History of the Dodge City A's
Amateur baseball in Dodge City has been around for nearly a century as it dates back to 1933 when the Dodge City Cowboy's played in the Ban Johnson League. The Ban Johnson League was an amateur organization for youths under the age of 21 and consisted of 19 teams divided into three divisions. The Central Division consisted of Beloit, Concordia, Fairbury (Neb), Junction City, Beatrice (Neb), Manhattan and Marysville. In the Western Division was Dodge City, Garden City, Larned, Liberal and Pratt. In the Southeastern Division was Coffeyville, Fort Scott, Humboldt, Independence, Iola, Parsons, and Pittsburg.
Despite semi-professional baseball being played prior, it is believed that the Dodge City A's were first affiliated with the National Baseball Congress starting in 1971. In their first two seasons as the A's, they accumulated a 42-24 record overall with two top four finishes at the NBC World Series. This success was sustained for just over a decade in the 1970s into the early 1980's. Year after year, Dodge City was the home to some of the finest summer baseball in the country which was reflected by the number of players that went on to play professional baseball. From 1971-1978, the A's saw 25 former players and one manager break into some level of professional baseball.
Despite just over a decade long of success, the A's organization stopped playing following the 1981 season. Amateur baseball did not cease to exist in Dodge City as the Dodge City Bulls played one season in 2000 followed by the Dodge City Desperados playing two seasons 2005-2006. Both teams played in the Walter Johnson League. Then after a 25 year hiatus from the A's, thanks to the board of directors, the A's returned in the summer of 2007 as a part of the Jayhawk League. It did not take long and the A's were back to bringing in some of the best up and coming baseball players from the college ranks.
Despite semi-professional baseball being played prior, it is believed that the Dodge City A's were first affiliated with the National Baseball Congress starting in 1971. In their first two seasons as the A's, they accumulated a 42-24 record overall with two top four finishes at the NBC World Series. This success was sustained for just over a decade in the 1970s into the early 1980's. Year after year, Dodge City was the home to some of the finest summer baseball in the country which was reflected by the number of players that went on to play professional baseball. From 1971-1978, the A's saw 25 former players and one manager break into some level of professional baseball.
Despite just over a decade long of success, the A's organization stopped playing following the 1981 season. Amateur baseball did not cease to exist in Dodge City as the Dodge City Bulls played one season in 2000 followed by the Dodge City Desperados playing two seasons 2005-2006. Both teams played in the Walter Johnson League. Then after a 25 year hiatus from the A's, thanks to the board of directors, the A's returned in the summer of 2007 as a part of the Jayhawk League. It did not take long and the A's were back to bringing in some of the best up and coming baseball players from the college ranks.
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