The Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL) is a

collegiate summer baseball Collegiate summer baseball leagues are amateur baseball leagues in the United States and Canada featuring players who have attended at least one year of college and have at least one year of athletic eligibility remaining. Generally, they operat ...

league located in the

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, and

Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore ( , locally: or ) is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland, fourth most populous city in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic, and List of United States cities by popula ...

, metropolitan areas. The CRCBL is a member of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NACSB).

History

Founded in 2005, the league was named for

Cal Ripken, Sr. Calvin Edwin Ripken Sr. (December 17, 1935 – March 25, 1999) was an American baseball player, scout, coach and manager. who spent 36 years in the Baltimore Orioles organization. He played in the Orioles' farm system beginning in 1957, and ...

(1935-1999), a longtime player and manager in the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...

system. It is not associated with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. In 2009, the league removed the "Sr." to also honor

Cal Ripken Jr. Calvin Edwin Ripken Jr. (born August 24, 1960), nicknamed " The Iron Man", is an American former baseball shortstop and third baseman who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles (1981–2001). One of his posit ...

The league's founding teams were the

Bethesda Big Train The Bethesda Big Train is a collegiate summer baseball team based in Bethesda, Maryland. The team is a member of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL), and derives its name from the nickname of Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson, wh ...

, College Park Bombers, Maryland Redbirds,

Rockville Express The Rockville Express is a collegiate summer baseball team based in Rockville, Maryland. Most of its players are drawn from the college ranks. The team is a member of the Maryland Collegiate Baseball League (MCBL) and a former member of the Cal ...

Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts Silver is a chemical element with the symbol Ag (from the Latin ', derived from the Proto-Indo-European ''h₂erǵ'': "shiny" or "white") and atomic number 47. A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical co ...

, and

Youse's Maryland Orioles Youse's Maryland Orioles are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Linthicum, Maryland. Most of its players are drawn from the college ranks. The team is a member of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRSCBL). The Maryland Orioles p ...

. The Herndon Braves joined in 2007 and the Alexandria Aces in 2008, expanding the league into Northern Virginia. Before the 2010 season, the College Park Bombers left the league and the Southern Maryland Nationals, formerly the Southern Maryland Cardinals, joined. The Maryland Redbirds changed their name to the Baltimore Redbirds. In 2011, the Vienna River Dogs became the ninth team in the league and the third in Northern Virginia. The league expanded into Washington, D.C., when the D.C. Grays joined for the 2012 season. In 2013, the Baltimore Pressman Cardinals and the Gaithersburg Giants joined the League. In 2014, the Southern Maryland Nationals shut down and the Cardinals were replaced by the Baltimore Dodgers. Youse's Maryland Orioles left after the season. In 2015, the League changed to a two-division format with a playoff. After the 2018 season, the Baltimore Redbirds, Rockville Express, Baltimore Dodgers, and Loudoun Riverdogs left the League. The Olney Cropdusters jointed the League in 2022. In 2011, Perfect Game USA ranked the Bethesda Big Train the best team in summer baseball.

Showcase games

Mid-Atlantic Classic

On July 15, 2009, teams of all-stars from the CRCBL and the

Valley Baseball League The Valley Baseball League is an NCAA and MLB-sanctioned collegiate summer baseball league in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. The league was started in 1923 and sanctioned by the NCAA in 1961. It has been a wooden bat league since 199 ...

, a collegiate wooden-bat league based in Virginia, met to play a game dubbed the Mid-Atlantic Classic in

Waldorf, Maryland Waldorf is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Charles County, Maryland, United States. Located south-southeast of Washington, D.C., Waldorf is part of the Southern Maryland region. It is an urban area, with a popul ...

. The Ripken League prevailed, 2–1. A planned 2010 rematch was rained out. On July 11, 2011, the leagues held the second Mid-Atlantic Classic at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Ripken League won again, 6–3.

Southern Collegiate Showcase

In 2017, 2018, and 2019, the CRCBL sent all-star teams to North Carolina to participate in the Southern Collegiate Prospect Showcase against teams from the

Florida Collegiate Summer League The Florida Collegiate Summer League (FCSL) is a six-team wood bat collegiate summer baseball league located in the Central Florida region of the southeastern United States. The league was founded in the fall of 2003 and began play in the summe ...

, the

Southern Collegiate Baseball League TheSouthern Collegiate Baseball League (SCBL) is a non-profit, wooden bat collegiate summer league affiliated with the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball. Established in 1999, the league has six teams located in the Charlotte metropolit ...

