League History

Additionally, and more importantly, it gave kids throughout Alameda the opportunity to play baseball and make new friends - not only in their local neighborhoods - but with other kids from other schools and other areas of Alameda.

The coaches that inaugural season were: Tony Guisto, Louie Dijulio, Ron Stefani and Alex Alexeen.

Initially the league was funded by the Board members and the generous contributions of merchants and organizations from Alameda, Oakland and Berkeley. The league also obtained funds by going around town and painting home addresses on curbs for $1.00 a pop.

By the early '70's there were 6 teams of 15 players each (five 13-yr. old players, five 14-yr. old players, and five 15-yr. old players). The teams played a 10-game schedule, only on weekends, at Godfrey Park (adjacent to the city golf course).

Our sponsors back then were, Good Chevrolet**, Rodgers Trucking**, Brown Brothers Shoes**, Brenda's Flower Shop, Alameda Sporting Goods and Pillow Park Waterbeds.

In 1975, the 13-year All-Stars won the District 4 Championship at Krusi Park and went on to play in the state tournament in Woodland, CA. The squad went 1 & 2 but we knew that we had a core of kids who could play and parents who would support the program.

After the 1975 season we ended up with just over $700 in the bank but more importantly, we had parent support. With volunteers like Tom Green, Eddie White, Phil Bonadona, Tom "Cal" Calestini, Jim Ogden Sr., Dino DiNitto along with lots of other people, we began to further develop the league. Soon, people like Sherman Lee came into the program along with Bill Dal Porto, and Larry Rodriquez, all solid people who -- along with their families and friends -- helped to improve the program.

Then the following year, the Alameda Merchants (Sr. League) Baseball Club was formed. The team only had one 18-year old, two 17-year olds and fifteen 16-year olds. The team's uniforms didn't arrive on-time so the baseball coach at Alameda High let the team use the high school uniforms for the first half of the season. That first Merchants team was coached by Tom Green, Danny Chaix and Larry Groves.

In 1980, Jim Bustos and Sam DeFranco came to the Babe Ruth Board and asked us to help them start a Little League in Alameda. (There was no 12 & under program for Babe Ruth at that time.) For 4 years (1980-83) the Alameda Babe Ruth and Alameda Little League Boards were one in the same, though we had separate charters from Little League and Babe Ruth.

After 4 years, Little League was strong enough to stand on its own, so we had an amicable split. Alameda Babe Ruth agreed to never go into the 12 & under group (the National Babe Ruth Organization had since formed their own 12 & under program) and Alameda Little League agreed to never go into the 13 & over group. That agreement still stands today.

In 1984 we started our Prep League for 13 year-olds (now called the American
League) to help players make the transition from Little League to Babe Ruth.

Then in 1985, our 14-15 year-old All-Stars made it all the way to the Babe Ruth World Series in Jamestown, New York and returned home World Champions! Remarkably, that same core group of kids made it back to the World Series three years later (as 16-18's), nearly repeated, but ended the tournament as the World Series runners-up that year.

In 1982, Alameda Babe Ruth became involved with the World League. The purpose of the World League (also known as the "International Boys League") was to foster international goodwill and friendship by holding a world youth baseball tournament each summer. In 1990, Alameda Babe Ruth hosted the World Tournament at San Leandro Ball Park (as neither Encinal High's Stargell field or the College of Alameda field were built at that time).

In 1996 Alameda Babe Ruth hosted the World Tournament again, this time at the College. After the tournament, it was decided that we needed a separate World Tournament Board, as there was too much for one board to do, especially when Alameda hosted both the World Tournament and Babe Ruth all-star games. So while Alameda Babe Ruth used to be the only baseball board in town, now there are 3 separate boards (Babe Ruth, Little League and World), although there is a lot of cross-over in personnel.

Traditionally, Alameda Babe Ruth has supported three leagues and provided organized, competitive baseball opportunities to up to 200 Alameda youth ball players:

Starting in 2012, Alameda Babe Ruth will be incorporating travel-ball teams into the organization. Everything is dependent on player interest and registration, but the plan is to provide baseball opportunities for all levels of competition: traditional local Babe Ruth teams as well as travel ball teams, which will play at a more competitive level against similar teams throughout the greater Bay Area.

LEAGUE REORGANIZATION
Starting in the 2012 Season

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR ALAMEDA BASEBALL PLAYERS (ages 13 thru 21)

An Island Tradition since 1969

Alameda Babe Ruth
1969 - 2012...
World Series Champions 1985

To better serve our youth baseball community here on The Island [players ages 13 thru 21], Alameda Babe Ruth has approved a new reorganization plan that is designed to provide more opportunities for a wider range of players and skill levels.

The biggest change in our organization is, in addition to offering our regular Babe Ruth League teams, we have added a series of travel teams.

Below is a high-level overview of ABR's league reorganization. Please check back, as we will be providing additional information in the coming weeks as the teams are assembled.

19-21 (Manager Tim Nelson):
Merchants - Independent collegiate travel team, made up of college-age players. (19-21 year olds.)
18 & Under (Manager Joe Pearse):
Black Sox - Travel team that will play in both the Connie Mack and Head First Gamers League. (Mostly 17-18's, a few top 16's.)
17 & Under (Manager Cody Nelson):
Dark Horses – Travel team that will play in both the Don Mattingly and Head First Gamers Leagues. (Mostly 16's, some 17's, possibly a few top 15's.)
15 & Under:
- Local BR League Teams Mets and Pirates (Managers: Clare Kruse and Terence Fisher )
  We will have two 14-15 year-old Alameda Babe Ruth teams. These teams will play other local Babe Ruth teams and will be eligible for post season Babe Ruth All Stars.
14 & Under:
- Dirt Grinders (Manager Erik Schuler) – Travel team that will play in both the Head First Gamers League as well as against other Babe Ruth teams. (Mostly 14 year olds with some 13’s.) Players on this team will be eligible for 13 and 14 year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars.
- Local BR League Teams - See combo 14-15 Babe Ruth teams under 15 & Under above.
13-yr Olds:
- Islanders (Manager Bill Garvine)
  Travel team that will play in both the Head First Gamers League as well as against other Babe Ruth leagues. (Players must be 'League Age' 13.) Players on this team will be eligible for post season 13 year-old Babe Ruth All-Stars.
- Local BR League Teams [tba ] (Managers: Ben Anderson, Will Thomas, Kareem Williams)
  Additionally, we plan to have three 13-year old Alameda Babe Ruth teams. These teams will play other local Babe Ruth teams and will be eligible for post season Babe Ruth All Stars.