Any organization will only be as good as the local people behind the tournament. National brand is irrelevant. For the purpose of your poll you left out two major players, AAU and Nations Baseball.
* Impossible is just a degree of difficulty *
Posts: 4455 | Location: Mid-Atlantic | Registered: October 29, 2007
Overall, I would have to say AABC. This is for two reasons:
1. You have to actually must have success over a sustained regular season to advance to the state tournament, which you then must win to advance to the regionals and then win again to make it to the world series. Unlike organizations such as USSSA, it is not just winning a random tournament.
2. You are free to put the best team together possible, mostly free of geographic restrictions, bringing about the highest level of sustained competition I have seen in under 18 baseball.
Posts: 1378 | Location: Phoenix AZ | Registered: December 26, 2002
The AABC Championship team has played in the WWBA nearly every year. Those teams have never finished in the top 8. Many times they haven't even made the playoffs.
The best players, best teams, most scouts and college recruiters, most draft picks and top college recruits... World Wood Bat Association by a land slide... Whether it is the fall Jupiter tournament or the summer Marietta tournaments.
I know some people don't consider the WWBA one of the major organizations... but we do! Then again the WWBA has teams that play in many other national organizations. However, there are some of the top teams in amateur baseball, loaded with talent, that don't play in any other organization except the WWBA.
Just thought I'd throw that out there.
Posts: 6200 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
You have me a little confused. I am referring primarily to Connie Mack baseball and its World Series, the winner of which -- to the best of my knowledge -- has never gone as a team to Jupiter. I know for sure that the Arizona Firebirds have never gone, even after they won in Farmington three or four years ago.
But, even if the Connie Mack winner did go, it would not be the same team since most of the players on the World Series winner typically would be graduated seniors in the summer and, thus, college freshmen by the time Jupiter rolled around.
But, I am not including the WWBA stuff in my assessment since I view that differently -- perhaps incorrectly -- but differently, which is the reason in my posting why I said "sustained" competition through a complete season since I also view the WWBA stuff as individual tournaments. I concede, however, that might be because my perspective from here in Arizona has limited my view to a certain degree of Perfect Game endeavors.
I concur with anyone who proclaims Jupiter to be the most amazing single event (along with the Area Code Games) that is out there.
Posts: 1378 | Location: Phoenix AZ | Registered: December 26, 2002
I assure you that Midland has played in our tournaments in Marietta with the same roster they took to Farmington. The East Cobb Astros have played every year in the WWBA in Marietta with their entire Farmington roster. These two teams have dominated the Connie Mack Championships over the years. One or the other wins nearly every year. Since 1997 California teams have won it twice, Arizona once, East Cobb Yankees won it 5 times and Midland has won it 5 times. Midland has won it several other times as well.
The Connie Mack World Series is a great event. It draws big crowds and it is a spectacular event. The two teams mentioned above are very good every year. However, the truth is, from a talent standpoint, the East Cobb Yankees aren't even the most talented team in East Cobb Georgia,let alone in the entire country.
I fully understand how great the Connie Mack is and why it is a focal point for many outstanding programs. I also know that there are differences between the WWBA and other organizations. My point is strictly from a talent and scouting standpoint, only Connie Mack (AABC) of those listed in the original post is even close. And we do see nearly all of those teams that qualify for Farmington at the WWBA tournaments. It's just that, so far, they haven't done that well in the WWBA tournaments. There's just too much talent at those events in addition to those teams. When it gets into the playoffs the competition is tougher.
Posts: 6200 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
Rereading some of my comments. I need to say that I personally have gone on record as saying the Connie Mack World Series is the greatest event in amateur baseball. I still feel that way. And many of the teams that qualify are among the very best including, of course, Midland Redskins and East Cobb Yankees. Both those teams do have a ton of talent every year. Midland, especially, has a couple Aflac all americans most every year. However, a team like the ABD Bulldogs, East Cobb Braves and others have had many more.
Also, it's not really that hard to qualify depending on what region you're in. In Texas, it is very tough. In the southeast it is tough. Maybe it's tough in Arizona, Illinois or California, too. Now there are some additional qualifiers which are a good idea IMO. Some teams, on the other hand, have a fairly easy time in qualifying for Farmington. There are a few teams who don't belong every year for that small and elite of a tournament.
