January 16th, 2014 at 6:00 am 
by Harold Uhlman A long time ago when the earth was young – well maybe not that long ago – I visited the Cape Cod region of Massachusetts. It was almost 40 years ago and it was a whirlwind visit as a day trip from East Bridgewater, a small community about 30 miles south of Boston. My wife and I were visiting relatives in the East Bridgewater area and they took us on a tour of the Cape Cod Region. Needless to say we were impressed with what appeared to be a tourist/recreation Mecca. I remember communities such as Falmouth, Truro and Yarmouth, as there are towns in my home Provence of Nova Scotia which share these same names. I also remember Sandwich and Barnstable as they are unusual names and I recall passing close to Hyannis Port, the home of the Kennedy compound.
I certainly learned something about Cape Cod on that visit, but missed what would have interested me the most of all. In fact, I really have made that discovery only in the past few months. While reading about minor league players in the Dodgers farm system I noticed that Kyle Farmer, Tyler Ogle and Tom Windle had all played in the Cape Cod Baseball League. That was enough to peak my interest and sent me scrambling to find out what the Cape Cod League is and why it would attract young college players.
I was amazed to discover the Cape Cod League is the oldest and undoubtedly the most successful amateur baseball league in the United States and no doubt in the world. The league dates back to the fourth of July in 1885 and has seen literally hundreds of its alumni play at the MLB level. Plans are being made to celebrate the 130th season of the league in 2014.
The Cape Cod League will celebrate its 130th season this year. (Photo credit – Phillip Dauria)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
The ten-team league with an Eastern and Western Division plays a 44 game schedule. The league joined with the NCAA in 1964 and the players are young college players – freshmen, sophomore and junior players – from institutions with four year programs. High school players, college seniors and players with no NCAA eligibility are not eligible to play in the Cape Cod League. The teams are independent teams and not minor league affiliates for MLB teams. Players are recruited by the individual teams and not by the league.
The unique aspect of the Cape Cod League is not that it hosts many of the best college players in the United States, it is the conditions, the atmosphere that surrounds the league that make it so inviting: wooden bats are used, the entire Cape Cod League program is run by volunteers, admission to the games is free and players live with host families during the season. Matt Wieters among others had a morning job when he played in the league. Families attend in an informal atmosphere often sitting on lawn chairs. All of the ten ballparks are within an hour’s drive of each other. Three parks have no lights and only play afternoon games, thus making a double header possible for fans hungry for baseball and willing to drive to another Cape Cod League ballpark with lights.
Players come to play at a high level and to be seen. MLB scouts frequent the games in the Cape Cod League as it is recognized as the best amateur summer leagues in the country by college coaches and professional baseball scouts. That recognition extends all the way to Baseball America who releases a top 30 Prospect List for the league. In 2012 Tom Windle, the Dodgers second round draft pick in 2013, was ranked number 11.
In 2013 a total of 257 Cape Cod Baseball League alumni played at the MLB level. That means one in seven current MLB players have played in the Cape Cod League. In the June 2013 First-Year Player Draft, 208 Cape Cod League alumni were drafted, with 15 alumni players chosen in the first and supplementary rounds.
The Dodgers 2013 roster included the following alumni from the Cape Cod League:
- Ken Howell, Coach – Cotuit, 1981
- John Valentin, Coach – Hyannis, 1988
- Chris Capuano, P – Bourne, 1999
- J.P. Howell, P – Bourne, 2002; Wareham, 2003
- Brian Wilson, P – Hyannis, 2002
- Tim Federowicz, C – Chatham, 2007
Dodgers Left-hander J.P. Howell pitched for the Bourne Braves and the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod League. (Photo credit – Victor Decolongon)
The Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame is located on Main Street in Hyannis in the basement of the JFK Museum. The inaugural induction ceremony was held in 2001. The initial group of inductees included: Thurman Munson, Mike Flanagan, Jeff Reardon, Mo Vaughn and Frank Thomas. Besides players who play for a season or two, umpires, coaches, scouts, league personnel and friends of the league who have completed 10 years of service to the league are eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame.
