...
and BrowntonBrownton, MinnesotaBrownton is a city in McLeod County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 762 at the 2010 census.U.S. Route 212 and Minnesota State Highway 15 are two of the main arterial routes in the community.-Geography:... - The 2012 tournament will be held in St. CloudSt. Cloud, MinnesotaSt. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
(Putz & Faber Field) - The 2013 tournament will be held in DelanoDelano, MinnesotaDelano is a city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,464 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Twin Cities Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
and Maple LakeMaple Lake, MinnesotaMaple Lake is a city in Wright County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 2,059 at the 2010 census.Minnesota State Highway 55 serves as a main route in the city.-History:... - The 2014 tournament will be held in JordanJordan, MinnesotaJordan is a city in Scott County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 5,470 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, of it is land and of it is water. U.S. Highway 169; and State Highways 21 and 282 are three...
and Belle PlaineBelle Plaine, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 3,789 people, 1,396 homes and 949 families residing in the city. The population density was 932.7 people per square cube . There were 1,424 housing units at an average density of 350.5 per square mile... - The 2015 tournament will be held in Cold SpringCold Spring, MinnesotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 2,975 people, 1,116 households, and 785 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,431.1 people per square mile . There were 1,145 housing units at an average density of 550.8 per square mile...
and WatkinsWatkins, MinnesotaWatkins is a city in Meeker County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 962 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
Notable Players
Notable players from Minnesota Town Team Baseball include Herb BrooksHerb Brooks
Herbert Paul Brooks, Jr. was an American ice hockey player and coach. He notably coached the United States' men's hockey team to a 4-3 upset of the heavily favored Soviet Union in the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York on February 22, 1980...
, Carmen Cozza
Carmen Cozza
Carmen Louis "Carm" Cozza is a former American football and baseball player and coach of football. He served as the head football coach at Yale University from 1965 to 1996, winning ten Ivy League championships and compiling a record of 179–119–5. Cozza was named UPI New England...
, Bobby Dill, Paul Giel
Paul Giel
Paul Robert Giel was a football and baseball player from Winona, Minnesota.Giel attended the University of Minnesota, where he was a star quarterback for the Gophers. His career totals were 2,188 yards rushing, 1,922 yards passing...
, Bud Grant
Bud Grant
Harry Peter "Bud" Grant, Jr is the former longtime American football head coach of the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League for eighteen seasons. Grant was the second and fourth head coach of the team...
, Sam "Toothpick" Jones
Sam Jones (baseball)
Samuel Jones , known during his career as "Toothpick Sam" Jones or "Sad Sam" Jones, was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to ....
, Dana Kiecker
Dana Kiecker
Dana Ervin Kiecker is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox from 1990-1991. He batted and threw right-handed....
, Jerry Kindall
Jerry Kindall
Gerald Donald Kindall , is a retired professional baseball player who played second base in the major leagues from 1956-1965 for the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins. Kindall was originally signed up by the Chicago Cubs as a bonus baby...
, Dick Lanahan, Tom Mee, Eugene McCarthy
Eugene McCarthy
Eugene Joseph "Gene" McCarthy was an American politician, poet, and a long-time member of the United States Congress from Minnesota. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1949 to 1959 and the U.S. Senate from 1959 to 1971.In the 1968 presidential election, McCarthy was the first...
, Gread McKinnis, Les Munns, Frank O'Rourke
Frank O'Rourke
Frank O'Rourke was an American writer known for western and mystery novels and sports fiction. O'Rourke ultimately wrote more than 60 novels and numerous magazine articles....
(the sports and western author, not the Major League infielder), Jim Pollard, Jim Rantz, Frank "Pep" Saul
Frank Saul (basketball)
Frank Benjamin Saul is a retired American National Basketball Association player.Saul won four consecutive NBA championships with the Rochester Royals in 1951 and with the Minneapolis Lakers from 1952 to 1954...
, Howie Schultz, Herb Score
Herb Score
Herbert Jude Score was a Major League Baseball pitcher and announcer.-Athletic career:Score came up as a rookie in with the Cleveland Indians...
, Dick Siebert
Dick Siebert
Richard Walther Siebert was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who had an 11-year career from 1932, 1936-1945. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and St...
, Whitey Skoog, Moose Skowron
Moose Skowron
William Joseph "Moose" Skowron Jr. is a former Major League Baseball player, primarily a first baseman. He is currently a Community Relations Representative for the White Sox....
