National Baseball Congress World Series

National Baseball Congress World Series or NBC World Series is an annual collegiate and semi-pro baseball tournament held in Wichita, Kansas, United States. The 2026 series is scheduled for July 23 through August 1. It will be held at Eck Stadium at Wichita State University in northeast Wichita, and the final championship game will be held at Equity Bank Park on the west side of the river in downtown Wichita.https://nbcbaseball.com/promos/

Satchel Paige, Don Sutton, Tom Seaver, Ozzie Smith, Tony Gwynn, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, and Albert Pujols are just a few of the Major League Baseball stars who have played in the tournament.

When the national tournament started in 1935, participants were primarily town teams and industrial teams. Team rosters featured aging former minor league and major league ballplayers and players ineligible for major league baseball. In the mid-1960s team rosters transitioned to collegiate players, including prospects on the fast path to the major leagues. In 1975, the NBC World Series began recognizing a tournament participant who went on to a major league career as Graduate of the Year.

The first NBC World Series called the "Little World Series" was held August 13–27, 1935 at Lawrence Stadium in Wichita. National Baseball Congress founder Hap Dumont was director of the National Tournament Committee of Wichita that put on the tournament. Thirty-two teams were invited to the first national tournament. A focus was put on diversity with five teams classified as "integrated," one team consisted of Native American players and another of Japanese players.

Future Baseball Hall of Famer Satchel Paige was signed to a $1,000 personal appearance contract for the 1935 tournament. A victim of the baseball color barrier, Paige was not eligible to play minor league or major league baseball. Paige won four games, striking out 60 batters while leading the Bismarck Churchills to the first NBC World Series championship. He was named MVP of the tournament.

Dumont recruited Baseball Hall of Fame member Honus Wagner as the guest of honor at the 1935 opening night banquet. In addition to Wagner, celebrity guests who have been honored at the opening night banquet include: Stan Musial, Mickey Mantle, Dizzy Dean, Connie Mack, Allie Reynolds, Fred Clarke and Rin Tin Tin.

Teams bolstered by military service players dominated the WWII (1943–1945) and Korean War (1952–1955) tournaments. During these eras, major league players were serving at military bases across the country and playing for the base teams. 1953 World Series MVP Billy Martin played in the 1954 NBC World Series with the Goodland, Kansas Tigers. A new rule making major league "name" stars unavailable in National Baseball Congress tournaments was implemented following the 1955 NBC World Series.

