Happy 40Th Birthday, Jetbox Baseball Club!
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Volume 9, Issue 3 Offi cial Newsletter of the National Amateur Baseball Federation July 2008 Happy 40th Birthday, JetBox Baseball Club! The NABF congratulates the JetBox Baseball Club, of Metro-Detroi- ters and Ontario Canadians, which is approaching its 40th season of play America’s Finest under Manager Jim Corte. At left, Cor- te is celebrating the Federal Baseball Play in Cary, NC League trophy leading to JetBox’s fi rst national title, South Major NABF Tournament of Stars celebrates 16th year championship, and national runner- up in the NABF World Series in 1976. JEFF FRANCOEUR At right, Aug. 19, 2007, in Louisville, 2001-02 Tournament of Stars 2001 18U National Team 2006 World Baseball Classic Ky. as Corte holds the NABF Major Division World Series championship JUNE 16-23, 2008 trophy. See story on Page 2. NABF Team Reaches YOUTH BASEBALL ALLIANCE Tournament of Stars DREAM BECOMES REALITY Championship Game By Allan Kreda Following semifi nal medal-round victories Eight youth baseball associations had a that were punctuated by a nearly 3.5-hour rain dream -- a vision of establishing a true nation- delay, NABF and undefeated Dixie met June 22 al championship tournament for young play- for the gold medal of the 16th Annual USA Base- ers across America – and Eddie Einhorn came ball Tournament of Stars presented by Major through. League Baseball. Employing persuasion, negotiation and Dixie raced to perhaps perspiration, that vision been realized an early 3-0 advan- as the eight groups will send teams to a tourna- tage then held off ment August 21-24 in Memphis as part of the new NABF the rest of the Major Youth Baseball Alliance LLC. Executives way for a 3-2 victory from each organization gathered to promote the June 22 to capture alliance in New York on June 3 and 4. The inau- the gold medal of gural National Youth Baseball Championships the 16th Annual USA will feature 10-under and 12-under divisions and Baseball Tournament of Stars presented by may include as many as eight age groups in the Major League Baseball. future. The eight-team tournament, which show- The alliance includes Babe Ruth Baseball; cased 144 of the nation’s elite age 18-and-un- Pony Baseball; Dixie Baseball; the American Am- der high school and college athletes, concluded ateur Baseball Congress; the Amateur Athletic June 22 with the medal games and consola- Union of the United States; Super Series Baseball tion-round play at Thomas Brooks Park at the of America; the National Amateur Baseball Fed- USA Baseball National Training Complex. eration and the United States Specialty Sports 1981. “We all have one thought in mind – helping Dixie, which fi nished as the tournament’s Association. kids and celebrating youth baseball. I am very only unbeaten team with a 5-0 record, used ex- “I’m doing this because it’s a passion, and excited.” tra base hits to break open a scoreless game it’s been a long time in coming,’’ said Mr. Ein- in the third inning. horn, co-owner of the Chicago White Sox since CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 NABF stranded 11 runners and left the bases full in the third and fi fth innings. Ethan Bright (INF; Batesville, Miss.) and DJ Hicks (INF; On Deck in This Issue... Altamonte Springs, Fla.) each notched two hits with Bright knocking in a run for NABF. USA Baseball selects 5 NABF players...page 3 Meanwhile in the semifi nal, Bright and Patrick Blair (INF; Baltimore, Md.) each 2008 NABF Tournament Schedule...page 5 CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Congrats World Series qualifi ers!...pages 6-7 JULY 2008 JetBox Baseball Club Celebrates 40 years with the NABF By Jim Corte manager in 1973, freeing me to do My name is Jim Corte. I am the what I do best — recruit and man- manager of JetBox Baseball Club. age. I took in 13 college players in My team is comprised of Metro- 1973, changing forever the look of Detroiters and Ontario Canadians. JetBox from old friends who played We play in Michigan and Ontario. for recreation to new young college Stashing over 40 years of operation players still dreaming of a pro con- as the defending NABF Major Cham- tract. By 1976 the JetBox schedule pion in 2008 is as good as it gets. was up to 72 9-inning games. Com- However, Charlie Blackburn, pare this with the 21 games Jet Box the exective director of the NABF, of played in 1969 and you see how Jet- which Jet Box has been a member Box by the mid 