Alaska Baseball League

Founded in 1974, the Alaska Baseball League (ABL) is an amateur collegiate summer wood-bat league based in southern Alaska, dedicated to providing minor league-level competition for NCAA-eligible players aspiring to professional baseball. It typically features 5 teams in 4 Alaskan cities (Anchorage, Chugiak-Eagle River, Palmer, and Kenai), divided into a single division, though it operated with 4 teams in 2025 due to the Peninsula Oilers' temporary suspension for fundraising. The season runs ~40-44 games from early June to late July, followed by playoffs culminating in the Top of the World Championship series (best-of-three). Players use wood/wood-composite bats and Diamond baseballs, live with host families, and remain unpaid to maintain eligibility. The league emphasizes player development, community involvement, and MLB scouting, with over 100 alumni reaching the majors (e.g., Barry Bonds, Josh Donaldson, Aaron Boone). It has a history of success at the National Baseball Congress World Series and operates as a non-profit with volunteer support. In 2025, the Mat-Su Miners won the championship via a walk-off victory.