In 2004 Jim Collins published his book The Last Best League: One Summer, One Season, One Dream in which he “…chronicles a season in the life of one team – the Chatham A’s, perhaps the most celebrated team in the league.” In one of my favorite country songs (Last Cowboy Song) Ed Bruce closes with this line: “…another piece of America’s lost.” In reading about the Cape Cod Baseball League it took me back to the time I watched baseball in Liverpool, Nova Scotia with young college players from New England making up most of the rosters. The Cape Cod Baseball League has insured this wonderful part of America won’t be lost.
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Wow! You found a real gem in this article, Harold. I had no idea whatsoever that this league even existed, yet alone the fact that it has been around for as long as professional baseball itself; nor did I have any idea that so many former and current major leaguers participated in it.
Not that they all haven’t been great but this is one of your best articles yet.
Thanks!
I had heard of the league but thought it was an independent league. Can you imagine being in that area with 300 great college kids playing ball?
Harold, in this article, which I enjoyed reading, I note that you say that the teams are independent but in your comment you state that you (thought) it was an independent league. Could you clear this up for me?
Independent baseball leagues are professional baseball organizations located in the United States and Canada that are not operated in conjunction with either a Major League Baseball team or an affiliated minor league team. The teams have no connection to major league baseball.
There are a number of independent leagues in the northeastern states. Very few of those players make it to MLB. Quite a few players play there after they are unable to remain on MLB minor league teams or don’t get drafted. Many players are veteran players. Some are former MLB players like Ben Broussard and Lew Ford, both 37, of the Long Island Ducks. If A-Rod played with the Ducks he would be on an independent league team.
The Cape Cod League is independent also with no MLB affil1ations so in that respect is not different, say from the Frontier League
or North Atlantic League. I thought the Cape Cod League was part of an independent league where the players are as described above. I didn’t realize they were all college kids- freshmen, sophomores, juniors. The Cape Cod League in its description does not use the word “independent”. It is described as a collegiate summer baseball league.
That probably makes it more confusing.
So I would take it that the Cape Cod League is not an Independent League but it’s teams are classified as independent because they consist of college players and do not operated in conjuction with Major league teams or affliated with any Minor league teams. Believe it or not, I get it.
It’a a funny thing, I seem to root for the Brooklyn Cyclones but at the same time I wish they weren’t a Met’s farm team. It would be more fun if they were an independent team like the Long Island Ducks.
Totally off the topic here, but I am absolutely enamored by the Brooklyn Cyclones – if for no other reason than because of their very strong ties to the Brooklyn Dodgers.
MCU Park is an absolutely gorgeous ballpark and how can you not love the Jackie Robinson & Pee Wee Reese statue out front – not to mention the Coney Island hot dogs next door.
Last year my Nephew, Michael Benson, played in the Alaska League, exactly the same as the Cap Cod league, only not as prestigious. This year he sat out due to a tired arm, he’s a pitcher for University of Pacific. If all goes well and his arm isn’t tired again we hope he’ll get the chance to play in the Cap Cod league as a junior. This is all assuming he still has plans to play his senior year and complete his schooling first before considering the MLB draft or something outside of baseball.
Hmmmm. Interesting.
I know what you’re thinking…
JUST DO IT!
Harold –
Having been with the Cape Cod Baseball League for 20 years, I just assume most baseball people know what the League is all about. Apparently not, so any information like this just expands the League’s visibility and reputation. Thank you.
Sol Yas
Senior Deputy Commissioner
Directorof Officiating
Cape Cod Baseball League
Sol
Thank you for your reply. I knew of the Cape Cod League but somehow thought it was a semi-pro or independent league such as the Frontier League. I just didn’t realize the beauty of the Cape Cod League made up of all college kids.
I also have just learned about the Alaska Baseball League that functions much as the Cape Cod League. I now know there are also other collegiate leagues.
Once again, thank you for your response and thank you and the host of others who continue to make the Cape Cod League so special and successful. I will be paying more attention in the future