Starting in 1935, the National Baseball Congress World Series is one of the greatest traditions in baseball. The tournament features 16 top college summer teams from around the country who descend on Wichita, Kan. for 10 days of a flurry of outstanding baseball. It is a distinctly special event, featuring it’s Round the Clock baseball games going all through the night, and as a place to watch all kinds of future MLB Hall-of-Famers.

The NBC World Series takes place at Wichita State’s Eck Stadium, with the championship game at Wichita’s minor league stadium, Equity Bank Ballpark. That first tournament in 1935 happened due to Raymond “Hap” Dumont who offered Satchel Paige $1,000 to bring his Bismarck, N.D. barnstorming team. With coverage and sponsorship from the Sporting News (baseball’s bible at the time) the tournament was an instant national success.

MLB Players

Satchel Paige played in the first one, and current MLB stars Aaron Judge, Paul Goldschmidt, Garret Crochet and Corbin Burnes also played. And this doesn’t even include a host of others over the last 91 years: Albert Pujols, Roger Clemens, Tony Gwynn, Barry Bonds, Dave Winfield, Robin Ventura, Lance Berkman, and Mark Texeira.

Baseball Round the Clock

One of their most renown traditions is their Baseball Round the Clock weekend, where teams play 11 games in 33 straight hours. Fans who stay through the night for all 33 hours receive an “I Survived Baseball Round the Clock” t-shirt that can’t be purchased.

National Baseball Congress founder Hap Dumont came up with the idea of having late-night and early-morning games in the tournament to make games accessible to Wichita fans working swing and graveyard shifts. Tournament director Steve Shaad formalized the tradition in 1990 with the introduction of ‘Baseball ‘Round the Clock” as 17 games in 56 hours. BRTC ran every year after that at the NBC World Series through 2016 before coming to a halt. It returned in 2024 as 11 games in 33 hours.

NBC Baseball Foundation

The NBC Baseball Foundation connects communities through baseball, empowers young athletes, and preserves America’s pastime for future generations. Through their comprehensive programs and the renowned NBC World Series, they create opportunities for players to showcase their talents while building lasting bonds that extend far beyond the diamond.

The Foundation’s commitment spans from supporting local youth leagues to celebrating the rich history and traditions that make baseball America’s beloved national pastime. To support their mission, learn more here: Support the NBC Foundation

Watch Live!

All games are broadcast live on youtube at: NBC World Series – Youtube

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NBC World Series Tournament Central

Source: NBCBaseball.com