From the Missouri State Chairman, 2025 is a Big Year!

November 7, 2024

Hello, Missouri American Legion Baseball enthusiasts. I am Tom Rhoads, your Missouri American Legion Baseball State Chairman, and it is going to be a big year for Missouri American Legion Baseball in 2025. I wanted to take a moment and share some history and a few things about the upcoming season.

The American Legion, founded in 1919, is the largest veteran’s organization in the U.S. It is dedicated to mentoring youth, sponsoring community programs, advocating patriotism, promoting national security, and supporting service members and veterans.

American Legion Baseball began in 1925, inspired by John Griffith, the Big 10 college commissioner. He addressed a Legion annual convention saying, “There is nothing in our national life which stresses certain qualities like athletics does. Qualities such as intelligent courage, fighting instinct and team cooperation.” Griffith went on to say, “American Legion posts, as a matter of citizenship training, could easily carry on such athletic activities throughout the United States.”

After Griffith’s address, a resolution was passed, and American Legion Baseball was born. The program was a hit! By 1926, more than 52,000 players were participating. And since this inception, it is estimated that more than 10 million young people have played Legion Baseball. Legends and war heroes such as Yogi Berr, Ted Williams, Bob Fell, and Albert Pujols have comprised some of the 87 Hall of Famers who have played “Legion Ball.”

Players in this national program are taught good citizenship and a code of sportsmanship that includes keeping the rules, keeping faith with teammates, keeping their tempers, keeping a stout heart in defeat, their pride under in victory, and a sound soul, clean mind and healthy body.

In Missouri, we have (4) four leagues: AAA (varsity), AA (junior varsity), A (freshmen), and D-2 (small towns). All four of these leagues have post seasons which include State Tournaments. Fund raising events to support this program are the on-line 50/50, a golf tournament and a Cardinal baseball game at Busch Stadium. State development programs include Coaches Clinics, Prep Baseball Scouting Showcases and this year we will have special Centennial showcase games. We also have a team in the Metro-Collegiate league, we are developing pre-high school teams and looking into adding a high school girls fastpitch softball league

One hundred years of American Legion Baseball is truly a milestone worth celebrating. I’d like every Missouri department, district and post to publicize this great program in 2025 and if your post does not have a team to please consider adding this to your program.

Elsberry Post 226 Coach Jason Howard

May 18, 2023

Honoring Missouri American Legion Baseball coach's in the 2023 International Coach's week. Today we have Head Coach Jason Howard from Elsberry Post 226 to continue highlighting these men who volunteer their time to help these young men achieve their goals as a player. As well as teaching sportsmanship through citizenship.

What is your best coaching moment over the years?

Best moment coaching legion baseball? I’ve had a lot of great memories and moments throughout the years but the best moment has to be from our 2018 senior legion season when we won the 30th annual Fike American Legion Woodbat invitational going 7-0 in the 30 team tournament. In the championship game it was a MO district 9 battle vs. our good friends from Washington post 218. Going into the top of the 7th we trailed 7-5 and managed to battle back and score 4 runs and hold onto the 9-7 victory. That team finished 34-7 overall that season and man was it a fun ride with those young men and my great assistant coaches!

Just a little more information about Jason Howard!

Brief bio of your coaching. I started my coaching career at the young age of 17 in 2001 when I volunteered to coach my little brothers local team out of Winfield. From that moment on I knew I had a love and passion for coaching and giving back to this beautiful game! I continued to coach those boys for several years. Around year 2004 I was offered to help start up the Elsberry Post 226 Freshman Legion program with my good friend Joe Pott.

 Back then they only had a Senior Legion team so  Joe and I wanted to help build up the program and  get the Freshman and Junior teams going. Starting in year 2005 Post 226 had all 3 levels (freshman, junior and senior) of legion baseball and we have maintained that to this day. Starting around 2010 I became the program director for Post 226 and I carry that role to this day while still coaching in our program. Coaching continues to be a love and passion of mine and I hope to be coaching for another 22 plus years!