From the Dugout to the Ledger: Ensuring Fairness in Legion Baseball
- Stop the Take!
- Apr 5
- 2 min read
Since 1925, American Legion Baseball has stood as a cherished tradition, fostering community, sportsmanship, and opportunity for young players. However, rising financial challenges and a lack of transparency threaten its sustainability. It's time to address these issues openly to safeguard the future of this beloved program.
Looking Back: How Did We Get Here?
In 2018, a thought-provoking article titled "Is Legion Baseball on Death Row?"
was published in a local Post newspaper. It shed light on the financial struggles faced by American Legion Post 3 in Lincoln, Nebraska, the cornerstone of the largest Legion baseball program in the state, supporting 21 teams. The rising costs of field rentals, umpire fees, and maintenance had significantly outpaced revenue, with the 2017 season ending in a $10,000 deficit. Sponsors were not contributing to the Post but to individual teams, while the broader administrative and operational expenses remained underfunded.
Attempts to restructure the program to ease the financial burden faced resistance, with members being told that financial details were "none of their business." Such responses only widen the gap between leadership and the community seeking answers.
Our Mission: Transparency, Accountability, and Community Support
At Stop the Take, we aim to bridge this gap and ensure that American Legion Baseball operates with integrity and fairness. Our objectives are clear:
Achieve Transparency: Gain a comprehensive understanding of where funds are coming from and how they're allocated.
Ensure Compliance: Verify that all Nebraska Posts sponsoring teams adhere to Federal, State, Local, and American Legion by-laws—essential for maintaining public trust.
Reduce the Financial Burden on Families: Build a program that lessens costs for players and families, making the elite baseball experience more accessible.
Our Proposed Path Forward
We’ve identified all 349 American Legion Posts in Nebraska and aligned them with the 272 registered junior and senior teams as of 2024. Here’s how we can ensure ethical practices and revitalization:
Require Posts to operate as legitimate non-profits, equipped with Federal Tax ID Numbers and Nebraska State business numbers.
Advocate for Posts to transparently disclose their budgets, sponsorship approvals, and fundraising plans for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Celebrate Posts that demonstrate accountability while supporting those ready to improve their practices.
Taking a Stand: Demanding Accountability in Legion Baseball
We can no longer let poor leadership jeopardize the integrity of American Legion Baseball. Transparency is not optional—it’s an obligation. Posts sponsoring teams must meet the following requirements by April 25, 2025:
Provide a Post Sponsorship Packet.
Share meeting minutes approving the team sponsorship for the upcoming season.
Failure to share these documents to stopthetake@gmail.com by the deadline will leave us with no choice but to assume that Posts and Teams have no intention of following the rules of the American Legion Baseball Program.
For the good of the Legion and the community, leaders must step up, embrace transparency, and ensure accountability.
Together, we can preserve the legacy of American Legion Baseball and build a program we can all take pride in.
American Legion Baseball Post Sponsorship Templates Found Here:
