Breda, Smith & Standiford Join 2026 NBC Hall of Fame

National Baseball Congress Announces 2026 Hall of Fame Class

Garrett Breda, Hilton Smith, and Mark Standiford Join the Prestigious Ranks

Wichita, Kansas – November 5, 2026 – The National Baseball Congress (NBC) is proud to announce the inductees for the 2026 class of the NBC Hall of Fame. This year’s honorees include players, coaches, and contributors who have impacted the NBC World Series and the game of baseball. Garrett Breda, Hilton Smith, and Mark Standiford will be inducted into the NBC Hall of Fame in a ceremony on Thursday, January 29th, at B-29 Doc Hangar, Education & Visitors Center in Wichita, Kansas.

2026 NBC Hall of Fame inductees:

Garrett Breda – Known as “The Captain” during his time with the Seattle Cheney Studs, Breda is one of the most accomplished position players in NBC World Series history during the modern wood bat era. Playing for the Seattle Studs from 2007 to 2018, he appeared in 11 NBC tournaments. Breda was a two-time NBC World Series Champion with the Studs, winning titles in 2013 against Wellington Heat and 2015 against Haysville Aviators, while also making championship game appearances in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2014. His career statistics with the Studs included 447 games played, 317 hits, 10 home runs, 185 RBIs, and a .250 batting average. Breda also holds the NBC record for most sacrifice bunts with 11 and is tied for most runners caught stealing in a tournament with seven. His contributions to the Studs were honored when the team retired his number #2 in 2018, recognizing his leadership and dedication to one of the NBC’s most successful franchises.

Hilton Smith – One of the greatest pitchers in Negro League history, Smith competed in the NBC World Series with the Bismarck Churchills in 1935 and 1936. In 1935, Smith appeared in two games in right field as Bismarck won the NBC championship. The following year, he dominated the tournament, appearing in all seven of Bismarck’s games—four as a pitcher, two in right field, and one as a pinch hitter. His 1936 NBCWS pitching performance was remarkable: 4-0 record, three complete games, 30.1 innings pitched, just 3 runs allowed, and 25 strikeouts. He was equally impressive at the plate hitting a combined .313 between the two tournaments. Smith went on to become a legendary Negro League star with the Kansas City Monarchs, where he pitched a no-hitter, was named to six consecutive Negro League all-star teams, and posted a remarkable 93-11 record from 1939 to 1942. Known for his six quality pitches and multiple arm angles, Smith played in the shadow of Satchel Paige but was equally talented. He famously recommended Jackie Robinson to the Monarchs’ owner after seeing him play during a barnstorming tour. When the Dodgers signed Robinson in 1947 they tried to land Hilton too. At 40 years old he no longer had his best stuff. After retiring from baseball he became a scout for the Chicago Cubs. In his mid-70s, Smith wrote to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown politely stating his qualifications for admission but never received a response. He passed away in 1983, and in 2001, he was rightfully elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Mark Standiford – A multifaceted contributor to the National Baseball Congress, Standiford has been involved with the NBC for over five decades. His connection to NBC baseball began in 1974 and 1975 as a batboy for the Kountry Tyme team during the NBC Kansas State Tournament at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, while his brother was the catcher. As a player, he competed for the Wichita Broncos in 1985, won the 1986 NBC Championship with the Anchorage Glacier-Pilots while a junior at Wichita State, scoring two runs in the 11-8 championship victory, and played for various teams through 1996 when he both played for and sponsored the Wichita Sluggers alumni team. Standiford then transitioned to management, leading the Wichita Braves and Wichita Sluggers to multiple tournament appearances. In 2003, he became the only manager to manage two teams in the same NBC World Series—the Wichita Sluggers and Wichita Braves. As a player at Wichita State University, Standiford was called “the most prolific power hitter in Shocker baseball history,” still holding the career home run record (69) and single-season home run record (28). He has since been inducted into the Wichita State Shocker Sports Hall of Fame, the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame, and the Wichita Sports Hall of Fame. For the past 17 seasons, Standiford has served as head coach at Tabor College, where he has led the Bluejays to the NAIA World Series in 2014 and 2015, five KCAC regular-season titles, and a remarkable 642-290-1 (.688) record. Under his leadership, 144 players have received All-KCAC awards, 14 have been named NAIA All-Americans, and 18 have played professionally, including 2021 World Series champion Jacob Webb of the Atlanta Braves.

2026 National Baseball Congress Hall of Fame Celebration

Interested in becoming a sponsor or purchasing a table for the ceremony? For sponsorship opportunities or purchasing a table, please contact Brian@NBCbaseball.com.

Tickets will go on sale soon—stay tuned for announcements!