American Baseball Coaches Association
Encyclopedia
The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) is a baseball
coaching
organization formed in 1945. It is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level.
Coaches. Presidents have come from NCAA Divisions I, II & III, NAIA
, junior college, and high school. The Association was behind the start of the creation of the College World Series
, which now is conducted by the NCAA.
was established in 1966.
The ABCA has selected All-America
n Teams in each division of the ABCA, as well as an All-American/Coach of the Year Committee, as well as All-Region Teams. Each division also selects a National Player of the Year, as well as All-Region Coaches of the Year and National Coaches of the Year. Each year, over 1,700 All-Region Players and 336 All-American Players are selected.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
coaching
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
organization formed in 1945. It is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level.
History
The organization was originally named the American Association of College BaseballCollege baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
Coaches. Presidents have come from NCAA Divisions I, II & III, NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
, junior college, and high school. The Association was behind the start of the creation of the College World Series
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
, which now is conducted by the NCAA.
Scope
The Association now has approximately 6,200 members with members from 23 different countries, and includes coaches other than college members. In 1981 it changed its name to its current name.Hall of Fame
The ABCA Hall of FameHall of Fame
A hall of fame, wall of fame, walk of fame, walk of stars or avenue of stars is a type of attraction established for any field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field...
was established in 1966.
Awards
- See footnote
The ABCA has selected All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n Teams in each division of the ABCA, as well as an All-American/Coach of the Year Committee, as well as All-Region Teams. Each division also selects a National Player of the Year, as well as All-Region Coaches of the Year and National Coaches of the Year. Each year, over 1,700 All-Region Players and 336 All-American Players are selected.
- Lefty Gomez Award (since 1962)
- ACBA/RawlingsRawlings (company)Rawlings is a sports equipment manufacturing company in the United States. It was founded in 1887. The parent company is Jarden, Inc. Rawlings specializes in baseball equipment, but also manufactures softball, basketball, training equipment and American footballs...
Honors Awards
- ABCA Meritorious Service Award
- ACBA/Diamond Coaches of the Year:
- NCAA Division I National and Regional Coaches of the Year
- NCAA Division II National and Regional Coaches of the Year
- NCAA Division III National and Regional Coaches of the Year
- NAIA National and Regional Coaches of the Year
- NJCAA Division I National and Regional Coaches of the Year
- NJCAA Division II National and Regional Coaches of the Year
- NJCAA Division III National and Regional Coaches of the Year
- Pacific Association Division Coach of the Year
- High School National and Regional Coaches of the Year
- ABCA/Baseball AmericaBaseball AmericaBaseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
Assistant Coach of the Year (college) (since 1999)
- Players of the Year:
- NCAA Division I Player of the Year
- NCAA Division II Player of the Year
- NCAA Division III Player of the Year
- NAIA Player of the Year
- NJCAA Division I Player of the Year
- NJCAA Division II Player of the Year
- NJCAA Division III Player of the Year
- Pacific Association Division Player of the Year
- High School Player of the Year
- ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans:
- NCAA Division I All-Americans (first, second, and third teams)
- NCAA Division II All-Americans (first, second, and third teams)
- NCAA Division III All-Americans (first, second, and third teams)
- NAIA All-Americans (first, second, and third teams)
- NJCAA Division I All-Americans (first, second, and third teams)
- NJCAA Division II All-Americans (first, second, and third teams)
- NJCAA Division III All-Americans (first, second, and third teams)
- Pacific Association Division All-Americans (first, second, and third teams)
- High School All-Americans (first, second, and third teams)
- Gold Glove Awards:
- NCAA Division I Gold Glove
- NCAA Division II Gold Glove
- NCAA Division III Gold Glove
- NAIA Gold Glove
- NJCAA Division I Gold Glove
- NJCAA Division II Gold Glove
- NJCAA Division III Gold Glove
- Pacific Association Division Gold Glove
- High School Gold Glove
- ABCA/Rawlings All-Region:
- NCAA Division I All-Region
- NCAA Division II All-Region
- NCAA Division III All-Region
- NAIA All-Region
- NJCAA Division I All-Region
- NJCAA Division II All-Region
- NJCAA Division III All-Region
- Pacific Association Division All-Region
- High School All-Region
- National Champions:
- NCAA Division I National Champion
- NCAA Division II National Champion
- NCAA Division III National Champion
- NAIA National Champion
- NJCAA Division I National Champion
- NJCAA Division II National Champion
- NJCAA Division III National Champion
- Conference Champions:
- NCAA Division I Conference Champions
- NCAA Division II Conference Champions
- NCAA Division III Conference Champions
- NAIA Conference Champions
- NJCAA Division I Conference Champions
- NJCAA Division II Conference Champions
- NJCAA Division III Conference Champions
- NCCAA Conference Champions
- Community College Conference Champions
See also
- Baseball awards#U.S. college baseball
- Baseball awards#U.S. high-school baseball
- 1993 College Baseball All-America Team1993 College Baseball All-America TeamAn All-American team is an honorary sports team composed of the best amateur players of a specific season for each position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply "All-Americans". Although the honorees generally do not...