The Bethesda Big Train is a collegiate summer baseball team based in Bethesda, Maryland. Most of its players are drawn from the college ranks. The team is a member of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL), and derives its name from the nickname of Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson, who was a Bethesda resident for ten years. The Big Train plays its home games at Shirley Povich Field. The Big Train is owned and operated by the non-profit The Bethesda Community Base Ball Club, Inc., and is funded through merchandise sales, donations, and other fundraising efforts at games. As of March 2008, 34 Big Train Alumni have played professional baseball.
Video Bethesda Big Train
History
The Bethesda Community Baseball Club, Inc. was founded in 1998 "to raise funds to improve the quality of youth baseball and softball fields in Montgomery County and the District of Columbia." Proceeds from the operations of the Bethesda Big Train are used to further this mission. As of March 2008 the Club reports they have raised $300,000 in support of this mission.
The Big Train commenced play in 1999 as part of the Clark Griffith League (CGL). In 2004, they won the CGL championship.
In 2005 the Big Train joined the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL). That first year, the team won the regular season championship and shared the league championship with the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts. In 2006 the Big Train were the regular season champions. In 2009, the Big Train won both the regular season and league championships. In 2010, the Big Train captured their 2nd straight league championship after placing 3rd in the regular season, and in 2011 rolled to their 3rd consecutive league championship with a 36-9 overall record and were ranked the #1 summer collegiate baseball league team in the nation by Perfect Game USA.
In early 2012, BCBBC announced its merger with one of its longtime partners, BCC Baseball. Both organizations now operate as a single non-profit entity under the banner of the Bethesda Big Train. To this day, all proceeds from the Bethesda Big Train continue to enrich the ballfields of Montgomery County, MD and the District of Columbia. Starting in the summer of 2012, the summer camp programs of the BCBBC and BBC Baseball also became one. The Bethesda Big Train summer baseball camp will allow for an even wider range of young people to take advantage of what the Big Train players and coaches have to offer.
Maps Bethesda Big Train
Notable alumni
- Hunter Renfroe, 2012 Big Train, first player to ever have his number retired by the Big Train since they have been a member of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, 13th overall pick in 2013 MLB Draft (San Diego Padres)
- Michael McKenry, 2004 Big Train, has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Colorado Rockies.
- John Maine, 2000 Big Train, was an MLB player from 2004 to 2013.
- Bobby Livingston, 2001 Big Train, was an MLB player in 2006 and 2007.
- Dirk Hayhurst, 2001 Big Train, was an MLB player in 2008 and 2009.
- Steve Schmoll, 2000 Big Train, was an MLB player in 2005.
- Charlton Jimerson, 1999 Big Train, was an MLB player from 2005 to 2008.
- Carlos Gutierrez, 27th overall draft pick in 2008 draft
- Chris Mobley, 2002 Big Train, 2005 SAL All Star
- Evan Frederickson, 1st round draft pick
References
External links
- Bethesda Big Train Official Website
- Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Official Website
- Clark Griffith League Official Website
Source of article : Wikipedia
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