NBC Champions

Year Champion Runner-UpMVP2025Hutchinson MonarchsLonestar KrakenJake Gutierrez (Hutchinson)2024Hays LarksHutchinson MonarchsGarrett Gruell (Hays) 2023Hutchinson MonarchsSanta Barbara ForestersMax Buettenback (Hutchinson) 2022Santa Barbara ForestersHays LarksGavin Kash (Santa Barbara) 2021Lonestar, TexasJustin Eckhardt (Santa Barbara) 2020Cheney Diamond DawgsSean Johnson (Santa Barbara) 2019Seattle StudsHenry Cheney (Seattle) 2018Santa Barbara ForestersNJCAA National TeamPatrick Mathis (Santa Barbara) 2017Kansas StarsEverett MerchantsRyan Langerhans (Kansas) 2016Santa Barbara ForestersHays LarksJacob Patterson (Santa Barbara) 2015Seattle StudsHaysville AviatorsConnor Savage (Seattle) 2014Santa Barbara ForestersSeattle StudsJon Duplantier (Santa Barbara) 2013Seattle StudsWellington HeatDavid Benson (Seattle) 2012Santa Barbara ForestersSeattle StudsZach Fish (Santa Barbara) 2011Peninsula OilersMitch Morrman (Santa Barbara) 2010Liberal Bee Jays Seattle StudsPaul Gonzalez (Liberal) 2009El Dorado BroncosAnchorage Glacier PilotsJake Sabol (El Dorado) 2008Santa Barbara ForestersSeattle StudsKevin Keyes (Santa Barbara) 2007 Lake Havasu City HeatHays LarksBrad Arnett (Havasu, Arizona Heat) 2006Santa Barbara ForestersDerby, Kansas TwinsJon Qualls & Matt Whitaker (Derby) 2005Prairie Gravel (IL)Santa Barbara ForestersRyan Annetsberger (Prairie Gravel) 2004Aloha Knights (OR)Mat-Su MinersScott Simon (Mat-Su) 2003Chinese TaipeiSanta Barbara ForestersChang-Wei Tu (Taipei) 2002Alaska Goldpanners of FairbanksAnchorage Glacier PilotsBlake Gill (Fairbanks) 2001Anchorage Glacier PilotsHays LarksJeff Francis (Anchorage) 2000Liberal, Kansas BeeJaysCory Metzler (Liberal) 1999Dallas, Texas PhilliesPeninsula OilersMarco Cunningham (Dallas) 1998El Dorado BroncosNevada, Missouri GriffonsJason Aspito (El Dorado) 1997Mat-Su MinersJeff Juarez (Nevada) 1996El Dorado BroncosTacoma, Washington TimbersKevin Frederick (El Dorado) 1995Team USAHays LarksLance Berkman (Hays) 1994Peninsula OilersWichita BroncosJesse Zepeda (Peninsula) 1993Beatrice, Nebraska BruinsJeff Poor (Peninsula) 1992Midlothian, Illinois White SoxLiberal, Kansas BeeJaysMike Kane (Midlothian) 1991Anchorage Glacier PilotsPeninsula OilersChris Hmielewski (Peninsula) 1990Wichita BroncosMidlothian, Illinois White SoxKirk Vucsko (Midlothian) 1989Grand Rapids, Michigan SullivansJim Huslig (El Dorado, Kansas Broncos) 1988Everett, Washington MerchantsMidlothian, Illinois White SoxDave Wong (Everett) 1987Mat-Su MinersWichita BroncosKen Kreimers (Mat-Su) 1986Anchorage Glacier PilotsGrand Rapids, Michigan Sullivan-PolynesiansSteve Bales (Anchorage) 1985Liberal, Kansas BeeJaysNorth Pole NicksKerry Richardson (Liberal) 1984Grand Rapids, Michigan Sullivan-PolynesiansLiberal, Kansas BeeJaysBill Bates (Grand Rapids) 1983Alaska Goldpanners of FairbanksCurtis Morgan (Grand Rapids) 1982Santa Maria, California IndiansAnchorage Glacier PilotsDave Hengel (Santa Maria) 1981Clarinda, Iowa A'sLiberal, Kansas BeeJaysKeith Mucha (Clarinda) 1980Alaska Goldpanners of FairbanksKevin McReynolds (Fairbanks) 1979Liberal, Kansas BeeJaysSanta Maria, California IndiansGary D'Onofrio (Liberal) 1978Boulder CollegiansRapid City, South Dakota Macy's DieselsBob Ferris (Boulder) 1977Peninsula OilersAlaska Goldpanners of FairbanksBob Skube (Peninsula) 1976Alaska