American Legion Baseball is a variety of amateur

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...

 baseball

Baseball

Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...

 played by teenage boys in 50 states in the USA

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. More than five thousand 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 participate each year. The American Legion

American Legion

The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...

 Department of South Dakota established the program in 1925 at Milbank, South Dakota

Milbank, South Dakota

Milbank is a city in Grant County, South Dakota, along the South Fork of the Whetstone River. The population was 3,353 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Grant County. In 1925 The American Legion Department of South Dakota established a new program for high school aged youth that grew...

. Most Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball

Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...

 players

Baseball positions

There are 9 fielding positions in baseball. Each position conventionally has an associated number which is used to score putouts...

 played American Legion Baseball.

Purpose

According to the American Legion

American Legion

The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...

, the purpose of American Legion Baseball is to give young men "an opportunity to develop their skills, personal fitness, leadership qualities, and to have fun."

Age divisions

See footnote

• Junior American Legion Baseball (ages 13-17)
• Senior American Legion Baseball (19 and under)

Regional tournaments

See footnote

Divisions

• Central Plains: Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota
• Great Lakes: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin
• Mid-Atlantic: Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, West Virginia
• Mid-South: Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee
• Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, Rhode Island
• Northwest: Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming
• Southeast: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Puerto Rico
• Western: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah

1926–1959

• 1926-Yonkers, NY 321
• 1927-NO NATIONAL TOURNAMENT
• 1928-Oakland, CA 5
• 1929-Buffalo, NY 721

• 1930-Baltimore, MD 81
• 1931-Chicago, IL 493
• 1932-New Orleans, LA
• 1933-Chicago, IL
• 1934-Cumberland, MD 13
• 1935-Gastonia, NC 23
• 1936-Spartanburg, SC 28
• 1937-East Lynn, MA 291
• 1938-San Diego, CA 6
• 1939-Omaha, NE 1

• 1940-Albemarle, NC 76
• 1941-San Diego, CA 6
• 1942-Los Angeles, CA 357

• 1943-Richfield, MN 435
• 1944-Cincinnati, OH 50
• 1945-Shelby, NC 82
• 1946-New Orleans, LA 125
• 1947-Cincinnati, OH 50
• 1948-Trenton, NJ 93
• 1949-Oakland, CA 337

• 1950-Oakland, CA 337
• 1951-Los Angeles, CA 715
• 1952-Cincinnati, OH 50
• 1953-Yakima, WA 36-
• 1954-San Diego, CA 492
• 1955-Cincinnati, OH 216
• 1956-St. Louis, MO 245
• 1957-Cincinnati, OH 50
• 1958-Cincinnati, OH 50
• 1959-Detroit, MI 187

1960–1999

• 1960-New Orleans, LA 125
• 1961-Phoenix, AZ 1
• 1962-St. Louis, MO 299
• 1963-Long Beach, CA 27
• 1964-Upland, CA 73
• 1965-Charlotte, NC 9
• 1966-Oakland, CA 337
• 1967-Tuscaloosa, AL 34
• 1968-Memphis, TN 1
• 1969-Portland, OR 105

• 1970-West Covina, CA 790
• 1971-West Covina, CA 790
• 1972-Ballwin, MO 611
• 1973-Rio Piedras, PR 146
• 1974-Rio Piedras, PR 146
• 1975-Yakima, WA 36
• 1976-Santa Monica, CA 123
• 1977-South Bend, IN 50
• 1978-Hialeah, FL 32
• 1979-Yakima, WA 36

• 1980-Honolulu, HI (OS)
• 1981-West Tampa, FL 248
• 1982-Boyertown, PA 471
• 1983-Edina, MN 471
• 1984-Guaynabo, PR 134
• 1985-Midlothian, VA 186
• 1986-Jensen Beach, FL 126
• 1987-Boyertown, PA 471
• 1988-Cincinnati, OH 507
• 1989-Woodland Hills, CA 826

• 1990-Mayo, MD 226
• 1991-Brooklawn, NJ 72
• 1992-Newbury Park, CA (OS)
• 1993-Rapid City, SD 22
• 1994-Miami, FL 346
• 1995-Aiea, HI (OS)
• 1996-Yardley, PA 317
• 1997-Sanford, FL Post 53
• 1998-Edwardsville, IL Post 199
• 1999-New Brighton, MN Post 513

2000–present

• 2000-Danville, CA Post 246
• 2001-Brooklawn, NJ Post 72
• 2002-West Point, MS Post 212
• 2003-Rochester, MN Post 92
• 2004-Portland, ME (OS)
• 2005-Enid, OK Post 4
• 2006-Metairie, LA Post 175
• 2007-Columbia, TN Post 19
• 2008-Las Vegas, NV Post 76
• 2009-Midland, MI