Guess I got caught up in the original list of organizations in this thread. What we do is much different than the other organizations. Yet, the WWBA really is a "baseball organization". In fact, the WWBA runs the biggest tournaments played on full sized fields in baseball history. I'm fairly certain the WWBA draws more scouting and recruiting interest than all other organizations. Therefore, if we are talking about the best baseball organizations at least at the older ages.....
Posts: 6200 | Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Registered: December 27, 2002
When you say best what do you mean by it? Best – most competitive. Best – bringing in the most kids. Best – most organized. Etc, etc.
When I think about best I believe the standard should be the organization who introduces and nurtures kids in their love of the game. If this is best then it must be Little League, PONY and Babe Ruth. These leagues are scattered throughout the US and introduce young kids and their communities to the game.
All of the kids playing WWB, Connie Mack and in other organizations would never be there if it were not for the T Ball starts all of our kids had at LL, Pony or Babe Ruth.
Posts: 1524 | Location: SoCal | Registered: July 24, 2007
All of the kids playing WWB, Connie Mack and in other organizations would never be there if it were not for the T Ball starts all of our kids had at LL, Pony or Babe Ruth.
an understatement, inho. i know more than a few guy's who had a 4 yr baseball career that ended at 12, that still love the game. it all started in LL.
“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
Posts: 2355 | Location: new hampshire | Registered: March 25, 2003
Rereading some of my comments. I need to say that I personally have gone on record as saying the Connie Mack World Series is the greatest event in amateur baseball. I still feel that way. And many of the teams that qualify are among the very best including, of course, Midland Redskins and East Cobb Yankees. Both those teams do have a ton of talent every year. Midland, especially, has a couple Aflac all americans most every year. However, a team like the ABD Bulldogs, East Cobb Braves and others have had many more.
Also, it's not really that hard to qualify depending on what region you're in. In Texas, it is very tough. In the southeast it is tough. Maybe it's tough in Arizona, Illinois or California, too. Now there are some additional qualifiers which are a good idea IMO. Some teams, on the other hand, have a fairly easy time in qualifying for Farmington. There are a few teams who don't belong every year for that small and elite of a tournament.
Guess I got caught up in the original list of organizations in this thread. What we do is much different than the other organizations. Yet, the WWBA really is a "baseball organization". In fact, the WWBA runs the biggest tournaments played on full sized fields in baseball history. I'm fairly certain the WWBA draws more scouting and recruiting interest than all other organizations. Therefore, if we are talking about the best baseball organizations at least at the older ages.....
Jerry- Pretty simple. This is a youth (under high school) thread. They are wondering where the best baseball is for youths- not high school.
Posts: 471 | Location: northern california | Registered: January 01, 2003
I think this depends on your definition of "best" At the younger ages (11u and younger)there are some developmental roadblocks in typical Little League, such as closed bases, no balks, etc.
I am afraid I am not familiar with the rest here in the Carolina's so I will speak on what I am familiar with - we play mostly USSSA and Nations here
Posts: 3 | Location: Charlotte, NC Area | Registered: October 02, 2009
Our kids coming up now will be the first generation that did not necessarily start playing baseball in league ball.
My son played league t-ball from 4U-7U but never played spring kid pitch in a league. At 8U, he started travel baseball exclusively.
In our area, USSSA and Triple Crown have the strongest hold on travel ball. USTBA and Nations Baseball are trying to get into the action. Some teams play a little CABA but mostly the state and World Series.
Very few leagues here are sanctioned by Little League anymore. Dizzy Dean has taken over. They seem to do a good job.
Posts: 170 | Location: East Cobb GA | Registered: October 23, 2008
The best place for any preteen to play is where they have fun, learn basic fundamentals (hitting, fielding, throwing) and build a passion for the game.
* Impossible is just a degree of difficulty *
Posts: 4455 | Location: Mid-Atlantic | Registered: October 29, 2007
It definately depends on your area. Pony and Cal Ripkin/Babe Ruth are the big dogs in this area. Little League is represented but not as much as in other states.
I do honestly believe that it is based a lot on leadership in each area.
Posts: 55 | Location: Olympia, WA | Registered: December 15, 2009
