The Bristol American Legion baseball program began play in 1928 with a team sponsored by St. Ann’s School and has had a team entered in competition every year since then. As of 2012, Bristol has won 14 state senior division championships, the most of any program in the state, and one junior division title. Bristol has been runner-up in the state tournament four times.
Post 2 teams have appeared in four American Legion World Series in 1974, 1984, 1997 and 2008.
Bristol has had 12 state tournament MVP’s, including Dave Cichon who was chosen twice in the 1960’s and has had several of its graduates go on to play professional baseball including Tom Shopay who reached the major leagues with the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles. Many Bristol Legion graduates have also enjoyed successful collegiate careers.
The program has won Zone One crowns 32 times and has hosted the state tournament 35 times since 1962 and the Northeast Regional tournament on seven occasions. The organization’s success has been characterized by the many long term volunteers who headed up, coached or otherwise helped with the program, some who have also been inducted into the BSHOF.
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