, the

Sunbelt Baseball League The Sunbelt Baseball League (SBL) is a non-profit collegiate summer baseball league with teams located in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, Columbus and Oxford, Alabama. The SBL is a member of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball, which ...

, and the

International competition

Ripken League Goodwill Mission Trip to Cuba (2016)

A team of Ripken League players traveled to Cuba after the 2016 season. The team played three of Cuba's top teams in the week before the start of the

Cuban National Series The Cuban National Series (, SNB) is the primary domestic professional baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Series is a part of the Cuban baseball league system. ...

in some of Cuba's classic ballparks. On August 3, the Ripken League team upset the 2015 champions of the Cuban major leagues. The Ripken League team defeated the Pinar del Rio Vegueros, 3-2, at Estadio Capitan San Luis before a boisterous crowd of 400. On August 4, the Ripken League team lost to the

Matanzas Cocodrilos Cocodrilos de Matanzas (English: Matanzas Crocodiles) are a baseball team in the Cuban National Series. Based in Matanzas Province, the ''Cocodrilos'' were formed after the dissolution of Henequeneros and Citricultores, two teams from Matanzas. ...

6-2 at Estadio Victoria de Giron (Victory at the Bay of Pigs). On August 5, Industriales defeated the Ripken League team 6-4 in a rain-shortened game in Havana's iconic

Estadio Latinoamericano The Estadio Latinoamericano ( Spanish for ''Latin American Stadium'') is a stadium in Havana, Cuba. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the second largest baseball stadium in the world by capacity. Gran Estadio, a spacious pitchers' park ...

where the March 2016 exhibition game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban National Team had been played.

Brady Anderson Brady Kevin Anderson (born January 18, 1964) is an American former baseball outfielder and executive who played 15 seasons in Major League Baseball (1988–2002) for the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles and Cleveland Indians. He spent the majori ...

and

B.J. Surhoff William James "B. J." Surhoff (born August 4, 1964) is an American former catcher, outfielder, first baseman, third baseman, and designated hitter in Major League Baseball (MLB). Over his 18-year MLB career, he played every position except pitcher ...

, who played for the Baltimore Orioles in Cuba in 1999, coached the team along with Ripken League co-founder Dean Albany."

Friendship Games with Israel National Baseball Team (2021)

As part of its exhibition series to prepare for the Olympics in Japan, the Israel National Baseball Team played three games against Ripken League competition in July 2021. On July 16, Team Israel defeated a Ripken League all-star team made up of players from the Braves, Giants, and Grays at FNB Field on City Island in

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Harrisburg is the capital city of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Dauphin County. With a population of 50,135 as of the 2021 census, Harrisburg is the 9th largest city and 15th largest municipality in Pe ...

. On July 18, Team Israel came from behind in the final inning to beat the Bethesda Big Train 8-7 before a standing-room-only crowd of 835 at Shirley Povich Field in Rockville, Maryland. On July 19, a Ripken League all-star team of players from the Aces, Big Train, and Thunderbolts defeated Team Israel 9-3 at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Maryland.

Teams

Champions

Every championship series from 2009 to 2018 pitted the Redbirds against the Big Train.

MLB Draft

In 2007, CRCBL alumnus Joe Smith earned a spot on a major league roster with the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

. In May 2009,

Brett Cecil Brett Aarion Cecil (born July 2, 1986) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals. Cecil was drafted as the 38th overall pick in the 2007 MLB dra ...

, who pitched for the Thunderbolts in 2005, was called up by the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

, where he pitched for eight seasons. In 2013, he became the first Ripken League alum to play in an MLB All-Star game. In November, 2016 he signed a 4-year, $30.5 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals. The 2008 MLB Draft saw 40 former or current players chosen. Some players drafted included former Big Train player Carlos Gutierrez, at 27th overall by the

Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central Division. The team is named after the Twin Cities area w ...

. Three other players got drafted in the first three rounds: former Big Train player Evan Frederickson, at 35th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers, and two former players from the Youse's Orioles, Derrik Gibson in the 2nd round by the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...

, and

L. J. Hoes Jerome O'Bryan "L. J." Hoes (born March 5, 1990) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles and the Houston Astros. Early life Hoes was born in Washington, DC, wher ...

in the 3rd round by the

. In the 2009 MLB draft, 37 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Ben Tootle in the 3rd round, by the

. In the 2010 MLB Draft, 31 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being

Jarrett Parker Jarrett Paul Parker (born January 1, 1989) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels. Amateur career Born in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Park ...

in the 2nd round, by the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco, California. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1883 as the New Yor ...