• 2010-Oklahoma City, OK
• 2011-Eden Prairie, MN

Awards

See footnote

• American Legion Graduate of the Year: "A Major League Baseball player, who is an American Legion Baseball alumnus, is honored each year with the American Legion Graduate of the Year award. The award recognizes character, leadership, playing abilities and community service."
• George W. Rulon Player of the Year: "The award is based on integrity, mental attitude, cooperation, citizenship, sportsmanship, scholastic aptitude and general good conduct."
• Louisville Slugger Batting Champion: Awarded "to the player with the highest batting average during national competition."
• Rawlings Big Stick Award: Presented "to the player who rounds the most bases in regional and national competition."
• Dr. Irvin L. "Click" Cowger RBI Memorial Award: Awarded to the player who "is credited with the most runs batted in at the regional tournament and World Series."
• Bob Feller Pitching Award: Presented to the pitcher "with the most strikeouts in regional and national competition."
• James F. Daniel Jr. Memorial Sportsmanship Award: Presented "to a player who participates in the Legion World Series and best embodies the principles of good sportsmanship."
• Jack Williams Memorial Leadership Award: Presented by "the Department of North Dakota ... to the manager and coach of the national championship team as outstanding representatives of adult leadership."

Pledge

American Legion Code

Ethical code

An ethical code is adopted by an organization in an attempt to assist those in the organization called upon to make a decision understand the difference between 'right' and 'wrong' and to apply this understanding to their decision...

 of Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship is an aspiration or ethos that a sport or activity will be enjoyed for its own sake, with proper consideration for fairness, ethics, respect, and a sense of fellowship with one's competitors...

I Will Keep The Rules.

I Will Keep Faith with my Teammates.

I Will Keep my Temper.

I Will Keep myself Fit.

I Will Keep a Stout Heart in Defeat.

I Will Keep my Pride under in Victory.

I Will Keep a Sound Soul, a Clean Mind, & a Healthy Body.

Alumni

See footnote

• Allan Anderson
  Allan Anderson
  Allan Lee Anderson is a former professional baseball player. He was a pitcher over parts of 6 seasons with the Minnesota Twins. He led the American League in ERA in while playing for Minnesota. For his career, he compiled a 49-54 record in 148 appearances, with a 4.11 ERA and 339 strikeouts...
  
  
• Joe Beimel
  Joe Beimel
  Joseph Ronald Beimel is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Amateur career:...
  
  
• Chad Billingsley
  Chad Billingsley
  Chad Ryan Billingsley is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers.-Biography:...
  
  
• Chris Carpenter
  Chris Carpenter
  Christopher John Carpenter is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who has played for the St. Louis Cardinals since 2003, and is currently signed with the team until the 2011 season, with a club option for 2012.Carpenter was 22 years old and a highly-regarded prospect when he broke into the...
  
  
• David Cook
  David Cook (singer)
  David Roland Cook is an American rock singer-songwriter, who rose to fame after winning the seventh season of the reality television show American Idol...
  
  
• Mark Ellis
  Mark Ellis (baseball)
  Mark William Ellis is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He has played for the Oakland Athletics and Colorado Rockies.-Early career:...
  
  
• Chipper Jones
  Chipper Jones
  Larry Wayne "Chipper" Jones, Jr. is a Major League baseball player for the National League's Atlanta Braves. Although initially a shortstop, he has spent most of his career as the starting third baseman for the Braves...
  
  

• Adam Lind
  Adam Lind
  Adam Alan Lind is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. He was drafted in the third round of the Major League Baseball amateur draft and was signed on June 30, 2004. He was first drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the eighth round of...
  
  
• John Maine
  John Maine
  John Kevin Maine is an American professional baseball pitcher. He has played for the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. He bats and throws right-handed.-Early life and college:Maine was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia...
  
  
• Jamie Moyer
  Jamie Moyer
  Jamie Moyer is an American professional left handed baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. At the time of his last game to date , he was the oldest player in the major leagues and had the most wins, losses, and strikeouts of any active Major League pitcher...
  
  
• Jon Niese
  Jon Niese
  Jonathon Joseph "Jon" Niese is an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, he currently plays for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
  
  
• Lyle Overbay
  Lyle Overbay
  Lyle Stefan Overbay is an American professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent.-Amateur career:...
  
  
• Albert Pujols
  Albert Pujols
  José Alberto Pujols Alcántara , better known as Albert Pujols , is a Dominican-American professional baseball player, who is currently a free agent...
  
  

• Chad Reineke
  Chad Reineke
  Chad Karl Reineke is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball.-Personal life:...
  
  
• Connor Robertson
  Connor Robertson
  James Connor Robertson is a currently inactive right-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher...
  
  
• Brian Schneider
  Brian Schneider
  Brian Duncan Schneider is an American Major League Baseball catcher.-Early life:Schneider was born in Jacksonville, Florida to Peter and Karen Schneider...
  
  
• John Smiley
• Dave Winfield
  Dave Winfield
  David Mark Winfield is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently Executive Vice President/Senior Advisor of the San Diego Padres and an analyst for the ESPN program Baseball Tonight...
  
  
• David Wright

See also

• Amateur baseball in the United States
  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...
  
  
• Baseball awards#U.S. youth baseball
• South Dakota Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame
  South 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...
  
  

External links

• Baseball. The American Legion official website
• Blog: All of Baseball: American Legion