I've learned that the 2010 & 2011 Clark Griffith summer league did not happen. Does anyone know of plans for summer 2012? Thanks in advance.
Clark Griffith Baseball League
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I thought the ripken league put them out of business.
That makes sense. I'm trying to get more info but there isn't much out there. Thanks.
quote:Originally posted by Goosegg:
I thought the ripken league put them out of business.
Hold that fort.
For decades, Washington amateur college baseball was centered with and around Clark Griffith Baseball.
There were many years of dominance and equally outstanding amateur baseball between the Baltimore amateur summer baseball league and Washington.
Even the Industrial League (semi-pro) and the games between the Black Sox and Atlantic Masonary and Martz Insurance and others brought the crowds.
For many decades, the AAABA Championship was the place to be at the end of the summer.
In the last several years, it was the 'grown-ups' from Washington Baseball and from Baltimore Baseball who could not leave the table with agreeable terms and conditions. The relationships broke down. Lack of Communications and Trust were the primary culprits. The coup was formed.
Call it the loyalist/traditionist of young at heart administrators for a competative amateur collegiate league versus the revolutionary newer administrators.
(Or label it Republican vs Democrats, yet why go there?)
Amateur Summer Baseball in the Washington DC Metro and Baltmore City Metro continues to grow in teams, talent and players seeking a place to play.
What is not growing, is fan support. (That is probably in reverse). And when I say fan support, define it as 5,000 fans per contest, not the 200 avg in Bethesda, nor the 20 avg in almost all other location.
Heck many ball games in the Valley League has better attendance numbers.
Bottom Line: The greatest amateur show on dirt for Summer Collegiate Baseball will remain in Madison, WI. Mabye try consulting Itch, that's the model.
Here's to hoping for a return of the Clark Griffith League in 2012. That should be knowm soon after Thanksgiving or sooner.
Bear,
Madison does indeed put out a wonderful product, but if we could get our County or Town to fund $1,400,000 for stadium improvements, we'd give them a run for their money.
They do run a very fine program, as do other Northwoods programs, but a lot of programs are "moving up"-a number of NECBL teams seem to be raising their bar as well, the Coastal Plains League has some great venues, with clear prejudice I think the Valley League is improving a good product yearly (but spends el zippo on league-wide marketing
), and your neighbors, the Ripken League, seems to be working hard to turn out a very nice show.
It's tough to pull off big changes in this economic climate as a lot of the businesses that in solid fiscal times would support such leagues simply don't have the funds. It would be nice if MLB would increase their stipend to the nonprofit leagues, but an increase hasn't happened in at least 10 years. (MLB seems more focused on its inner city-metropolitan areas' "RBI" program.)
FYI, VBL crowds generally run in the 500-1200 range, the largest crowds generally being at Staunton which stays around 1000 nightly.
Madison does indeed put out a wonderful product, but if we could get our County or Town to fund $1,400,000 for stadium improvements, we'd give them a run for their money.
They do run a very fine program, as do other Northwoods programs, but a lot of programs are "moving up"-a number of NECBL teams seem to be raising their bar as well, the Coastal Plains League has some great venues, with clear prejudice I think the Valley League is improving a good product yearly (but spends el zippo on league-wide marketing
), and your neighbors, the Ripken League, seems to be working hard to turn out a very nice show.It's tough to pull off big changes in this economic climate as a lot of the businesses that in solid fiscal times would support such leagues simply don't have the funds. It would be nice if MLB would increase their stipend to the nonprofit leagues, but an increase hasn't happened in at least 10 years. (MLB seems more focused on its inner city-metropolitan areas' "RBI" program.)
FYI, VBL crowds generally run in the 500-1200 range, the largest crowds generally being at Staunton which stays around 1000 nightly.
Ripken League has grown tremendously in just 7 years since inception and it has it's perks, just as I'm sure each individual summer league does.
For instance, playing for certain teams in the league may allow time for part-time day internship within Baltimore/Washington mega-metropolis as teams are within close proximity (1 1/2 hour) of one another. Baseball players don't really get that opportunity to build a resume' as so much of their time is spent on growing their game. On field competition is good and improving each year (it is a pitcher's league) hitters/pitchers go back to college well-prepared for the fall.
PG's national #1 team, Big Train, is the model franchise and the league average for attendance is steadily growing with Bethesda at 500-900 a night, btw.
Pitchers get what they need here to go back to college teams with their arms in tact as part of a 14-15 man staff in 44-48 games as opposed to a 75+ game schedule in for profit league. Position players are similarly utilized throughout the league as the players who are there for the summer are generally playing 3 out of every 4 games.
