Facts about the history of American Legion Baseball in the Department of Arizona.
NOTE: As we prepare to celebrate American Legion Baseball’s centennial season, we’re taking a quick look at historical facts from each Legion department which sponsors, or has sponsored, the program. Check out stories at Legion.org/Baseball (or click here for the previous story) and stay up-to-date on centennial happenings using #LegionBaseball100 on social media.
The American Legion Baseball Slugger of the Year Award was created in 1945 to recognize the player with the highest batting average in American Legion Baseball national competition. Established in 1970, the Dr. Irvin L. “Click” Cowger Memorial RBI Award is presented to the player with the most RBIs that season in national American Legion Baseball competition.
The first player to win both awards in the same season was Rodney Walton of Phoenix Post 1, who batted .548 with 20 RBIs in 1971 as Post 1 reached the American Legion World Series — played, coincidentally, in Tucson, Ariz.
Seven other players have since won both awards in the same season, most recently Ron Franklin of Destrehan (La.) Post 366, who batted .600 with 15 RBIs in 2019.
Facts about Arizona Legion Baseball
First season of American Legion Baseball: 1928.
First state champion: Phoenix.
Baseball Hall of Famers (1): Jim Palmer, Scottsdale, 1990.
American Legion World Series titles (1): Phoenix Post 1, 1961.
American Legion World Series appearances (7): Phoenix, 1959, 1970, 1971; Tucson, 1944, 1945, 1968, 2007.
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