Department of Connecticut, American Legion Baseball
Presents $10,000 check to Operation Comfort Warrior
 |
(Minneapolis. MN.) Paul Iverson, Assistant State Director,
CT American Legion Baseball presents Operation Comfort Warriors donation check to
National Commander Denise Rohan on the floor
of the American Legion 100th National Convention August 29, 2018 in
Minneapolis. MN.
We want to thank all the CT baseball programs, American Legion Posts,
business, families and friends who's generosity allowed us to meet our
goal of $10,000. What better way to say thank you to those who stood
tall for us than by helping those veterans that need our assistance.
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American Legion Baseball alums take home major 2017 MLB awards
A year after American Legion Baseball alums Kris Bryant, Rick Porcello, Max Scherzer and Corey Seager dominated the major MLB awards, former Legion Baseball players once again had a good showing in 2017.
The National League’s Cy Young once again went to Scherzer, his third such award. Following up his 2016 Cy Young campaign, Scherzer, formerly of Coeur American Legion Post 397 in Missouri, had a better season and finished with a 2.51 ERA and led the MLB in strikeouts (268) and WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) of 0.90.
Craig Kimbrel received the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award after a stellar season as the closer of the Red Sox, posting 16.42 strikeouts per nine innings and a WHIP of 0.68.
The Decatur, Ala., Post 15 alum became the first player to win the Mariano Rivera American League Reliever of the Year Award and the Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever of the Year Award.
He was presented with the award prior to Game Four of the World Series, which featured the 2017 American Legion champions, Henderson, Nev., Post 40, honored on the field prior to the game as well.
The AL Manager of the Year race featured four skippers, all of whom played Legion Baseball. Paul Molitor, the 1996 American Legion Graduate of the Year, earned the award after leading his hometown Twins to a 26-win improvement, going from 103 losses to the first postseason trip in seven years.
Molitor beat out Cleveland’s Terry Francona, who played Legion Baseball in Pennsylvania, and World Series champion AJ Hinch, who played in Oklahoma.
Rounding out the voting was Yankee manager Joe Girardi, who is a Sons of The American Legion member and Peoria, Ill., Legion Baseball alum.
Legion alums also littered the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger list, led by 2016 Graduate of the Year Brian Dozier and 2015 Graduate of the Year Alex Gordon receiving Gold Gloves for outstanding defense.
In addition, Justin Verlander, formerly of Powhatan Post 201 in Virginia, was the ALCS Most Valuable Player, leading the Astros to their first World Series win.
Former Legion Baseball players dominate 2016 MLB awards
Former Legion Baseball players Kris Bryant (National League MVP), Rick Porcello (American League Cy Young), Max Scherzer (National League Cy Young) and Corey Seager (National League Rookie of the Year) all earned awards this week, as Major League Baseball and the Baseball Writers' Association of America doled out accolades.
Bryant, a Las Vegas Legion Baseball alum, continued an unprecedented start to his career by being named the runaway winner of the National League’s Most Valuable Player award.
Already a Rookie of the Year, two-time All-Star and Hank Aaron Award winner, Bryant earned the highest regular season honor in the National League.
Bryant led the Cubs to their first World Series victory in 108 years and was named the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player, as well.
This is the second straight year a Las Vegas Legion alum was named National League MVP, as Bryce Harper accomplished the feat in 2015.
Legion alumni headlined the Cy Young voting for top pitchers, as well.
In the National League, Max Scherzer, formerly of Coeur Post 397 (Mo.), won his second Cy Young Award. The Washington Nationals’ workhorse led the league in innings pitched and WHIP.
The American League had a battle between two Legion alums in the race for the top pitching award as Porcello and Justin Verlander finished in a near dead heat.
Detroit’s Verlander, formerly of Powhatan Post 201 (Va.) was narrowly edged out by Boston’s Porcello, formerly of Vailsburg Post 395 (N.J.).
The former Tigers teammates both had stellar years, with Porcello leading the league in wins and Verlander finishing with the most strikeouts.
Seager, who played Legion Baseball for Kannapolis Post 115 (N.C.), rounded out the Legion’s sweep of the National League awards as he was named the unanimous winner of the National League’s Rookie of the Year award.
An All-Star and Silver Slugger, Seager finished third in the Most Valuable Player voting, as well.
He is the third straight Legion alum to win the National League’s award for top newcomer, joining Bryant and Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom (DeLand Post 6 in Florida).
