American Legion Baseball

A vintage documentary about the 1970 American Legion World Series in Klamath Falls, Ore. , that highlights the work that goes into hosting the tournament. The film includes appearances from former baseball players Bobby Richardson and Lefty Gomez, as well as then-National Americanism Commission Chairman Daniel J. O'Connor and other dignitaries.

1970 American Legion World Series in Klamath Falls, Ore. From The American Legion ArchivesA vintage documentary about the 1970 American Legion World Series in Klamath Falls, Ore. , that highlights the work that goe...

1961 brought Arizona its first, and to date, only American Legion World Series title.
1961: Phoenix (Ariz.) Post 1
HASTINGS, Neb.: Coming out of the elimination bracket, Phoenix beat Cincinnati in back-to-back games to win the ALWS. 1961 also saw George W. Rulon take his role as head of the national American Legion Baseball program.

Double the field, no trouble for the 1960 American Legion World Series champions:
1960: New Orleans (La.) Post 125
HASTINGS, Neb.: The ALWS field increased from 4 to 8 regional champions. But Post 125 brought home New Orleans’ 3rd title with a 9-3 win over Billings, Mont., in the final.

The first American Legion World Series champions from Michigan needed consecutive wins to claim the crown.
1959: Detroit (Mich.) Post 187
HASTINGS, Neb.: Detroit beat Hampton, Va., in back-to-back games to win the double-elimination tournament. Hampton committed 10 errors in the championship game.

A repeat champion as our countdown to the 98th American Legion World Series rolls on:
1958: Cincinnati (Ohio) Post 50
COLORADO SPRINGS: Post 50 joined Oakland’s Post 337 as back-to-back ALWS champions, even with only 5 players returning from the 1957 title team.

We've reached 1957 in our champions' countdown to this year's American Legion World Series:
1957: Cincinnati (Ohio) Post 50
BILLINGS, Mont.: Cincinnati brought the city a 5th ALWS trophy after defeating Portland, Ore., 10-6, in the championship game.

Missouri joined the ranks of American Legion World Series champions in 1956:
1956: St. Louis (Mo.) Post 245
BISMARCK, N.D.: Bob Miller pitched 3 wins in the ALWS & teammate Lawrence Goudy hit .449 as St. Louis won the title, capped by an 8-3 win over New Orleans.

Next up in our champions' countdown to the 98th American Legion World Series:
1955: Cincinnati (Ohio) Post 216
ST. PAUL: Bill Beck, who lost to D.C. in the ALWS opener, struck out 15 in Cincinnati’s 10-4 win over that same team in the championship game.

In 1956, the 16-player American Legion Ambassadors Baseball team embarked on a 19-game tour of seven Latin American nations for a mission that included competition, baseball clinics and goodwill appearances.

The 1956 American Legion Ambassadors brought American Legion Baseball to Latin America From The American Legion ArchivesIn 1956, the 16-player American Legion Ambassadors Baseball team embarked on a 19-game tour of seven Latin American nations ...

Our thanks to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred for his congratulations on our centennial. Check out the letter at https://www.legion.org/information-center/news/baseball/2025/june/mlb-commissioner-congratulates-legion-baseball-on-centennial and stay tuned throughout the summer as we celebrate !

The American Legion World Series championship headed back to California in 1954:
1954: San Diego (Calif.) Post 492
YAKIMA: Post 492 lost its opener then battled back through the elimination bracket to win the ALWS.

Our champions' countdown to the American Legion World Series continues:
1953: Yakima (Wash.) Post 36
MIAMI: With a 4-1 win over Winnetka, Ill., Yakima earned the northwest’s 1st ALWS title in the midst of a stretch dominated by Ohio and California.