Have parents and their baseball-oriented sons from ages 15 to 18 given much thought to the advantages of playing American Legion Baseball — a program that is extremely active in the Northern Virginia District 17 of the American Legion? If they haven't, they should because American Legion Baseball is not just another local baseball program for youth.
American Legion Baseball is the oldest and largest nationwide teenage baseball program played throughout America since its inception in 1925. Over 10 million teenagers have played American Legion baseball since that time. On average, nearly 70 percent of all college baseball players played American Legion Baseball as teenagers; approximately 52 percent of Major League Baseball players played American Legion Baseball as teenagers; and more American Legion alumni have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum than any other amateur baseball program — the outcome of positive support provided mostly by a volunteer coaching staff throughout the nation.
American Legion Baseball presents the potential of playing in the various American Legion tournaments at the district, state, regional, national and the ultimate — the American Legion World Series. Since 1926, Major League Baseball has honored the American Legion World Series Champions at the Major League World Series. The National Baseball Hall of Fame honors the American Legion Player of the Year with a plaque at the annual induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y.
For information on how to be involved in American Legion Baseball as a player or coach, contact Bill Murphy, District 17 Baseball Chairman via e-mail at bigmerf@gmail.com or Jim Glassman, District 17 Baseball Administrator, at jimglassman@verizon.net.