2017 American Legion National Baseball Conference
American Legion National HQ - Indianapolis, IN
Paul Iverson presents National Commander Denise Rohan and Americanism Chairman Richard Anderson with a $5,000 check on behalf of Connecticut for Operation Comfort Warrior. Connecticut has donated $16,000 over the last three years
2016 American Legion National Baseball Conference
American Legion National HQ - Indianapolis IN
At the September national baseball meeting, Paul Iverson - Assistant State Director CT American Legion Baseball - presented to American Legion National Commander Charles Schmidt a check for $6000 in support of Operation Comfort Warriors. This is the second year the CT American Legion Baseball organization has raised funds to contribute to this critical American Legion Program for Veterans.
from L to R
National Commander Charles Schmidt, Paul Iverson (Assistant State Director CT American Legion BB), David Greenleaf (State Director CT American Legion BB), Chuck Berry (CT American Legion BB Liaison to CT Dept of American Legion), Mary Ann Roczynski (CT American Legion), Richard Andersen CT Ameican Legion & National Director American Legion Americanism Commission
Connecticut Legion Baseball donates $5,000 to OCW
For many years, three American Legion Baseball coaches in Connecticut had a vision of extending season play for teams not advancing to the state tournament and beyond. When the idea surfaced to host a 2015 postseason tournament, coupled with raising funds for a Legion program to generate added interest, the Department of Connecticut’s Legion Baseball Committee gave its approval, and America’s Heroes Tournament in Support of Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW) was born.
“The whole idea was based on how we can do something good for our veterans and help our kids play baseball longer,” said Paul Iverson, head coach and general manager of New Milford Legion Baseball Post 31's team and assistant director for Connecticut's Legion Baseball Committee.
It was Iverson, Dan Olson and Tim Vincent who were instrumental in getting the postseason tournament organized. The goal for the tournament was to have a minimum of 24 registered senior teams for pool play format, with six teams divided into four pools, as well as to raise $10,000 for OCW by having registered teams pay $100 and collect additional donations during home games.
The tournament generated excitement; 24 of Connecticut’s top senior Legion Baseball teams registered immediately. However, by the time America’s Heroes Tournament in Support of OCW was scheduled to start at the end of July, many of the registered teams had advanced to the state tournament or had injured players. The end result was only nine teams, not enough to conduct the tournament. But the tournament was a success in another way - it generated $5,000 in donations for OCW.
When the tournament was canceled, the registered teams were offered their money back ; there were no takers. This prompted an email blast department-wide for OCW donations, and additional donations poured in from coaches and the state baseball committee.
“The real success is that we handed a check for $5,000 to support veterans," said Iverson, a member of Post 31. "We didn’t get to play baseball, but the veterans won.”
Last month during the National Legion Baseball Conference in Indianapolis, National Headquarters recognized Connecticut’s Legion Baseball program for its OCW contributions. Iverson accepted the award and shared how the tournament was set up and the plans to host another one in 2016.
Iverson, Olson and Vincent formatted the tournament to where it ran itself until the championship game. Teams were given a schedule of dates to play home and away games like they would in the regular season, and then the championship game was to be held at a neutral site with activities and awards “to make it special,” Iverson said. He’s been in communication with other Northeast Legion Baseball teams about their postseason tournaments. Rhode Island hosts a similar tournament and liked the idea of having their championship team play Connecticut’s in the near future.
| Inactive Teams | ||||||||||
| Regular Season | Non Zone | |||||||||
| Team | Record | Win % | GB | Home | Away | RF | RA | Last 10 | Streak | Record |
| Other | ||||||||||
| Regular Season | Non Zone | |||||||||
| Team | Record | Win % | GB | Home | Away | RF | RA | Last 10 | Streak | Record |
 Easton Junior Legion | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
 New Milford Post 31 | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
 Madison Jr Legion | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| Monroe | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
 Oxford Post 174 | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| Naugatuck 15U Old | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| Oxford Jr Legion | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
 Wolcott | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| Import | ||||||||||
| Regular Season | Non Zone | |||||||||
| Team | Record | Win % | GB | Home | Away | RF | RA | Last 10 | Streak | Record |
| Meriden | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
 Branford | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
 Hamden | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| Madison | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| Wallingford | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| N Haven | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| Orange | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| West Haven | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
 Cheshire | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| Import (2) | ||||||||||
| Regular Season | Non Zone | |||||||||
| Team | Record | Win % | GB | Home | Away | RF | RA | Last 10 | Streak | Record |
 Ridgefield | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| Wilton | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| Branford | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
| Meriden | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
 Stamford | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
 Greenwich | 0-0 | - | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | ||
