The Future of a Baseball Tradition
NBC World Series
August 3-12, 2023
Wichita, KS
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1950s Blackouts=Glow-in-the-Dark Baseball
Baseball in the dark? Leave it to Hap.
Perhaps one of NBC founder Hap Dumont’s wildest ideas – of which there were many – was to turn the lights off.
During World War II city-wide blackouts were instituted which required businesses and …
MLB Pitch Clock Has Roots in Wichita’s National Baseball Congress
If you’ve been following Major League Baseball this spring one thing you’ve undoubtedly noticed is that baseball games are faster…much faster. With the introduction of the pitch clock this year, game times are down over 30 minutes from the 2022 …
Our History
Home Run!
A Baseball Legacy Begins
In 1934, NBC founder Raymond “Hap” Dumont convinced the City of Wichita to build Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in order to host a national baseball tournament. In 1935, he held the first National Baseball Congress tournament, which was a huge risk on his part (similar tournaments had failed miserably on both coasts).
He offered the legendary Satchel Paige $1,000 to bring his barnstorming team from Bismarck, ND. Paige and support from the local media & national publication, The Sporting News, helped make the tournament an instant homerun. Hap didn’t have much money, but was able to pay Paige & the other players due to its success.
