The M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league consisting of eight teams. Currently, five teams are from Missouri, three from Iowa. The league was formed in 1996 and was affiliated with the National Baseball Congress until 2015.news
History The M.I.N.K. name derives from the 1910 to 1913 Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League minor league of the same name. That league used the acronym M.I.N.K., as teams were represented by Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas.
The Carroll Merchants moved from the MINK to the Pioneer Collegiate Baseball League after the 2016 season.
In November, 2019, The M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League announced that Des Moines, Iowa and Chanute, Kansas would join the M.I.N.K in 2020, forming a nine team league, with the departure of the Ozark Generals.
On May 27, 2020, the MINK League announced the cancellation of the 2020 season due to COVID-19.
The league notes that: "All MINK Baseball League players are unpaid in order to maintain their NCAA eligibility. Each team is operated in a similar to a professional minor league baseball team, providing players an opportunity to play under the same conditions using wood bats, minor league specification baseballs, experiencing overnight road trips and playing an intense summer league schedule."
Prior to the M.I.N.K., the Clarinda A's won the 1981 National Baseball Congress World Series. The Nevada Griffons were runners up in 1997 and 1998.
Since MINK play resumed in 2021, the St Joseph Mustangs have been the dominant team, winning four out of the five titles between 2021-2025, with 2023 being the only year without a championship.
Teams Team Location StadiumFirst season Carroll Merchants Carroll, Iowa Merchants Park 2016 Chillicothe Mudcats Chillicothe, Missouri Shaffer Stadium2002 Clarinda A's Clarinda, Iowa Eberly Field 2009 Joplin Jailbirds Joplin, Missouri Joe Becker Stadium2026 Nevada Griffons Nevada, Missouri Lyons Stadium2009 North Missouri Naturals Kirksville Missouri Tiger Field- Kirksville High School2026 St. Joseph Mustangs St. Joseph, Missouri Phil Welch Stadium2009
Former teams
Branson Merchants Clay County River Bandits Des Moines Peak Prospects Excelsior Springs Cougars Omaha Diamond Spirit Omaha Indians Omaha Merchants Omaha Varsity Gold Ozark Generals Joplin Outlaws Kansas City Sluggers Kearny River Bandits Mac-N-Seitz Athletics Parkville Sluggers Beatrice Bruins Jefferson City Renegades Red Oak Red Sox St. Joseph Saints Sedalia Bombers Springfield Longhorns Topeka Golden Giants Warren Co. Crop Dusters
Champions +MINK championsSeasonWinner1996Clarinda A's1997St. Joseph Saints1998St. Joseph Saints1999Beatrice Bruins2000Clarinda A's2001St. Joseph Saints2002St. Joseph Saints2003St. Joseph Saints2004Clarinda A's2005Clarinda A's2006Chillicothe Mudcats2007Beatrice Bruins2008Clarinda A's2009St. Joseph Mustangs2010Jefferson City Renegades2011St. Joseph Mustangs2012St. Joseph Mustangs2013Clarinda A's2014St. Joseph Mustangs2015St. Joseph Mustangs2016Sedalia Bombers2017St. Joseph Mustangs2018Sedalia Bombers2019St. Joseph Mustangs2020No League - COVID2021St. Joseph Mustangs2022St. Joseph Mustangs2023Jefferson City Renegades2024St. Joseph Mustangs2025St. Joseph Mustangs2026Joplin Jailbirds
Notable alumni Joba Chamberlain Beatrice Tony Cingrani Clarinda Von Hayes Clarinda Nathan Lukes Chillicothe Chuck Knoblauch Clarinda Ozzie Smith Clarinda
References
External links MINK League