, Hilton Smith
Hilton Smith
Hilton Lee Smith was an American right-handed pitcher in Negro league baseball. In 2001 he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
, Terry Steinbach
Terry Steinbach
Terry Lee Steinbach is a former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for 14 years from to . He was drafted in 1980 out of New Ulm High School by the Cleveland Indians. He was the starting catcher for Oakland Athletics teams that won three straight American League pennants from 1988 to...
, Dick Stigman
Dick Stigman
Richard Lewis Stigman is a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1960-1966. He graduated from Sebeka High School in Sebeka, Minnesota. Dick was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cleveland Indians in . He would play for the Minnesota Twins, Cleveland...
, Hy Vandenberg
Hy Vandenberg
Harold Harris "Hy" Vandenberg born in Abilene, Kansas was a pitcher for the Boston Red Sox , New York Giants and Chicago Cubs ....
, Rudy York
Rudy York
Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
, and Bert Blyleven
Bert Blyleven
Bert Blyleven is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to , and was best known for his curveball. Blyleven was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011...
(for one game in the 2007 season), Jim Eisenreich
Jim Eisenreich
James Michael Eisenreich is an American former Major League Baseball player with a 15-year career from 1982–1984 and 1987–1998. He played for the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals of the American League, and the Philadelphia Phillies, Florida Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers of the National...
.
Nebraska
In 2007 in NebraskaNebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, under the auspices of the Nebraska Baseball Association, there were nine leagues fielding over 50 teams. By 2009, the organization has grown to 75 teams and reaches beyond the borders of Nebraska to accommodate out of state teams that have no other league in which to belong. Just three years old, the Nebraska Baseball Association has begun to pick up momentum and increased exposure. More towns are now assembling teams.
The Nebraska Baseball Association structure was made possible with the research and assistance from the North Dakota Baseball Association, South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association, and the Minnesota Baseball Association. Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota are the only states in the country that have amateur state baseball organizations featuring legitimate qualifying district and state tournaments. Wyoming is seeking assistance from these states to establish another state baseball organization.
2007 Class A
State Champions: Lincoln Lawlor Polecats
State Runner Up: Lincoln Reds
State tournament site: Dunlap Field, Cairo, Ne.
District tournament sites: Hastings, Ne.; Crete, Ne.
2007 Class B
State Champions: Ogallala Moose Lodge #1624
State Runner Up: Hartington Bankers
State tournament site: Dunlap Field, Cairo, Ne.
District tournament sites: Schuyler, Ne.; Hartington, Ne.
2008 Class A
State Champions: Lincoln Dirtbags
State Runner Up: Kearney Kernels
Tournament MVP: Jeremy Fries, Lincoln Dirtbags
State tournament site: Kearney, Ne.
2008 Class B
State Champions: Wakefield Capitals
State Runner Up: Yutan Pilots
Tournament MVP: Max Greve, Wakefield
State tournament site: Wakefield, Ne. Eaton Field
District tournament sites: Sidney, Ne.; Tekamah, Ne.; Chadron, Ne.; O'Neill, Ne.; Wakefield, Ne.
2009 Class A
State Champions: Lincoln Diablos
State Runner Up: Kearney Kernels
Tournament MVP: Kevin Hanley, Lincoln Diablos
Class A state tournament site: Kearney, Ne.
District tournament sites: Omaha, Ne., Lincoln, Ne., Gibbon, Ne., Alliance, Ne.; Scottsbluff, Ne.
2009 Class B
State Champions: Hartington Bankers
State Runner Up: Haxtun, Colorado Bombers
Tournament MVP: Brett Bosn, Hartington Bankers
Class B state tournament site: Wakefield, Ne.
District tournament sites: Ashland, Ne.; Wakefield, Ne.; Cairo, Ne.; Imperial, Ne., Chadron, Ne.
2009 Roy & Ross Speece Umpire of the Year: Tim Higgins, Grand Island, Ne.
2010 Class A
State Champions: Kearney Kernels
State Runner Up: Lincoln Reds
Tournament MVP: Kyle Kraska, Kearney Kernels
Class A state tournament site: Kearney, Ne.
District tournament sites: Omaha, Ne., Lincoln, Ne., McCool Junction, Ne., Scottsbluff, Ne.
2010 Class B
State Champions: Haxtun, Colorado Bombers
State Runner Up: Chadron Titans
Tournament MVP: Jake McClain, Chadron Titans
State tournament site: Sidney, Ne.
District tournament sites: Pierce, Ne.; Yutan, Ne.; Scotia, Ne.; Haxtun, Co.; Chadron, Ne.
