OUR MISSION
Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA) strives to provide the Gold Standard of amateur baseball by stimulating interest and competition at the local level as well as opportunity to play at the national level CABA World Series.
BACKGROUND
Continental Amateur Baseball Association (CABA) launched our initial season in 1984 has baseball leagues and/or tournaments for ages 8u through 19+ and World Series for 9u through 18u.
Many thousands of teams from virtually every state, along with Puerto Rico, Panama, Guam, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and the Dominican Republic have participated in CABA World Series events. In addition, hundreds of CABA World Series Alumni Players that have since gone on to play in the Major League Baseball.
CABA was the innovator in providing national level events for single age levels 9-18. In addition, the CABA initiated round robin play leading to an elimination play championship bracket. These seem almost standard procedure in today’s youth baseball world, but in 1984, it was a revolution!
CABA WORLD SERIES – THE GOLD STANDARD
We are aware that you have a number of options to choose from and appreciate the fact that you are considering CABA. Of course the ultimate goal in participating with CABA. is to participate in one of our World Series events. Allow us now to introduce our World Series:
Our goal is to provide some of the best World Series available and strive to set the Gold Standard in amateur baseball in regards to professionalism, quality fields, team and fan experience.
We offer multiple means by which to qualify for participation in our available CABA World Series:
- In areas with high levels of participation, such as Illinois, Michigan, Puerto Rico, Washington, Delaware and Ohio, league play is often used as a means of qualification
- Tournament qualification at the local level is the most frequent means of qualification
- In areas where C.A.B.A. does not have a strong presence or when dealing with a historically faithful team or program that is routinely a worthy World Series participant, we will grant at-large berths
GAMES: Teams participating in C.A.B.A. World Series will get not less than 4 games, typically accomplished in pool play, but may be part of the elimination structure.
FORMAT: Following pool play, the top 4, 8, 16, or 32 teams (depending upon the size of the event) as determined by overall record in pool standing will advance to elimination championship play. We typically have no consolation bracket, although some sites offer this courtesy. Generally, however, we feel that by providing 5-6 games in pool play, teams have ample opportunity to prove they belong in championship contention and that we are being sufficiently accommodating. Personally, we have always thought there was something very convoluted about the 23rd and 24th best teams in the tournament taking home trophies, while the 3rd and 4th place teams got none.
A FINAL NOTE REGARDING OUR CABA WORLD SERIES
Our World Series hosts work hard to find the best hotels in their respective areas at the best possible prices. It is vital in order for sites to obtain the local community support they need to make our events a success, that you patronize the hotels contracted through the event as listed on their website. If not listed, we encourage you to use our free ASA travel coordination which they can find local hotels and also sometimes able to provide opportunities for discounted meals at some locations and almost all sites have recreational opportunities planned.
At CABA events, you will be respected as valuable customers, not cattle. We will answer or return phone calls and reply to your email. Sites will work hard, if it does rain, to keep the event rolling. Your opinions matter to us and it is important that you feel you have been treated fairly, and in a courteous, friendly manner.
OUR FOUNDERS’ LEGACY LIVES ON WITH CURRENT BOARD STRONG LEADERSHIP
Ron Golden and Roger Tremaine original founders wanted to provide more teams the opportunity to participate against teams from other parts of the country at a highly competitive level of play. Roger Tremaine served as the first Executive Director and was the brain trust of the organization for more than 20 years and it was his intuitive understanding of the heart and mind of coaches that led to fresh ideas for amateur baseball. In the early days of the C.A.B.A., Carl Williams, now deceased, served as President and it was his responsibility to develop world series sites for the organization – and develop he did. Roger and Carl, along with Ed Carpenter, developed what has become a 30 year relationship with Euclid, Ohio, site of our aluminum bat High School Division World Series. Being intent on making CABA national in scope resulted in enlisting Kirkland, Washington to host the 14 year old World Series. This led to the northwest being a mainstay of the organization for nearly 30 years. Those sites, along with others in Texas, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri, gave the C.A.B.A. a national flavor.
Upon Roger’s passing in October of 2005, then First Vice President Larry Redwine was unanimous choice to succeed Roger in that capacity. Larry, who coached nationally competitive summer teams for 33 years, along with serving as head coach at Xavier University in the early 80’s through the early 90’s, now serves as the organizations C.E.O after 9 years as Executive Director. John Rhodes, President of one of America’s elite programs, the Diamond Devils Baseball program out of South Carolina was chosen as President and C.O.O. in late 2013. Other Executive Board members are Long time Commissioner and Newspaper Editor John Mocny, Executive Vice President Fran Pell, Senior Vice President East Guerry Baldwin and Senior Vice President West Si Pettrow from Southern California. This group rounds out what is arguably the most “baseball”accomplished leadership team in amateur baseball. Guerry Baldwin Directs the East Cobb program in Marietta, GA. His personal teams have captured over 35 world series championships over the years, and serves also to host the 16 year old world series, while his organization also hosts the 13 year old wood bat World Series. John Rhodes, also serves as host of the 15, HS and 18 and year old Wood Bat World Series’. The remaining officers are: Vice President of the Caribbean and South America, Arturo Perez, who has made Puerto Rico and Panama participating staples for CABA Vice President Legal, Mike Maundrell (A successful coach at the youth and college levels for 40 years); Vice President for Public Relations, Mike Montgomery (26 years of baseball coaching experience who also served as basketball coach and Athletic Director for many years). Vice President West, Bill Beckett (long time summer and high school coach and tournament director), while Vice President for Membership Development, Jerry Salyers, brings nearly 40 years coaching experience to the group.
The CABA Leadership team is also made strong through the work of Vice President for Administration and Travel Susan Nabhan and Vice President for Administration and Insurance Nancy Pell. The work of CPA Paul Williams and technology partner Gina Pettrow, USA Premier Sports strengthens our technical team to keep the program on solid ground and tech savvy.
As you can see, we have not comprised our leadership team of business savvy individuals simply out to develop an entrepreneurial endeavor, but real baseball people that understand the goals and objectives of youth baseball teams and their coaches.
FROM LARRY REDWINE, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND JOHN RHODES CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Thanks for taking the time to read through this material. Your interest is sincerely appreciated. If we can be of further service, feel free to contact us by phone or email.