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 1934[citation needed] by Hap Dumont, it has conducted an annual North American championship tournament among its members, The National Baseball Congress World Series has been held at Wichita's Lawrence-Dumont Stadium annually since 1935.[1]
Dumont said he was inspired to start the league after seeing a huge crowd for the circus clown-firemen baseball game[1] 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[citation needed] on former Ackerman Island[citation needed] 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.[1]
In 1935, he offered Satchel Paige $1,000 to bring his touring Bismarck Churchills from Bismarck, North Dakota to Wichita.[2] Paige struck out 60 batters and won four games.[1]
With the rise of Minor League Baseball, the league now is for amateur athletes.
As of January 2017[update], there are 17 member leagues.[3]
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 | ||
Independent | ||
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 |
The first National Baseball Congress World Series was held in 1935.[1][4]
Many players have gone to professional teams. Since 1975 the NBC has recognized a "Graduate of the Year"[6]
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[7] | 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)[8] |
1975 | Mike Hargrove | Cleveland Indians | Liberal BeeJays ('72) |