Babe Ruth Baseball was founded in 1951 in Hamilton Township, a suburb of Trenton, New Jersey, to provide wholesome amateur baseball for 13, 14 and 15 year old players. It all started out with a four team league that was designed to follow Little League Baseball, which at the time was only involved with the 5-12 year old age category. In 1953 the Pacific Northwest Region of Babe Ruth Baseball was established with the formation of a 13-15 Year-Old Division.
Highlights
1953:
Pacific Northwest Region was established with the formation of a 13-15 Year-Old Division. John Laxson of Portland, Oregon elected as the first Regional Director. First Regional Tournament Champion was Seattle, Washington.
1959:
George Wyse of Seattle, Washington elected Regional Director.
1961:
Ira Decker of Billings, Montana elected Regional Director.
1963:
Floyd Markham of Portland, Oregon elected Regional Director.
1966:
Gene Wood of Casper, Wyoming elected Regional Director.
1967:
Wilf Sadler of Victoria, British Columbia elected Regional Director.
1971:
Duane Ward of Wheatland, Wyoming elected Regional Director.
1972:
16-18 Year-Old Division established. First Regional Tournament Champion was Chinook, Washington.
1978:
Regional Director title changed to Regional Commissioner.
1980:
13 Year-Old Division established. Oregon state boundary split into North and South. First Regional Tournament Champion was Keizer-Salem, North Oregon.
1983:
Jim Lemp, Cheyenne, WY - Elected Regional Commissioner.
1984:
Bambino Division for players ages 5-12 established. First Regional Tournament Champion was Helena, Montana.
1988:
Washington state boundary split into North and South.
1994:
16 Year-Old Division established. First Regional Tournament Champion was Portland-Metro, North Oregon.
1996:
11 Year-Old Division established. First Regional Tournament Champion was Western Youth, South Washington.
1999:
14 Year-Old Division established. First Regional Tournament Champion was Rexburg, Idaho.
1999:
Jim Walling, Lolo, MT – Babe Ruth Baseball’s National Volunteer of the Year Award
2000:
Bambino Division renamed Cal Ripken Baseball, a division of Babe Ruth League, Inc,
2000:
Gord Welbourne, Surrey, BC - Elected Regional Commissioner.
2001:
10 & Under Division established. First Regional Tournament Champion was Kennewick Americans, South Washington.
2002:
Pacific Northwest Region’s Roll of Honor established.
2007:
Cal Ripken Major 70-Foot Division established. First Tournament was held in Nampa, Idaho. First Regional Champion was Olympia/Black Hills, South Washington.
2011:
9 & Under Division established. First Regional Tournament Champion was Meridian Storm, Idaho.
2013:
Dennis Devlin, Washougal, WA – Babe Ruth Baseball’s National Volunteer of the Year Award.
2016:
Jerry Bodden, Lewiston, ID - Elected Regional Commissioner.
2017:
Randy Boruff, Ephrata, WA - Babe Ruth Baseball’s National Volunteer of the Year Award.
2020:
Brent Stenman, Poulsbo, WA - Elected Regional Commissioner.
2022:
Brian Pipes, Trail, BC - Elected to Babe Ruth League, Inc. Hall of Fame.
2023:
Mike Doyle, Calgary, AB - Pacific Northwest Region Volunteer of the Year Award.
PNW World Series Champions
1972:
Seattle, Washington (16-18 Division)
1975:
Kirkland, Washington (16-18 Division)
1989:
Medford, South Oregon (13 Division)
1989:
Forest Grove, North Oregon (16-18 Division)
1992:
Vancouver, South Washington (16-18 Division)
1994:
Kennewick, South Washington (Bambino Division)
1994:
Vancouver, South Washington (13-15 Division)
1995:
Columbia Basin, North Washington (16 Division)
1995:
Vancouver, South Washington (16-18 Division)
1996:
Vancouver, South Washington (13-15 Division)
1998:
Columbia Basin, North Washington (16-18 Division)
2000:
Kennewick, South Washington (14 Division)
2001:
Vancouver, South Washington (13 Division)
2002:
Vancouver, South Washington (14 Division)
2008:
Portland, North Oregon (16-18 Division)
2009:
West Lewis County, South Washington (CR Major/60 Division)
2009:
Puget Sound, North Washington (16-18 Division)
2011:
Tualatin Hills, North Oregon (14 Division)
2015:
Columbia Basin, North Washington (16-18 Division)
2016:
Kennewick Americans, South Washington (CR Major/70 Division)
2017:
Ferndale, North Washington (CR Major/60 Division)
2023:
Portland, North Oregon (13-15 Division)