History of the New York Collegiate Baseball League Part III

The final part of a series taking a look at one of the many Summer wood bat leagues.

In 1996 the league was known as Northeast Collegiate Baseball.  Ed Daub served as commissioner, and in light of the 1994 MLB work stoppage the new collective bargaining agreement reduced the league funding from $35,000 to $5,000.  At the end of the season Daub took a position with the Cincinnati Reds.  Tom Kenney, then general manager of the Hornell Dodgers, approached the recently retired H. David Chamberlain about the vacancy.   Kenney could think of no one better to lead the league into the twenty-first century than the coach who took the MCC program from its infancy to the point of being a perennial national junior college contender.

Chamberlain started the Monroe Community College program in 1964 when then athletic director, Gene Monaghan appointed the native of Ovid, New York as head coach.  He started with $500.  Thirty-three seasons later Chamberlain amassed a record of 735 wins and 232 losses.  His Tribune teams won ten Regional Championships and made two Junior College World Series appearances under Chamberlain’s watchful eye.  Along the way fifty MCC Tribunes were selected in the Major League draft, and countless others moved on to four-year schools.

When Kenney approached Chamberlain, the recently retired coach was ecstatic.  He told his wife: “This will be great.  The season is only two months long.  I can play golf in the day and go watch some baseball at night.”  Little did the coach know what he was in for.

When Chamberlain took charge, eight teams competed in one division, Major League Baseball offered $5,000 worth of support, and teams supplied their own umpires.  Ten years later the league changed its name to better suit the locale, MLB has gradually upped its funding to $40,000, a union of umpires works the league, and the NYCBL has expanded to fourteen teams.  It is because of this success that league owners and general managers have continued to vote for Chamberlain on an annual basis for the one year position of league commissioner.

Knowing that people have to be part of the results Chamberlain has set an example to be followed.  Nothing gets overlooked beginning with baseballs used in every game.  Each team is supplied two dozen baseballs by the league.  Baseballs can cost up to $50 per dozen.  With Chamberlain’s hard work and reputation the NYCBL has secured a contract with Diamond baseballs at a rate of $27.50 per box, a savings of over $500 per team.

With the same spirit of thrift and efficiency Chamberlain brokered contracts with D-Bat and Pro-Line.  Having each player in the league choose from bats with similar specifications creates a balance of competition.  It also creates a savings for each team.  D-Bat also rewards the teams with complimentary fungoes and souvenir bats to sell.  Teams also receive a group rate on individual hats provided by Pro-Line.  A hat that would carry a twenty dollar retail price costs the league nine dollars each.   Pro-Line includes the team logo design and setup in the price.

The NYCBL is the only summer collegiate league to hold its own scout day.  Scheduled around the league all-star game the event brings together players, coaches, and professional scouts.  With each major league team represented, players have the opportunity not only to perform for scouts, but also to receive constructive feedback.

When taking over Chamberlain needed to deal with the touchy subject of umpires.  Prior to his arrival teams scheduled their own umpiring crews.  Impartiality suffered, and competition suffered.  The new commissioner quickly contracted the American Baseball Umpires’ Association (ABUA), and an improved product on the field was the result.

The increased funding the NYCBL receives is the direct result of Chamberlain’s effort.  When he attends the annual national meeting, the commissioner provides Major League Baseball representatives with an ever-improving portfolio.  The league has increased its number of former players in the professional baseball.  As a result competition is up, and attendance is up; figures that translate into MLB wanting to promote the league.

Chamberlain continues to look to future improvements.  One idea is a possible all-star game between the NYCBL and the ACBL.    Along with Atlantic commissioner, Tom Bonekemper, Chamberlain hopes to iron out the details and schedule an event at either Shea or Yankee Stadium.

Further the commissioner would like to have crossover games between the two divisions.  He understands the challenges presented with such a proposition.  Increased funding would be needed for travel expenses.  Players would need lodging provided when playing a night game three to four hours from home.

Chamberlain continues to receive the vote of the league leaders.  And the commissioner keeps developing a league where guys like ‘Moonlight’ Graham would come and want to spend a summer.  A league where on any given day passersby can catch a glimpse of something special.