The Alaska Baseball League (ABL) is an amateur collegiate summer baseball league. Players in the league must have attended one year of college and must have one year of NCAA eligibility remaining.
The Midnight Sun Game, held at Growden Memorial Park in Fairbanks on the longest day of each year, is one of the highlights of the Alaska Baseball League season.
In the past, the ABL has sent its top teams to compete at the National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series, where the league's representatives have won multiple championships. Anchorage has won in 1969, 1971, 1986, 1991, and 2001, Fairbanks in 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1980, and 2002, Kenai in 1977, 1993, and 1994, and Matsu in 1987 and 1997. League teams have also finished second in several years.[1]
Current teams
- Alaska Goldpanners of Fairbanks - Growden Memorial Park, Fairbanks
- Anchorage Bucs – Mulcahy Stadium, Anchorage
- Anchorage Glacier Pilots – Mulcahy Stadium, Anchorage
- Chugiak-Eagle River Chinooks – Loretta French Park, Chugiak (Note: they were previously the Athletes in Action Fire)[2]
- Mat-Su Miners – Hermon Brothers Field, Palmer
- Peninsula Oilers – Coral Seymour Memorial Ballpark, Kenai
Former Teams
- North Pole Nicks 1980–1987
- Palouse Empire Cougars 1986–1991
- Hawaii Island Movers 1986–2001
- San Francisco Senators 1988
- Athletes in Action Fire 2001–2011
- Valley Green Giants 1976–1979
- Cook Inlet Bucs 1980–1983
- Alaska Goldpanners 1974–2010; 2012–2015
Past league champions
- 2020: Samuel Ryan Beer
- 2019: Anchorage Bucs
- 2018: Mat-Su Miners
- 2017: Mat-Su Miners
- 2016: Mat-Su Miners
- 2015: Anchorage Bucs
- 2014: Fairbanks Goldpanners
- 2013: Fairbanks Goldpanners
- 2012: Anchorage Glacier Pilots
- 2011: Peninsula Oilers
- 2010: Mat-Su Miners
- 2009: Mat-Su Miners
- 2008: Anchorage Glacier Pilots
- 2007: Fairbanks AIA Fire
- 2006: Peninsula Oilers
- 2005: Fairbanks Goldpanners
- 2004: Mat-Su Miners
- 2003: Fairbanks Goldpanners
- 2002: Fairbanks Goldpanners
- 2000: Peninsula Oilers
- 1998: Anchorage Bucs/Peninsula Oilers (tie)
- 1996: Anchorage Bucs
- 1994: Fairbanks Goldpanners
- 1993: Anchorage Bucs
- 1992: Anchorage Bucs
- 1991: Anchorage Bucs
- 1990: Anchorage Bucs
Notable alumni
- Bruce Bochte
- Barry Bonds
- Aaron Boone
- Jason Castro[4]
- Chris Chambliss
- Jesse Chavez
- Warren Cromartie[5]
- Josh Donaldson[6]
- JD Drew
- Jacoby Ellsbury[7]
- Jeff Francis
- Jason Giambi
- Paul Goldschmidt
- Luis Gonzalez
- Mark Grace
- Brian Horwitz
- Randy Johnson[8]
- Wally Joyner
- Aaron Judge[9]
- Eric Karros
- Jeff Kent
- Jed Lowrie
- Mark McGwire
- Kris Medlen
- Doug Mientkiewicz
- John Olerud
- James Paxton
- Mike Pereira[10]
- Stephen Piscotty
- Tyson Ross
- Brendan Ryan
- Tom Seaver
- JT Snow
- Dave Stieb
- Kurt Suzuki
- Danny Valencia
- Frank Viola
- Jered Weaver
- C. J. Wilson
- Dave Winfield
References
- ^ Past NBC World Series Finalists nbcbaseball.com - Retrieved September 5, 2009 Archived March 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Chugiak-Eagle River: "Place of Many Places" - Retrieved May 28, 2012". Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2012.
- ^ https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Alaska_Baseball_League
- ^ "Jason Castro Player Profile - University of Stanford - Retrieved June 17,2016". Archived from the original on 2016-05-30. Retrieved 2016-06-18.
- ^ "Former Player". Anchorage Glacier Pilots. ABL. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
- ^ Chinooks Ace Mike Jeffreys to Sign - Mention of Josh Donaldson - Retrieved June 17, 2016
- ^ "NBC Graduates of the Year nbcbaseball.com, Jacoby Ellsbury - Retrieved September 5, 2009". Archived from the original on 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
- ^ Divish, Ryan (December 23, 2014). "Pilots Randy Johnson to Baseball Hall of Fame". Alaska Baseball League. Retrieved March 14, 2020.
- ^ Before he was a star for the Yankees, Aaron Judge cost the Glacier Pilots a lot of baseballs - Retrieved July 12, 2017
- ^ "2009 Hall of Fame". Anchorage Glacier Pilots. ABL. Retrieved March 14, 2020.