2010 Roy & Ross Speece Umpire of the Year: Mike Davis, Yutan, Ne.
2010 Max Greve Player of the Year: Travis Boyll-Kearney Kernels
2011 Class A
State Champions: Omaha Tigers
State Runner Up: Lincoln Reds
Tournament MVP: Caleb Zimmer, Omaha Tigers ***first legion player to earn MVP***Omaha Central
State Tournament sites: Brown Park
Brown Park
Brown Park is located at 5708 South 15th Street in the Brown Park neighborhood of South Omaha, Nebraska. The baseball field at the park is more than 100 years old, and hosted games played by Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and others.- Baseball :...
at John Stella Field, Omaha Central at Boyd Park
Class A Max Greve Player of the Year: Kevin Hanley, Lincoln Diablos
Roy & Ross Speece Umpire of the Year: Ray Manske
2011 Class B
State Champions: Valley Roughriders
State Runner Up: Mead Steam Engines
Tournament MVP: Chris Riley, Valley Roughriders
State Tournament sites: Dunlap Field-Cairo, Grover Cleveland Alexander field-St. Paul
Class B Max Greve Player of the Year: Jake Stutzman, Cairo Camels
North Dakota
The 2007 champions for North DakotaNorth Dakota
North Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States of America, along the Canadian border. The state is bordered by Canada to the north, Minnesota to the east, South Dakota to the south and Montana to the west. North Dakota is the 19th-largest state by area in the U.S....
are:
- JamestownJamestown, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 15,527 people, 6,505 households, and 3,798 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,246.7 per square mile . There were 6,970 housing units at an average density of 559.6 per square mile...
Merchants in class AAA - EnderlinEnderlin, North DakotaEnderlin is a city in Cass and Ransom counties in the U.S. state of North Dakota. The population was 886 at the 2010 census. Enderlin was founded in 1891....
in class AA - FairmountFairmount, North DakotaAs of the census of 2000, there were 406 people, 174 households, and 104 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,234.2 people per square mile . There were 202 housing units at an average density of 614.0 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 95.07% White, 2.46%...
in class A
In 2009, amateur baseball in North Dakota re-organized into a league known as the Great Plains Amateur Baseball league. The league featured two divisions, with the "Three Rivers" Division representing teams that were at the AAA level, and the "Southeast Division" representing teams at the AA level and below.
In 2009, Fairmount won the league championship. In 2010, Enderlin was league champion.
In 2011, the league organized under a new name, the North Dakota Amateur Baseball League. The league will feature 16 teams, split into four divisions of four teams each. The league tournament is scheduled to be played in Valley City July 30–31.
There remain a handful of teams that are technically independent and not affiliated with any league. They play independent schedules and are still eligible for the state tournaments in August.
South Dakota
Great Town Team Baseball teams and players from South Dakota are honored by the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of FameSouth Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame
The South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame is a museum in Lake Norden, South Dakota.The museum presents a pictorial history of amateur baseball in South Dakota as well as memorabilia from about a dozen South Dakotans who played Major League Baseball...
in Lake Norden
Lake Norden, South Dakota
Lake Norden is a city in Hamlin County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Watertown, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 467 at the 2010 census.-Attractions:...
. The 2010 champions for South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
were:
- The Brandon Valley Merchants in Class A
~ Nick Bruning State MVP
~ Nick Bruning, Bryce Ahrendt, Nate Alfson, & Tyler Pierson members of the BV Merchants who made ALL-STATE Team
- The Dimock-Emery Raptors in Class B
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Baseball Association (WBA) is Wisconsin's largest amateur league. The WBA has over 60 teams, located throughout Northern Wisconsin, and in Western Wisconsin along the St. Croix and Mississippi River valleys from Grantsburg to LaCrosse. Unlike leagues in other states, the WBA is not split into divisions. On average, however, the level of competition could probably be compared to Class B in Minnesota, although many of the teams advancing to the post-season are Class A caliber.- 2010 Wisconsin Baseball Association Champions: Haugen Knights, Independent League
- 2009 Dairyland League Champions: Bonduel Broncos
- 2008 Wisconsin State League Champions: Lombard Orioles
See also
- Minnesota Baseball AssociationMinnesota Baseball AssociationThe Minnesota Baseball Association is the governing body for amateur Town Team Baseball in Minnesota....
- List of Town Team Baseball leagues in Minnesota
- South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of FameSouth Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of FameThe South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame is a museum in Lake Norden, South Dakota.The museum presents a pictorial history of amateur baseball in South Dakota as well as memorabilia from about a dozen South Dakotans who played Major League Baseball...
- Wisconsin Baseball Association
- North Dakota Amateur Baseball League
External links
- Minnesota Baseball Association official website.
- Nebraska Baseball Association, the sanctioning body for Town Team Baseball in Nebraska.
- South Central League - South Dakota, The official website of the South Central League (SD)