1970’s was no lon- since our fi rst season 1969, thinks ger a recreation team, but a team I should tell of all the years leading capable of winning nationally. up to Jet Box’s 40th season. So here I learned how to manage in is the Jim Corte/Jet Box story. these exciting early seasons. My Jet Box Baseball Club was a greasted accomplishment as a idea formed by me and with fi nan- manager is my consistancy over 39 cial help from my Uncle Lou Zardus seasons. Jet Box has only two los- in January of 1969. Lou Zardus was ing seasons in 39 years. My record the president and founder of Jet as manager of Jet Box is 1,283 wins, Box Co. He also taught me how to 688, losses and 23 ties. Under my play baseball when I was grow- leadership, JetBox has been to 18 Upper left corner, Jim Corte making ing up. This time Lou provided the World Series compititions including out the JetBox line-up in 2000. starting capital and I provided the seven years in a row, 1993 to 1999. Below that photo, in 1997 celebrat- baseball ideas. Jet Box joined the I have played in fi ve NABF Major ing the fi rst national championship Detroit Chapter of the National World Series fi nals in four decades: of the NABF Major Division World Amateur Baseball Federation in the 1976, 1989, 1997, 2006, and 2007. Jet- Series. Above, circa 1980s. Winter/Spring of 1969. My mentor Box won two of these NABF cham- was legendary Gordon Williams, pionships in 1997 and 2007. JetBox is a non-profi t 501-c-3 corporation. past president of the NABF. Gordon has played tough regular season We give baseball camps staffed by was the secretery of the NABF and schudules to get ready for the NABF current and past Boxers. We exist led me through my fi rst year of the national games. My best season through tax-deductable donations. amazing world of organized base- has double fi gures losses. I believe Jet Box information and his- ball. I entered Jet Box in Class B and every loss is a lesson teaching my tory can be found at our website, began recruiting my past baseball team that only the best effort can jetboxbaseball.com. buddies from my high school and win a game. Usually when August Thank you for listening to sandlot days in East Detroit and rolls around my team has been only a brief commentary of the Jim Americal Legion of Detroit. In 1969 tested. In the 1980’s, I was closely Corte/JetBox marriage. Thank you, baseball was wood bat. Jet Box won associated with Ron McMinn (SP) Charlie Blackburn, for this invita- our fi rst game played May 4th, 1969 — legendary everthing in the NABF. tion to tell my story. at Detroit Manz Field. Jet Box moved I was an apt pupil of Ron’s infi nite into NABF Class A in 1970. In 1971, wisdom about baseball organiza- I moved JetBox to the suburban tion. JetBox had great teams in the In Remembrance league, Federal Baseball League, 80’s, but only reached the fi nals in where we played into 1986. This was the last year of the decade. I lost to BOB DOSS for many years the toughest league a great team, Cinncinatti Reading, Deadlines competitive-wise in Michigan. From four to three in eleven innings. & Insurance the Federal Baseball League, Jet JetBox sizzled in NABF Tourn- • July 2008. Player certifi ca- Box jumped in the National Cham- ment play in the 1990’s going seven tion list due (Rule 4.02) for eligibil- pionship competition. In 1972, Jet- straight years to the Major NABF ity of players full names per each Box played in the AABC. In 1973, World Series in Louisville. JetBox team from each league must be we played our fi rst NABF National reached the fi nals in 1997 and was submitted not less than 15 days Regional in Cinncinati, Ohio, losing successful on my third try. JetBox prior to the report date for the as- two straight. In 1974, I saw JetBox was the 1997 Major NABF Champion signed Regional or World Series play in Louisville for the fi rst of beating the Fairfi eld Conneticut site. (Review all rules under sec- twenty visits to the NABF heaven. Sounders 8 to 3. In the 2000’s, Jet tions 3.00, 4.00, 5.00 and 6.00) See JetBox won its fi rst NABF national Box ascended to our present status Robert “Bob” Doss passed Individual Team Certifi cation for victories this year going 2 and 2. of NABF Champion by reaching the away January 22, 2008 from a Eligibility form. In 1976, JetBox won its fi rst semifi nals in 2003, national runner lengthy bout with stomach can- NABF title, the Southern NABF -up in 2006, and the Championship cer. He was a loyal member of • 2008 Liability insurance, in 2007.