Hitting Homeruns from Cape Cod to The World Series

by Jenna Schmidt

The Texas Rangers and the Arizona Diamondbacks can thank the Cape Cod Baseball League for nurturing some of the players that helped get them to the World Series. According to the CCBL’s website seven of the Rangers players and nine of the Diamondbacks players competed in the CCBL. The CCBL is a collegiate level summer league that just celebrated its 100th season. 10 teams across the Cape compete from June through August. All but one of these teams have at least one former player competing in the World Series.

The Diamondbacks have players who competed in the CCBL as early as 2005 and as recently as 2019, and the Rangers have players who competed as early as 2010 and as recently as 2018. The Diamondback players from the CCBL are, Evan Longoria (Chatham 2005) Pavin Smith (Harwich 2016) Zac Gallen (Chatham 2014/2015) Kevin Ginkel (Cotuit 2015) Joe Mantiply (Harwich 2011) Ryne Nelson (Yarmouth-Dennis 2018) Brandon Pfaadt (Warham 2019) Andrew Saalfrank (Bourne 2018) and, Ryan Thompson (Hyannis 2013).

The Rangers players from the CCBL are, Cody Bradford (Chatham 2018) Andrew Heaney (Falmouth 2011) Josh Sborz (Orleans 2013/2014) Chris Stratton (Harwich 2011) Mitch Garver (Hyannis 2012) Travis Jankowski (Bourne 2010/2011), and Josh Smith (Hyannis 2017).

Most players only compete in the CCBL for one year, but two of the Rangers players competed in the CCBL for two years. The Diamondbacks have one player that competed for two years. Just how influential has the CCBL been on major league baseball? Of the 52 players on an active roster in the World Series, 30 percent of them played for a CCBL team. Of the 10 teams three of them are tied for the most players in the World Series. The Chatham Anglers, Harwich Mariners, and Hyannis Harbor Hawks each have three former players competing in the World Series

The Hyannis Harbor Hawk dressed up for Christmas in July. (Norma Schmidt)

Diamondbacks:
Evan Longoria (CHA ’05)
Pavin Smith (HAR ’16)
Zac Gallen (CHA ’14/15)
Kevin Ginkel (COT ’15)
Joe Mantiply (HAR ’11)
Ryne Nelson (YD ’18)
Brandon Pfaadt (WAR ’19)
Andrew Saalfrank (BOU ’18)
Ryan Thompson (HYA ’13)

Rangers:
Cody Bradford (Chatham ‘18)
Andrew Heaney (Falmouth ‘11)
Josh Sborz (Orleans ‘13/’14)
Chris Stratton (Harwich ‘11)
Mitch Garver (Hyannis ‘12)
Travis Jankowski (Bourne ‘10/’11)
Josh Smith (Hyannis ‘17)

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