United States Navy Baseball

U.S. Navy Baseball Program San Diego, CA www.usnavybaseball.com Email: Navybaseballoic@aol.com

Our historic program is the fastest growing, largest, most successful, and first joint military baseball program since the Vietnam War in a worldwide effort to assemble the very best talent in the military.

The U.S. Navy Baseball team will coordinate the first-ever U.S. Military All-Stars historic “Red, White and Blue Tour” of New England, June 5-18, 2005. The team will feature the top military talent from all services including the U.S. Coast Guard and will compete in exhibition games against the finest collegiate talent in the world hosted by the Cape Cod and New England Collegiate Baseball Leagues.

U.S. Military All-Stars Complete Historic Season The 2005 U.S. Military All-Stars claimed a record 9th Armed Forces Championship and the Southern Division Championship in the Western Baseball Association posting an overall record of 34-6, earning them one of only 42 berths to the 71st Annual National Baseball Congress World Series.

Based in San Diego, the city serves as a perfect backdrop for local and national media attention providing the opportunity for our highly visible program to develop permanent relationships within the community. Operational commitments remain our top priority. Many of our players have recently returned from deployment in direct support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. Our players represent some of the most talented athletes in the service and have been selected among thousands of personnel worldwide to represent the Armed Forces. Players and staff alike understand our scope of responsibility far exceeds the games won or lost on the field. We shoulder a unique responsibility to increase the awareness of Americans in regard to the honorable sacrifices our Armed Forces make each and every day at the "Tip of the Spear".

In 1990, U.S. Military All-Stars founder, Lieutenant Commander Allvord started the Southwestern Baseball League while attending flight school in Pensacola, Florida. It quickly grew to over 10 teams consisting of military from all services. Midway through the first season an All-Star game was played. As you might imagine, the first meeting between the two teams was extremely competitive and required 14 innings to determine a winner. Only a few friends and relatives were on hand that day to witness a hard fought 9-8 victory. Immediately following that contest conversation centered on a rematch. Less than 3 months later they met again in Florida, this time it was a standing room only affair built on weeks of hype in the community. It lived up to the billing as the teams once again battled into extra innings before finally exploding in the 12th inning to post a 13-7 victory in the first of what would turn out to be many more Military Baseball contests.

On June 27, 1992 the second annual "Military Baseball Challenge" was played at Pace High in Milton, Fl. before a capacity crowd of over 3,000. Broadcast live on WCOA radio the pre-game ceremonies highlighted appearances by members of the U.S. Senate and Congress, The Naval Aviation Choir, Mayor of Pensacola and various other distinguished guests.

In February 1993, Allvord passed control of the league and the Challenge to HM2 Chris Jabs. Jabs continued the streak in Florida posting victories in both 93 and 94. Meanwhile, LTjg Allvord was hard at work founding the San Diego Military Baseball League (SDMBL) and in August of 1993 military personnel were ready to face off again, this time, on the west coast. This Military Challenge was played at Point Loma Nazarene University and seen by more than 3,500 spectators who were treated to yet another competitive contest that exuded the intense rivalry the games have come to represent. Appearing at this event were the Commander, U.S. Navy Air Forces Pacific, U.S. Navy Band, U.S. Navy "Leap Frogs" Parachute Demonstration Team, U.S. Navy Chaplain, Captain W.R. Begg, Ronald McDonald and the San Diego Padres Mascot. Allvord recruited and coached both teams and stretched their winning streak to six straight victories.

In 1996, San Diego Padres military coordinator "Captain Jack" Ensch (Ret.) began work with LT Allvord to bring the Military Challenge to Jack Murphy Stadium. The timing of new Padres ownership and Ensch's desire to reach out to a very large military community made the event a perfect fit for the San Diego Padres and the City of San Diego. In the inaugural game at the "Murph" it was time to shine over the 4th of July weekend. Behind the dominant pitching of St. Louis Cardinal prospect Kevin Lucero (Signed 1991) they went on to claim their first of 6 consecutive victories. In fact, they didn't wrestle the trophy back with their seventh win until the summer of 2002 when three pitchers combined to throw eight and two thirds innings of no-hit baseball downing them by the score of 5-1. They won again in 2003 by the score of 5-3. But they came right back to win 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth in 2004. The 16th annual meeting was claimed by the Marines on July 17, 2005 at PETCO Park by the score of 6-3.

Military All-Stars Face Top Programs

In an effort to compete against the best talent available, the Military All-Stars continue to face various foreign, collegiate, semi-professional and scout teams. Over the years the program has merged with the top players from the services to play a travel schedule against powerhouse programs like LSU, Florida, Florida State, Auburn, Alabama and Mississippi State.

Military All-Stars vs. Colorado Silver Bullets

On June 22, 1994, the All-Stars made their debut at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium beginning a streak of four straight victories on national television against the All-Female Colorado Silver Bullets, managed by Hall of Fame pitcher Phil Neikro.

Community Outreach Programs

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