. In the 2011 MLB Draft, 33 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Jed Bradley in the 1st round (15th overall), by the Milwaukee Brewers. In the 2012 MLB Draft, 31 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being

Kyle Zimmer Kyle Joseph Zimmer (born September 13, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals from 2019 to 2021. The Royals selected Zimmer in the first rou ...

in the 1st round (5th overall), by the Kansas City Royals. In the 2013 MLB Draft, 22 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being

Hunter Renfroe Dustin Hunter Renfroe (born January 28, 1992) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, an ...

in the 1st round (13th overall), by the

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penn ...

. In the 2014 MLB Draft, 26 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being

Mark Zagunis Mark Raymond Zagunis (born February 5, 1993) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs. Prior ...

in the 3rd round, by the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

. In the

2015 MLB Draft Fifteen or 15 may refer to: *15 (number), the natural number following 14 and preceding 16 *one of the years 15 BC, AD 15, 1915, 2015 Music *Fifteen (band), a punk rock band Albums * ''15'' (Buckcherry album), 2005 * ''15'' (Ani Lorak album ...

, 32 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being

Brandon Lowe Brandon Norman Lowe ( ; born July 6, 1994) is an American professional baseball second baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB). Amateur career Lowe attended Nansemond River High School in Suffolk, Virginia, where he played ...

in the 3rd round, by the

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. Since its inception ...

. In the 2017 MLB Draft, 42 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being

Logan Warmoth Logan Brock Warmoth (born September 6, 1995) is an American professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. High school and college Warmoth attended Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Florida. In high school, he was ranked as th ...

in the 1st round (22nd overall), by the

. In the 2018 MLB Draft, 44 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being

Logan Gilbert Logan Keith Gilbert (born May 5, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). Amateur career Gilbert attended Wekiva High School in Apopka, Florida. He was not drafted out of high sch ...

in the 1st round (14th overall), by the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...

. In the 2019 MLB Draft, 36 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Logan Driscoll in the 2nd round (72nd overall), by the

. In the 2020 MLB Draft, 6 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Jordan Westburg in the 1st round (30th overall) by the

Noted alumni

, 2005 Thunderbolts * Joe Smith, 2005 Express *

Zach Clark Zachary Higgins Clark (born April 10, 1983) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles in 2013. Career Clark graduated from Newark High School in Newark, Delaware, in 2001. H ...

, 2005 Thunderbolts *

Brian Dozier James Brian Dozier (;born May 15, 1987) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. The Minnesota Twins selected Dozier in the eighth round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2012 and he played in ...

, 2006 Big Train *

, 2007 Braves *

Cody Allen Cody Edward Allen (born November 20, 1988) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians from 2012 to 2018 and the Los Angeles Angels in 2019. Amateur career Allen ...

, 2008, 2010 Big Train * Chris Taylor, 2009 Braves *

Matt Bowman Matthew Chou Bowman (born May 31, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the New York Yankees organization. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. High school and co ...

, 2010-12 Big Train *

Joe Mantiply Joseph Newman Mantiply ( ; born March 1, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees. Career Amateur Mantiply wa ...

, 2010 Big Train *

, 2010 Aces *

Ryan Garton Ryan Patrick Garton (born December 5, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016 and 2017 and the Seattle Mariners in 2017 and 2019. Career Tampa Bay Rays Ga ...

, 2011 Big Train *

, 2011-12 Big Train *

Ty France Tyler Lawrence France (born July 13, 1994) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the San Diego Padres. Amateur career France attended South Hills Hig ...

, 2013 Big Train *

, 2014 Big Train *

Eric Brodkowitz Eric Brodkowitz is an American-Israeli free agent professional baseball pitcher. He plays for the Israel National Baseball Team. Pitching for the Yale Bulldogs, he was named to the 2018 First Team All-Ivy League Team as a unanimous selection. ...

, 2014-15 Giants *

Nate Lowe David Nathaniel Lowe Jr. ( ; born July 7, 1995) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays. Amateur career Lowe attended Pope High ...

, 2015 Riverdogs *

, 2016 Big Train

References

External links

Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League official websiteNational Alliance of College Summer Baseball official website

Team Sites

Alexandria AcesBethesda Big TrainD.C. GraysGaithersburg GiantsHerndon BravesOlney CropdustersSilver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts
{{College Summer Baseball College baseball leagues in the United States Baseball leagues in Maryland Baseball in Washington, D.C. Summer baseball leagues Sports leagues established in 2005 2005 establishments in the United States