Midwest Suburban League Chicago

The Midwest Suburban League Chicago is an amateur men's baseball league in the Midwest suburbs of Chicago. The MSL Chicago is home to many players including ex high school, college and ex college players. The MSL offers three different levels of play depending on players' and teams' experience. Newly formed teams start in the A division, and more experienced teams play in the AA and AAA divisions.

Midwest Suburban Baseball League Chicago (MSL)
Established	1998
Association	MSL
Division	Chicago Summer and Fall League
Members	50+
Sports fielded	2 (men's: 1; women's: 0)
Region	Midwestern United States
Former names	N/A
Headquarters	Chicago, Illinois
Commissioner	Larry Kolcz (since 1998)
Website	http://www.midwestsuburbanleague.com/
Locations

History

The Midwest Suburban Baseball League was organized in 1998 by individuals who wanted to establish a well organized, competitive baseball league. The league's early success was realized when twenty teams joined in its first season, and the league grew to over thirty teams by 1999. At this point, the league consisted of three divisions with different levels of play. The league continued to grow each season and had to expand to four divisions including one wooden bat division.

Affiliations

MSBL/MABL (Men's Senior Baseball League, Men's Adult Baseball League)

Divisions

The Midwest Suburban Baseball League consists of three main divisions: National, American, and Central (AAA, AA, A). The National division is further broken down into a wooden bat division and a metal bat division.

National North Division (wood bat)

The National North Division is composed of experienced baseball players wanting to compete at a higher level with the use of wood bats.

-River Bandits (www.chicagoriverbandits.com)

National South Division

The National South Division is the equivalent to the National North Division with the exception that players use metal bats. Together, these divisions make of the National League.

Current National South Teams

• Athletics
• Diablos
• Longhorns
• Lookouts
• Redhawks
• Scorpions
• Snappers

American Division

The American Division is composed of experienced high school and college players. Metal bats are used by all players.

Current American North Teams

• Cubs
• Nationals
• Sound
• Stallions
• Wildcats (www.WheatonWildcats.com)

Current American South Teams

• Angels
• Blue Jays
• Brewers
• Knights
• Weasels

Current American East Teams

• Blue Ribbons
• Devils (www.chicagodevilsbaseball.com)
• Dodgers
• Punishers
• Tigers

Current American West Teams

• Bandits (www.chicagoriverbandits.com)
• Bears
• Braves
• Dragons
• Red Sox

Central Division

The Central Division tends to be made up of newly formed teams in which most players have played at the high school level. Metal bats are also used in the Central Division.

Current Central North Teams

• Chiefs
• Diamondbacks
• Sidewinders
• Westdale

Current Central South Teams

• Black Sox
• Firebirds
• Lunatics
• White Sox

Current Central East Teams

• CRB (www.chicagoriverbandits.com)
• Med Sox
• Phillies
• Thunder
• Warriors

Current Central West Teams

• Isotopes
• Pirates
• Rhinos
• Rockys
• Royals

All-Star Games

The Midwest Suburban Baseball League holds an all-star game annually for each of the three divisions. Each all-star game is held at Alexian Brother's Field in Schaumburg, Illinois. Alexian Brother's Field is also where the league championship games are held. All-star selection is based on each team's own method, but two players from each team play in an all-star game. All-star team managers are selected based on team winning percentages at a date before the all-star break. Also, in between all-star games player's have the opportunity to sign up for a home run derby, a fastest man contest, and a hardest thrower contest. Home run derby contestants are allowed ten swings to hit as many home runs as possible and typically pay a $25 entry fee. Fastest man contestants run around the bases three times and the best time is saved. Typically, a $25 entry fee is required for the fastest man contest. Hardest thrower contestants are allowed ten throws and typically pay $25 dollars as an entry fee. A percentage of all proceeds from all-star events is contributed to charity.

Locations

All locations are in or near the greater Chicago area. Fields include college, minor league, or community parks.

• Arlington Heights Library
• Barrington High School
• Bartlett, Trail's End Park
• Bensenville, John C. Geils Field
• Berwyn, behind Freedom Middle School
• Brookfield
• Bridgeview Golf Dome
• Chicago State
• Cicero
• College of Lake County
• Dundee Crown High School
• Eisenhower High School
• Gary
• Grosche Field
• Gwendolyn Brooks
• Hersey High School
• Howie Minas Field
• Illinois Institute of Technology
• Judson College
• LaGrange (Eastwick/Segwick Park
• Lake in the Hills
• Lake Zurich High School
• Meadow Hill Park
• Morton West High School
• Niles North High School
• Niles West High School
• Oakton Community College
• Plote
• Recreation Park
• Rockford Marinelli Park
• Rolling Meadows (Salk Park)
• St. Charles North High School
• Trout Park
• Wing Park

Sponsors

Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, ATI Physical Therapy, VividSeats.com, Go Hardball baseball academy, United Consumer Mortgage.

References

"Midwest Suburban League Chicago". http://midwestsuburbanleague.com/. Retrieved 2009-04-06.  "MSBL/MABL". http://www.msblnational.com/main.aspx. Retrieved 2009-04-06.