This league know it's place in the college pecking order and like it or not, the college coaches are the ones who determine the quality of talent that a league will be able to obtain. Obviously, the college coaches like the way their players are being handled in the CRCBL, as the number of high profile teams from around the country are sending key players to the league to get their summer "work"... The need to restart the Clark Griffith seems outdated as the needs of the players coming to this area for this particular experience is being well met.
While Madison in the NWL is a great experience, too -- there is something to be said about quality of play in a 45 game schedule, being in your host family bed every night, plenty of home cooked meals, connections (other than baseball), a chance to make a litle money/get business experience or both during the day, and a never-ending treasure trove of things to do on a rare off day.
Remember, most of these kids are passing through and will not make a life in the place where they play summer ball. Make it as enriching as possible. Sometimes that means "the minor-league experience" of the for-profit leagues or the more custom fit of the non-profits like Ripken, which happens to be the rare big city summer baseball experience.
One thing is for sure, within 2-3 summer college seasons, baseball athletes are unlike those in any other team sport in that they have the choice to engage in this type of skill-building, "off campus" college experience that is represented in summer ball, no matter where it's played.
For instance, playing for certain teams in the league may allow time for part-time day internship within Baltimore/Washington mega-metropolis as teams are within close proximity (1 1/2 hour) of one another. Baseball players don't really get that opportunity to build a resume' as so much of their time is spent on growing their game. On field competition is good and improving each year (it is a pitcher's league) hitters/pitchers go back to college well-prepared for the fall.
PG's national #1 team, Big Train, is the model franchise and the league average for attendance is steadily growing with Bethesda at 500-900 a night, btw.
Pitchers get what they need here to go back to college teams with their arms in tact as part of a 14-15 man staff in 44-48 games as opposed to a 75+ game schedule in for profit league. Position players are similarly utilized throughout the league as the players who are there for the summer are generally playing 3 out of every 4 games.
This league know it's place in the college pecking order and like it or not, the college coaches are the ones who determine the quality of talent that a league will be able to obtain. Obviously, the college coaches like the way their players are being handled in the CRCBL, as the number of high profile teams from around the country are sending key players to the league to get their summer "work"... The need to restart the Clark Griffith seems outdated as the needs of the players coming to this area for this particular experience is being well met.
While Madison in the NWL is a great experience, too -- there is something to be said about quality of play in a 45 game schedule, being in your host family bed every night, plenty of home cooked meals, connections (other than baseball), a chance to make a litle money/get business experience or both during the day, and a never-ending treasure trove of things to do on a rare off day.
Remember, most of these kids are passing through and will not make a life in the place where they play summer ball. Make it as enriching as possible. Sometimes that means "the minor-league experience" of the for-profit leagues or the more custom fit of the non-profits like Ripken, which happens to be the rare big city summer baseball experience.
One thing is for sure, within 2-3 summer college seasons, baseball athletes are unlike those in any other team sport in that they have the choice to engage in this type of skill-building, "off campus" college experience that is represented in summer ball, no matter where it's played.
FWIW - I sent an email to the contact listed on the Clark Griffith website. The email was rejected by the recipient domain name (clarkgriffithbaseball.com)
quote:Originally posted by baseball12532:
is the model franchise and the league average for attendance is steadily growing with Bethesda at 500-900 a night, btw.
Jiminy Christmas,
Been to each and over many years! Simply try to keep up!
Model Franchise? 900 /night attendance numbers?
Should you really want to chat about this, and correctly, try some of this!
Ripkin's League medium per game attendance in 2011 is ~32 ! Think about that!
Ripken's 2011 average season attedance for 163 games is 115. Think about that!
BT 2011 average attendance per 20 games is 530+. Yes that carries the League average!
Should we even compare?
For 521 games, Northwood League drew 893,441. Think about that!
That computes to an average per game attendance of 1,715. WoW
Northwoods league medium attendance is ~1,271 compared to Ripken's 115!
Model? Your kidding, right?
Don't misunderstand, I enjoy the amateur baseball in the spring and the summer,
locally and when traveling.
Care to send several zero's on your check for building a new field?
(And as recently polled by the college players)
Pitching:..................CCL
Hitting:....................NWL
# of Scouts:.............CCL
Better Looking Girls:..NWL
More College Women:.NWL
Field Conditions:.......NWL
Attendance:.............NWL
Shorter Travel:.........CCL & others
Friendships:.............NWL
Returnees:...............NWL
Coaches:..................CCL
Clubhouses:.............NWL
Concessions:.............NWL
Entertainment:..........NWL
Team Transport:........NWL
Tradition:.................CCL
Improving Quality......NWL
MiLB Like:................NWL
Uniforms:................Tie
Life Long Memories:..NWL
Better Music............NWL