2009 was not a particularly good year for the Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League.  The five-team league had a normal regular season, but once the season ended, things were not normal at all.

First, the Southern Maryland Cardinals, the 2009 CGL Champs, announced that they were leaving the league in favor of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League.  Then in December, the Carney Pirates announced that they were going to sit out the 2010 season to “focus on more pressing matters.”

The Clark Griffith League entered the new year with just three teams and the rumors started to fly that the league was on its last leg.  The future of this historical league did not look promising.

The Clark C. Griffith Collegiate Baseball League, formerly known as the National Capital City Junior League, was formed in 1945.  In the earliest years, games were played around Washington, D.C., including on the Ellipse behind the White House.

The league was pushed along by the financial help of Clark Griffith, the then-owner of the Washington Senators.  To honor Griffith, the league was renamed the Clark Griffith Memorial Baseball League upon Griffith’s death in 1955.  The name was again changed in 1993 to the Clark C. Griffith Collegiate Baseball League.

In 1966 the league moved it’s home base to Northern Virginia and all games were played on the baseball field at George Mason University.  That set-up worked for 20 years, but in 1987, each team secured their own playing field in their local community.

Throughout it’s history, the Clark Griffith League has participated in national post season tournaments.  The league has sent teams to both the All-American Amateur Baseball Association National Tournament and the National Amateur Baseball Federation National Tournament.  1986 was an especially good year for the Clark Griffith League.  They sent teams to both tournaments and captured championships in both.  Overall, teams from the Clark Griffith League have won 12 National Tournament Championships.

Despite struggling through tough times, the league is seemingly on the rebound.  In 2010, they will be adding the Reston River Dogs to the league.  In addition, there are hopes for more new teams.  Possible locations in Virginia for new franchises include Arlington, McLean, Fairfax, Herndon, and Alexandria.

In addition to any new franchises, the Clark Griffith League will welcome back the DC Grays, Fairfax Nationals, and the Vienna Senators, one of the most successful teams in league history. 

So, despite losing two teams this past off season, the Clark Griffith League will be back in 2010 with at least four teams, and maybe more.  Plans for the 2010 season are still being made and an announcement on a schedule and any additional teams should be made soon.

More information can be found on the Clark Griffith Collegiate Baseball League website.

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