The
Alaska Baseball League (
ABL) is an amateur summer
baseball league, with six teams located in four Alaskan cities. Most players are from the
college baseball ranks.
The famous
Midnight Sun Game, held in
Fairbanks on the longest day of each year, is one of the highlights of the Alaska Baseball League season.
In the past, the ABL has sent its top teams to compete at the
National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series, with many champions coming from the ABL. Anchorage won 2001, 1991, 1986, 1971, 1969. Fairbanks won 1976, 1974, 1973, 1972. Kenai won 1994, 1993 and 1977. Matsu won 1997 and 1987. League team have also finished second in several years.
Players in the league who went on to play in
Major League Baseball include
Chris Chambliss,
Dave Winfield,
Bruce Bochte,
Dave Stieb,
John Olerud,
Barry Bonds,
Mark Grace,
Eric Karros,
Luis Gonzalez, and
Jeff Francis.
Fields
Past league champions
- 2005: Fairbanks Goldpanners
- 2003: Fairbanks Goldpanners
- 2002: Fairbanks Goldpanners
- 1998: Anchorage Bucs/Peninsula Oilers (tie)
- 1994: Fairbanks Goldpanners