The M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league consisting of eight teams. Currently, five teams are from

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

, three from

Iowa Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...

. The league was formed in

2009 2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...

and was affiliated with the

National Baseball Congress National Baseball Congress World Series or NBC World Series is an annual collegiate and semi-pro baseball tournament held in Wichita, Kansas, United States. The next series will happen on July 24 to August 2, 2025. It will be held at Eck Stad ...

until 2015.

History

The M.I.N.K. name derives from the 1910 to 1913 Missouri-Iowa-Nebraska-Kansas League minor league of the same name. That league used the acronym M.I.N.K., as teams were represented by Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. The Carroll Merchants moved from the MINK to the Pioneer Collegiate Baseball League after the 2016 season. In November, 2019, The M.I.N.K. Collegiate Baseball League announced that

Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Iowa, most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is the county seat of Polk County, Iowa, Polk County with parts extending into Warren County, Iowa, Wa ...

and

Chanute, Kansas Chanute () is a city in Neosho County, Kansas, Neosho County, Kansas, United States. Founded on January 1, 1873, it was named after railroad engineer and aviation pioneer Octave Chanute. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the po ...

would join the M.I.N.K in 2020, forming a nine team league, with the departure of the Ozark Generals. On May 27, 2020, the MINK League announced the cancellation of the 2020 season due to

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...

. The league notes that: "All MINK Baseball League players are unpaid in order to maintain their NCAA eligibility. Each team is operated in a similar to a professional minor league baseball team, providing players an opportunity to play under the same conditions using wood bats, minor league specification baseballs, experiencing overnight road trips and playing an intense summer league schedule." Prior to the M.I.N.K., the Clarinda A's won the 1981

World Series. The Nevada Griffons were runners up in 1997 and 1998.

Teams

Former teams

* Branson Merchants * Des Moines Peak Prospects * Excelsior Springs Cougars * Omaha Diamond Spirit * Ozark Generals * Joplin Outlaws * Beatrice Bruins

Champions

Notable alumni

Tony Cingrani Anthony Michael Cingrani (born July 5, 1989) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers. Prior to playing professionally, he played for his high sc ...

Clarinda *

Von Hayes Von Francis Hayes (born August 31, 1958) is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an Outfielder from 1981 to 1992, most prominently as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies where ...

Clarinda *

Ozzie Smith Osborne Earl Smith (born December 26, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player. Nicknamed "The Wizard of Oz", Smith played shortstop for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball, winning the National ...

Clarinda

References

External links

MINK League
* {{College Summer Baseball Summer baseball leagues College baseball in Missouri Baseball leagues in Missouri Baseball leagues in Iowa College baseball leagues in the United States Sports leagues established in 2009 2009 establishments in the United States Baseball leagues in Kansas College baseball in Iowa College baseball in Kansas