Goldpanners of FairbanksAnchorage Glacier PilotsGreg Harris (Fairbanks) 1975Boulder CollegiansAlaska Goldpanners of FairbanksMike Colbern (Boulder) 1974Alaska Goldpanners of FairbanksBoulder CollegiansSteve Kemp (Fairbanks) 1973Liberal, Kansas BeeJaysLee Iorg (Fairbanks) 1972Anchorage Glacier PilotsKerry Dineen (Fairbanks) 1971Anchorage Glacier PilotsAlaska Goldpanners of FairbanksBruce Bochte (Anchorage) 1970Grand Rapids, Michigan Sullivan-PolynesiansAnchorage Glacier PilotsAl Gerhardt (Grand Rapids) 1969Anchorage Glacier PilotsLiberal, Kansas BeeJaysChris Chambliss (Anchorage) 1968Liberal, Kansas BeeJaysJackson, Mississippi BravesJoe Tanner (Jackson) 1967Boulder CollegiansHonolulu, Hawaii IslandersFrank Duffy (Boulder) 1966West Point, Mississippi PackersRay Henningsen (Boulder) 1965Wichita, Kansas DreamlinersLiberal, Kansas BeeJaysBob Boyd (Wichita Dreamliners) 1964Wichita, Kansas GlassmenAlaska Goldpanners of FairbanksDick Sanders (Wichita, Kansas Service Auto) 1963Wichita, Kansas DreamlinersPonchatoula, Louisiana AthleticsSam Suplizio (Fairbanks) 1962Alaska Goldpanners of FairbanksRocky Krsnich (Wichita, Kansas Rapid Transit) 1961Ponchatoula, Louisiana AthleticsGrand Rapids, Michigan Sullivan-PolynesiansAl Ware (Grand Rapids) 1960Grand Rapids, Michigan Sullivan-PolynesiansPonchatoula, Louisiana AthleticsBob Seltzer (Tampa-Gibsonton, Florida) 1959Houston, Texas FedElgin, Illinois AthleticsClyde Girrens (Wichita, Kansas Weller) 1958Drain, Oregon Black SoxAlpine, Texas CowboysJim O'Rourke (Drain, Oregon Black Sox) 1957Sinton, Texas Plymouth OilersFort Wayne, Indiana DairymenWilmer Fields (Fort Wayne) 1956Fort Wayne, Indiana DairymenDeming, Washington LoggersClyde McCullough (Alpine, Texas Cowboys) 1955Wichita, Kansas Boeing BombersSinton, Texas Plymouth OilersDaryl Spencer (Boeing) 1954Springfield, Missouri GeneralsDon Lee (Casa Grande, Arizona Cotton Kings) 1953Fort Leonard Wood HilltoppersWichita, Kansas Boeing BombersRobert McKee (Fort Leonard Wood) 1952Fort Myer Military District of WAFort Leonard Wood HilltoppersDanny O'Connell (Fort Myer) 1951Sinton, Texas Plymouth OilersAtwater, California PackersSteve Rapach (Sinton) 1950Fort Wayne, Indiana CapehartsElk City, Oklahoma ElksPat Scantlebury (Fort Wayne) 1949Fort Wayne, Indiana G-E ClubGolden, Colorado CoorsBill Ricks (Fort Wayne) 1948Elkin, North Carolina Chatham BlanketeersVeo Story (Elkin) 1947Golden, Colorado CoorsBruno Konopka (Golden) 1946St. Joseph, Michigan AuscosCarmichael, California FiremenLes Lollis (Carmichael) 1945Enid Army Air FieldOrlando Army Air BaseCot Deal (Enid) 1944Sherman Field, Kansas FlyersEnid Army Air Field 1943Camp Wheeler, Georgia SpokesGeorge Archie (Fort Riley, Kansas CRTC) 1942Wichita, Kansas Boeing BombersWaco, Texas DonsEd Borom (Boeing Bombers) 1941Enid, Oklahoma ChamplinsRed Barkley (Enid) 1940Mount Pleasant, Texas CubsVance Cauble (Enid) 1939Duncan, Oklahoma HalliburtonsRoy Helser (Silverton, Oregon Red Sox) 1938Buford, Georgia Bona AllensEnid, Oklahoma Eason OilersAndy Johnson (Buford) 1937Enid, Oklahoma Eason OilersBuford, Georgia Bona AllensClaude Gilchrist (Enid) 1936Duncan, Oklahoma HalliburtonsHarry White (Duncan) 1935Bismarck, North Dakota ChurchillsDuncan, Oklahoma HalliburtonsSatchel Paige (Bismarck) NBC World Series Champions and MVPs.

NBC Graduate of the Year