History of the New York Collegiate Baseball League Part I

The first of a three-part series explores one of the many collegiate summer leagues.

In Phil Alden’s Field of Dreams a road-weary Ray Kinsella (played by Kevin Costner) and Terence Mann (played by James Earl Jones) happen upon a hitch-hiker.  Looking for any ‘karma’ they can get, Kinsella and his travelling mate decide to invite the youth into their Volkswagen van.  After a brief exchange of greetings the bright-eyed Archie Graham announces: “I play baseball!  I’m lookin’ for a place to play.  I heard that all through the Midwest they have towns with teams.  And in some places they’ll even find ya a day job, so you can play nights and weekends.”  In a sense the youngster’s description from the movie fits the NYCBL.

As described by league publicist, John McGraw, on the front page of its website, the New York Collegiate Baseball League, founded in 1978, is a summer wood bat development league for professional baseball.  Major League Baseball funds a small portion of the league’s annual budget.  The league gives college players who have not yet signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wood bats, and be evaluated by scouts.  The NYCBL is located in scenic upstate New York.

Attending a summer wood bat baseball league game is a lot like eating out while traveling out of town.  Sure you can go with the chain restaurants and feel safe that you will get a decent meal.  Chances are the host or hostess and waiter or waitress will be pleasant.  But you won’t get a true impression of the region.  Rather you will get a slice of what corporate America wants you to enjoy.  On the other hand you can choose a locally-owned establishment – a ‘greasy-spoon’ sort of joint.  You may be taking a chance, but you may also experience something special.

Amateurs play in the NYCBL, so you may see some ugliness at times.  But catch it on the right night and you may see something special.

Rudy Tucci served as the original commissioner and the Syracuse Chiefs (no affiliation with the Triple-A team) won the first two league titles.  Since then teams have come and gone but the league remains.  The Broome Rangers amassed seven league titles from 1980 to 1991.  The Cortland Apples took the title in ’82.  The Ithaca Lakers won three titles as did the Cohocton Red Wings.  Webster Yankee head coach, Dave Brust, led the Red Wings ’86 title team.  The Geneva Knights, Newark Reds, and Rome Indians all won one championship and then moved on from the league.

The NYCBL is part of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NACSB).  The alliance oversees the competition of seven other leagues:  the Central Illinois Collegiate League (CICL), Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League, Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League(ACBL), the Florida Collegiate Summer League (FCSL),  Southern Collegiate Baseball League, Valley Baseball League, and the Cape Cod BaseballLeague.

Having been in existence for over one hundred years, the Cape Cod League serves as the grandfather of all summer collegiate leagues.  Its list of alumni is a who’s who of Major League Baseball.  In 2007 one out of every seven major league players spent at least one summer on the Cape.  With its attractive setting over the Sagamore Bridge the CCBL consists of ten teams: the Bourne Braves, Brewster Whitecaps, Chatham Athletics, Cottuit Kettleers, Falmouth Commodores, Harwich Mariners, Hyannis Mets, Orleans Cardinals, Wareham Gatemen, and 2007 league champion, Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.

The Valley League boasts its own impressive list of players that have moved on to the pro ranks including the Cubs’ Juan Pierre, and Boston’s Mike Lowell.  The Valley’s 2007 roster includes the Covington Lumberjacks, Fauquier Gators, playing in Bing Crosby Stadium the Front Royal Cardinals, the Harrisonburg Turks, Haymarket Senators, Luray Wranglers, New Market Rebels, Staunton Braves, Winchester Royals, Woodstock River Bandits, and league champ, the Waynesboro Generals.

Nick Swisher, Paul Quantrill, and Dave Dellucci all spent time in the Great Lakes League.  Boasting some of the best team logos the Great Lakes includes the Anderson Servants, Cincinnati Steam, Columbus All-Americans, Delaware Cows, Grand Lake Mariners, Lake Erie Monarchs, Licking County Settlers, Lima Locos, Southern Ohio Copperheads, Stark County Terriers, and the Xenia Athletes in Action.

The ACBL’s Wolff Division consisted of the Jersey Pilots, Kutztown Rockies, Lehigh Valley Katz, and the Quakertown Blazers.  The Long Island Mustangs, Metro NY Cadets, New York Generals, and Stamford Robins made up the ACBL’s Kaiser Division.

Playing under the lights of Tropicana Field the Leesburg Lightning captured the 2007 Florida League title by knocking off Altamonte Springs Snappers.  The Sanford River Rats, Winter Springs Barracudas, Orlando Hammers, and Winter Park Diamond Dawgs round out the remainder of the league.

The Morganton Aggies outlasted the Ashville Redbirds to win the 2007 Southern League Jeffers Cup.  The two combatants outlasted the Carolina Chaos, Carolina Sox, Davidson Copperheads, Monroe Channelcats, Spartanburg Crickets, and the Tennessee Tornado.

Last but not least the DuBois Bombers captured the four-team CICL title.  The Bombers battled the DuPage Dragons, Quincy Gems, and Danville Dans for the crown.