M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League
 | This article needs to be updated. (June 2023) |
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 |
| First season | 2009 |
| President | Ky Turner |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Countries | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Most recent champion(s) | St. Joseph Mustangs (2024) |
| Most titles | St. Joseph Mustangs (9) |
| Official website | http://www.minkleaguebaseball.com |
The M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league consisting of nine teams. Currently, seven teams are from Missouri, two from Iowa. The league was formed in 2009 and was affiliated with the National Baseball Congress until 2015.[1]
History
[edit]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.[2]
The Carroll Merchants moved from the MINK to the Pioneer Collegiate Baseball League after the 2016 season.[3]
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.[4][5]
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."[6]
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.[citation needed]
Teams
[edit]| Team | Location | Stadium | First Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carroll Merchants | Carroll, Iowa | Merchants Park | 2016 |
| Chillicothe Mudcats | Chillicothe, Missouri | Shaffer Stadium | 2002 |
| Clarinda A's | Clarinda, Iowa | Eberly Field | 2009 |
| Jefferson City Renegades | Jefferson City, Missouri | Ernie Vivion Field | 2017 |
| Nevada Griffons | Nevada, Missouri | Lyons Stadium | 2009 |
| St. Joseph Mustangs | St. Joseph, Missouri | Phil Welch Stadium | 2009 |
| Sedalia Bombers | Sedalia, Missouri | Liberty Park Stadium | 2009 |
| Warren Co. Crop Dusters | Norwalk, Iowa | Fareway Fields | 2023 |
Former teams
[edit]- Branson Merchants
- Des Moines Peak Prospects
- Excelsior Springs Cougars
- Omaha Diamond Spirit
- Ozark Generals
- Joplin Outlaws
- Beatrice Bruins
Champions
[edit]| Season | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2009 | Chillicothe Mudcats |
| 2010 | Sedalia Bombers |
| 2011 | St. Joseph Mustangs |
| 2012 | St. Joseph Mustangs |
| 2013 | Clarinda A's |
| 2014 | St. Joseph Mustangs |
| 2015 | St. Joseph Mustangs |
| 2016 | Sedalia Bombers |
| 2017 | St. Joseph Mustangs |
| 2018 | Sedalia Bombers |
| 2019 | St. Joseph Mustangs[7] |
| 2020 | none (season cancelled) |
| 2021 | St. Joseph Mustangs |
| 2022 | St. Joseph Mustangs |
| 2023 | Jefferson City Renegades |
| 2024 | St. Joseph Mustangs[8] |
Notable alumni
[edit]- Tony Cingrani Clarinda
- Von Hayes Clarinda
- Ozzie Smith Clarinda[9]
References
[edit]- ^ news
- ^ Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles, eds. (2007). The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (Third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 978-1932391176.
- ^ "Carroll Merchants". TeamPages.com. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ "2020 MINK League season canceled". Ballpark Digest. May 28, 2020.
- ^ "No Griffon baseball as MINK League shelves 2020 season". Nevada Daily Mail. May 29, 2020.
- ^ "MINK Summer College Baseball League". Minkleaguebaseball.com. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
- ^ "St. Joseph Mustangs Set New Attendance Record". St. Joseph Mustangs. September 17, 2019.
- ^ "Mustangs keep A's at bay, clinch 9th MINK League Title". minkleaguebaseball.com. 28 July 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
- ^ "A's MLB Alumni". Clarinda A's Baseball.