The National Baseball Congress World Series started with an idea from local businessman Raymond ‘Hap’ Dumont, who envisioned a national baseball tournament in the heart of the country. Dumont owned a sporting goods store in Wichita, and his marketing brilliance, ambition, and willingness to take risks contributed to his success in many ways.
In the 1930s the City of Wichita decided to demolish Ackerman Island, the site of the city’s current ballpark in the middle of the Arkansas River, as a way to widen the river. Dumont stepped in and helped convince city officials to build a new ballpark downtown – Lawrence Stadium, later renamed Lawrence Dumont Stadium in honor of Dumont – where he would host his national baseball tournament. A year later, in 1935, the tournament kicked off with one of the greatest pitchers in baseball, Satchel Paige, headlining the tournament with the Bismarck Churchills.
A Wichita Tradition is Born
From there, the tournament gained national attention from former U.S. presidents, national media outlets, MLB scouts and major names in baseball. The National Baseball Congress sold official baseballs and rule books, the programs featured recaps of every game and unique artwork on every cover. Teams from across the country – and in some years from across the world – came to Wichita late in the summer to play for the national title. Many teams were sponsored by companies, including major national companies like the Boeing Company and Northrop Grumman.
Dumont was not afraid to try new things with the tournament, always keeping it interesting and fresh for both players and fans. At a time when women were scarcely involved in baseball, Dumont hired the NBC’s first female umpire, Lorraine Heinisch, for the Tournament in 1943. Dumont created a pneumatic plate duster, a microphone that arose from home plate, and even proposed a reverse base running rule.
It was Dumont who tried out “glow ball,” hosting a blackout game using a brightly painted balls and equipment. While the idea wasn’t successful, it was one way Dumont tried to make the tournament accessible to shift workers in Wichita, by hosting games late at night and early in the morning. In the early 1940’s, Dumont scheduled games during the tournament that started at 5:00 am and during the seventh inning stretch Dumont would stop the game to serve breakfast to the fans. In 1943, Dumont started ‘Round the clock baseball, scheduling 18 back-to-back games in 40 hours, the predecessor of eventual tournament director Steve Shaad’s ‘Baseball ‘Round the Clock.’ The tradition started in 1990 with 17 consecutive games played in 56 hours. The tradition made national headlines and continued for decades until 2016, but after an eight-year hiatus, Baseball ‘Round the Clock returned in 2024 for the 90th tournament.
Through nine decades of the NBC, hundreds of MLB players played in Wichita, including Ozzie Smith, Joe Carter, Dave Winfield, Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, Roger Clemens, Albert Pujols and many more. Current MLB players like Josh Jung, Ryan Helsley and Tim Anderson continue the great NBC World Series talent tradition.
Keeping Hap’s Legacy Alive
The NBC World Series has always been about pushing the envelope, drawing in crowds with cutting edge ideas and top baseball talent. Thanks to dedicated volunteers, staff, teams, players, communities, partners and fans, the National Baseball Congress looks ahead to the next 90 years, and the future of a baseball tradition.
