National Baseball Congress
The National Baseball Congress of Wichita, Kansas is an organization of 15 amateur and semi-professional baseball leagues operating in the United States and Canada. Since its founding in 1934 by Hap Dumont, it has conducted an annual North American championship tournament among its members, The National Baseball Congress World Series, held at Wichita's Lawrence-Dumont Stadium annually since 1935.
History
Dumont said he was inspired to start the league after seeing a huge crowd for the circus clown-firemen baseball game 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 on former Ackerman Island 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.
In 1935, he offered Satchel Paige $1,000 to bring his touring Bismarck Churchills from Bismarck, North Dakota, team to Wichita.[1] Paige struck out 60 batters and won four games.
With the rise of Minor League Baseball, the league now is for amateur athletes.[2]
Leagues
As of January 2011[update], there are 15 member leagues:[3]
Championships
Graduate of the Year
Many players have gone to professional teams. Since 1975 the NBC has recognized a "Graduate of the Year"[5]
| Year | Player | MLB Team | NBC Team(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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[6] | 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 | |
| 1984 | Ron Kittle | Chicago White Sox | Chicago AHEPA ("78) |
| 1983 | Dave Stieb | Toronto Blue Jays | Kenai Peninsula Oilers |
| 1982 | Steve Rogers | Montreal Expos | |
| 1981 | Steve Kemp | Pittsburgh Pirates | Liberal BeeJays/Fairbanks |
| 1980 | Bruce Bochte | Oakland A's | Anchorage Glacier Pilots ('71) |
| 1979 | Dave Winfield | San Diego Padres | Fairbanks Goldpanners |
| 1978 | Ron Guidry | New York Yankees | Liberal Bee Jays |
| 1977 | Chris Chambliss | Atlanta Braves | Anchorage Glacier Pilots ('69) |
| 1976 | Randy Jones | New York Mets | Anchorage Glacier Pilots ('71)[7] |
| 1975 | Mike Hargrove | Cleveland Indians | Liberal BeeJays |
See also
References
- ^ http://www.wichitadelano.com/history/baseballandapplepie.htm
- ^ History of the NBC - nbcbaseball.com - Retrieved September 5, 2009
- ^ http://www.nbcbaseball.com/leagues.html
- ^ Past NBC World Series Finalists nbcbaseball.com - 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 - Retrieved December 11, 2009
- ^ http://www.goldpanners.com/Seasons/1971/tournament.htm
External links
- National Baseball Congress website