American Legion Baseball will celebrate its centennial in 2025. The American Legion’s National Executive Committee (NEC) passed Resolution 3 at the 2023 Fall Meetings to recognize American Legion Baseball’s celebration of its 100th anniversary in 2025. The initial resolution proposing an American Legion Baseball program was passed at the Department of South Dakota’s convention on July 17,1925. American Legion Baseball was organized “to teach practical lessons in sportsmanship and citizenship by emphasizing such qualities as loyalty, respect for the rules, fair play, courage and physical fitness.”
Keep up on plans for American Legion Baseball’s 100th anniversary celebration at Legion.org/baseball and on social media on Facebook and X, formerly Twitter.
Northeast Region One Champions Hudson Post 100
Congratulations to Hudson Post 100 for winning the Northeast Region One Tournament.
Tournament MVP Chase Donahue with Tournament Director Dick Paster
Shown L to R are Shrewsbury Manager Frank Vaccaro, Baseball Chairman Dick Paster, Post 397 Commander Fred Russell and District 4 Baseball Chairman Artie Bennett
Congratulations to Shrewsbury Post 397 for winning the 2024 Department of Massachusetts Senior Double Elimination Championship.
Sr Vice Commander Scott Connor with Tournament MVP Jimmy Mitchell and Baseball Chairman Dick Paster
Swampscott Post 57
Congratulations to Swampscott Post 57 Jr team for winning the 2024 Department Jr Tournament.
Opening Ceremony at the 2021 Region One Tournament
Players who have played American Legion Baseball in prior years must register, tryout and play for the last team they played for. In certain instances, players who fail to make the team they last played for may request a Transfer from their team manager and, if granted, must register and tryout for the next closest Base School team to their parent's legal residence. Players who are otherwise eligible for a Transfer may only obtain one Transfer during their American Legion eligibility.
Players who have not played American Legion Baseball in a prior year, with certain exceptions, must register and tryout for the Base School team closest to their parent's legal residence. A player's legal residence is established as of March 31 of each year. Players who do not attend the public high school serving their parent's legal residence, in most cases, have a one time option to play for the Base School team closest to their parent's legal residence or the Base School team closest to the school they attend. Once this option has been exercised, it becomes final and binding for the remainder of their eligibility. GoogleMaps is used to determine which Base School team is closest to a player's legal residence or closest to the school the player attends. For the list of Senior and Junior Base School teams, click on Programs, then Senior or Junior and Team List.
The recruiting rules are established by the National organization and can be confusing. The rules are available on the National web site baseball@legion.org. Specific questions may be addressed to the local District Chairman, (see the list of District Chairmen on the About Us tab) or to the Department Chairman, Dick Paster, rpaster@prclawoffice.com.
The Department Baseball Committee is soliciting Bids to Host the 2025 Junior Department Championship Tournament. Interested teams should submit the Bid Memo to Chairman Paster (rpaster@prclawoffice.com) as soon as possible.
Shown L to R are Len Noce and Baseball Chairman Dick Paster
Len Noce, long time manager of Sudbury Post 191, District 5 Baseball Chairman and currently Baseball Committee Member assigned to manage the Department All Star Game was presented with the 2024 Graduate of the Year Award at the Department Sr Tournament on Sunday, July 28, 2024. The Graduate of the Year Award is given annually to a member of the Massachusetts American Legion Baseball Community as a token of appreciation for their contribution to Massachusetts American Legion Baseball.
Shown L to R are Tristin Pecevich with his father and PNC Jake Comer
Shown L to R are Cam Harrington and his parents with PNC Jake Comer
The Department Baseball Committee has announced that it will only accept mandatory abuse training certificates from Protect Youth Sports. All team staff must apply for a background check and complete abuse training prior to being allowed to participate in the American Legion Baseball Program. Click on following link to be taken to the Massachusetts site for Protect Youth Sports.
The Baseball Committee announced that it has accepted a Bid to host the 2025 Senior Department Championship Tournament. The 2025 Tournament will be hosted by Quincy Morrisette Post 294 and will be played at Adams Field in Quincy. 2025 marks the 100th year of American Legion Baseball. The Northeast Region One Tournament returns to Holy Cross in 2025.
The Athletic Committee has named Diamond Baseball model D1-AL-MA again as the only baseball authorized for use in Massachusetts during the 2022 through 2024 regular and post seasons. The following retailers are direct retailers for Diamond Sports and may be contacted to obtain baseballs for the 2024 season:
On Deck Sports/Pro Mounds, Braintree
Tricon Sports, Lexinton
Grogan Marciano Sports, Mansfield
Beacon Sporting Goods, Quincy
Gibney's, Worcester
Butler's Sporting Goods, Hyannis
Piesco Sporting Goods, No Easton
Rockland Athletic, Rockland
Tri Valley Sports, Medway
NEATCO, Peabody
Whip's Sports, Springfield
Department Athletic Committee Chairman. 1212 Hancock Street, Suite 110, Quincy, MA 02169
Phone: 617 472-3424