American Legion History & Tournament Champions

The Connecticut American Legion Baseball program will start its 81st season in 2008 with a record number of senior and junior teams competing. In 2007, Branford (Senior) and Trumbull (Junior) won championships in their respective divisions.

Since its founding in 1928 twelve Connecticut teams have gone on to win regional championships and gain the right to participate in the American Legion World Series. Bristol was state's most recent regional champ, winning two of four games at the 1997 tournament in Rapid City, S.D.

While Connecticut has yet to garner a national title, the state does have the distinction of being a two-time site for the World Series as Middletown played host to the 1988 and 1999 tournaments at Palmer Field. Middletown hosted the 2004 Northeast Regional Tournament..

Branford is the defending state champion and has won twice in the past 3 years. Bristol is the all-time state tournament winner with 13 crowns followed by Bridgeport, nine; West Hartford, six; New London and Naugatuck, five; and finally Trumbull, Middletown, and Stamford with four titles apiece.

The prestige of the state Legion program is further enhanced with eight Connecticut American Legion alumni having played on 2004 major league teams. These players included Brad Ausmus (Cheshire), Houston Astros; Carl Pavano (Southington), New York Yankees; Brook Fordyce (Niantic), Tampa Bay Devil Rays: John McDonald (Niantic) Cleveland Indians; Jeff Bagwell (Middletown), Houston Astros; Jason Grabowski (Westbrook) Los Angeles Dodgers; Ricky Bottalico (Wethersfield), New York Mets; and Earl Snyder (Plainville), Boston Red Sox.

American Legion baseball has been a known proving ground for future professional baseball players. Since the first competition in 1926, more than 10 million youngsters have played Legion baseball. About 75 percent of today's college players are former Legion players. It is estimated that about 61 percent of the Major League rosters are filled with one-time Legion players. More than 40 have reached the game's highest altar - the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. Former Legion players recently named to the Hall are Paul Molitor, 2004; Gary Carter and Dave Winfield, 2003; and Carlton Fisk and Sparky Anderson in 2001.

For more information about Connecticut American Legion Baseball contact Craig Zimmerman, State Director, at craig_zimmerman@msn.com.

Previous Tournament Champions