Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League
Encyclopedia
The Clark C. Griffith Collegiate Baseball League (CGL) is a collegiate summer baseball league, with teams located in the Washington, D.C.
metropolitan area. All league players must be enrolled at a National Collegiate Athletic Association
(NCAA) school, have at least one year of NCAA eligibility remaining and be amateurs by NCAA rules. The CGL is a charter member of the All-American Amateur Baseball Association and has been designated a Premier League by the National Baseball Congress
. The league had five teams in 2009 but suspended play for the 2010 season.
, including on the Ellipse behind the White House. Clark Griffith
who then owned the Washington Senators (now Minnesota Twins)
gave the league financial support. When he died in 1955, the league was renamed the Clark Griffith Memorial Baseball League. The name was changed to its present form in 1995.
In 1966 the league began playing all its game on the baseball field at George Mason University
. That continued until 1987 when teams began playing on their own home fields.
The league instituted a rule requiring the use of only wooden bats in competition in 1993.
More than 50 CGL alumni have gone on to play major league baseball
and over 250 have gone on to play minor league baseball
.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
metropolitan area. All league players must be enrolled at a National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
(NCAA) school, have at least one year of NCAA eligibility remaining and be amateurs by NCAA rules. The CGL is a charter member of the All-American Amateur Baseball Association and has been designated a Premier League by the National Baseball Congress
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...
. The league had five teams in 2009 but suspended play for the 2010 season.
History
The Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League was founded in 1945 and was then known as the National Capital City Junior League. In the earliest years, games were played around Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, including on the Ellipse behind the White House. Clark Griffith
Clark Griffith
Clark Calvin Griffith , nicknamed "the Old Fox", was a Major League Baseball pitcher, manager and team owner.-Biography:...
who then owned the Washington Senators (now 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...
gave the league financial support. When he died in 1955, the league was renamed the Clark Griffith Memorial Baseball League. The name was changed to its present form in 1995.
In 1966 the league began playing all its game on the baseball field at George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
. That continued until 1987 when teams began playing on their own home fields.
The league instituted a rule requiring the use of only wooden bats in competition in 1993.
More than 50 CGL alumni have gone on to play 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...
and over 250 have gone on to play minor league baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
.
Noted alumni
See CGL major league alumni.- Jonathon Papelbon
- Cla MeredithCla MeredithOlise Claiborne "Cla" Meredith III , nicknamed "The Claw", is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a Free Agent.-Collegiate career:...
- Mark TeixeiraMark TeixeiraMark Charles Teixeira , nicknamed "Tex" is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Mostly a first baseman, he has also played third base and in the outfield...
- Joe SaundersJoe SaundersJoseph Francis Saunders is a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks.-College and minor league career:...
- Will RhymesWill RhymesWilliam Daniel Rhymes is an American professional baseball second baseman with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball....
- Manny Burriss
- Jared BurtonJared BurtonLevi Jared Burton is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball....
- Shawn CampShawn CampShawn Anthony Camp is an American professional baseball pitcher. Camp stands at 6'0" tall and weighs 200 pounds. He throws and bats right-handed and was born in Fairfax, Virginia.-Early career:...