I understand that this site is dedicated mostly to news and blogs about everyone’s favorite teams the Boston Red Sox, but seeing that we are all baseball fans i wanted to write this blog to inform people about a amateur baseball tournament that will be taking place this August 11th through the 17th.
The All American Amateur Baseball Association (AAABA) National Tournament will be holding its 64th annual tournament in the little Western PA town of Johnstown once again. Johnstown is located between Pittsburgh and Williamsport, and each year sense 1947 has hosted the tournament 61 of its 63 years. The AAABA tournament is a 16 team double elimination tournament. Cities from around the east coast make the trip to Johnstown each year for the event. Some of the cities that have entries into the tournament include Baltimore, New Orleans, Washington D.C., Brooklyn, Chicago, Milford MA, and of course the host city Johnstown; over the 63 year most of the titles have gone to either Baltimore, New Orleans, Detroit, or Washington D.C.
This tournament has seen many Major Leaguers play here and even had some of the games great grace the field with there presents before they were the superstars they became. Some of the greats that have played here include Al Kaline, Mr. October Reggie Jackson, Orel Hershiser, Joe Torre and his brother Frank, Shawon Dunston, and John Smoltz just to name a few.
I have had the honor to say that i was able to play in this tournament for the Home town team Johnstown in 04 and 05 both year we finish 3rd coming close but could not seal the deal. Right now i am 23 and volunteer as a coach of the same team I played on and we are getting ready for the playoffs to start, and hope to be able to represent the host city in the tournament this season.
As a side note that most Red Sox fan will enjoy the main field that the tournament game are played on is Johnstown Point Stadium; which is like Fenway south. The stadium has a short left Field line (290) with a 50 foot wall painted green just like the monster and a huge center and right field. The right field line is only 290 and is must like Pesky's pole.
Anyway I wrote this to inform all of the baseball fans out there about the AAABA tournament and if your ever looking to see some good baseball and possible future stars play that for one week in August the city of Johnstown PA is the place to visit.
