NBC World Series to honor Satchel Paige heroics in Wichita to open 90th tournament

Almost a century has passed since legendary pitcher Satchel Paige helped launch the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita into a national success story.

Raymond “Hap” Dumont paid $1,000 to bring Paige and his barnstorming team, the Bismarck (N.D.) Churchills, to the inaugural tournament in 1935. Paige won all four games he started and struck out 60 hitters, which still stands as the tournament record today.

It seemed only fitting to tournament director Katie Woods to pay homage to Paige on opening night of the 90th annual NBC World Series, a 10-day tournament that kicks off Thursday at Wichita State’s Eck Stadium.

Not only will the first 1,000 fans at Eck Stadium when the gates open at 5 p.m. Thursday receive a custom NBC World Series bobblehead of Paige, but members of Paige’s family will throw out the honorary first pitch before a 6 p.m. game between TPA Texas and the Hutchinson Monarchs. Tickets begin at $12 .

There is also a special event being held before Thursday’s game with Michael O’Neal, Paige’s grandson, speaking to guests about Paige’s life and legacy as a trailblazer and baseball legend. The event will be held in the All-American Club at Eck Stadium and begins at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $50 and include entry to the game and dinner courtesy of Candle Club Wichita.

“Satchel Paige’s life and legacy is one of immense talent, determination, joy and breaking down barriers,” Woods said in a statement. “The opportunity to showcase his contributions here in Wichita, which many may not know about, and give a new generation the chance to learn about him is very special.”

The 16-team field will begin with pool play, as pods of four teams play a round-robin schedule with the top three teams from each pool advancing to the single-elimination bracket, which begins July 31. The top team in each pool will receive a bye for the first round of bracket play.

The semifinals will be played on Friday, August 2 and the championship game will be held on Saturday, August 3.

Below are the pools and tournament schedule through pool play.

NBC World Series pools

Pool A: Hutchinson Monarchs, Seattle Studs, TPA Texas, Tulsa Sandlot.

Pool B: GPS Legends, Haysville Aviators, Santa Barbara (Calif.) Foresters, Seattle Blackfins.

Pool C: Boulder (Colo.) Collegians, Derby Twins, Liberal Bee Jays, San Diego (Calif.) Stars.

Pool D: Air Capital Flyers, Hays Larks, Kansas Cannons, Lonestar (Texas) Baseball Club.

NBC World Series schedule

Thursday —TPA Texas vs. Hutchinson Monarchs, 6 p.m.; Tulsa Sandlot vs. Seattle Studs, 8:30.

Friday —Lonestar Baseball Club vs. Kansas Cannons, noon; Seattle Blackfins vs. Haysville Aviators, 3; GPS Legends vs. Santa Barbara Foresters, 6; Air Capital Flyers vs. Hays Larks, 8:30.

Saturday —Boulder Collegians vs. San Diego Stars, noon; Liberal Bee Jays vs. Derby Twins, 3; Seattle Studs vs. TPA Texas, 6; Santa Barbara Foresters vs. Seattle Blackfins, 9; Hutchinson Monarchs vs. Tulsa Sandlot, midnight.

Sunday —GPS Legends vs. Haysville Aviators, 3 a.m.; Air Capital Flyers vs. Lonestar Baseball Club, 6; Derby Twins vs. Boulder Collegians, 9; Hays Larks vs. Kansas Cannons, noon; Liberal Bee Jays vs. San Diego Stars, 3 p.m.; Seattle Studs vs. Doc’s Bombers (exhibition), 6.

Monday, July 29 —TPA Texas vs. Tulsa Sandlot, noon; Santa Barbara Foresters vs. Haysville Aviators, 3; Hutchinson Monarchs vs. Seattle Studs, 6; Seattle Blackfins vs. GPS Legends, 8:30.

Tuesday, July 30 —San Diego Stars vs. Derby Twins, noon; Air Capital Flyers vs. Kansas Cannons, 3; Lonestar Baseball Club vs. Hays Larks, 6; Boulder Collegians vs. Liberal Bee Jays, 8:30.