Together With

Good morning, Wichita!

Congrats to our boy Freddy V on being elected as the new President of the National Basketball Players Association. This just shows how highly the rest of the NBA thinks of him. Almost as highly as Shocker Nation thinks of him.

Let's get to it!

- Landon Huslig

p.s. you can enter to win NBC tickets over on our Instagram or Facebook.

Together with Wichita Healthfest

This Saturday, come out and help Wichita crawl its way out of the #2 most obese city ranking with Wichita Health Fest.

This Festival has so much to offer including health screening, free school supplies, free admission!, vision & hearing tests, and so much more!

Come out to Hillside Christian Church form 10am - 5pm this Saturday, July 19th!

NBC World Series

The annual National Baseball Congress (NBC) World Series is a bedrock of American amateur (collegiate and semi-pro) baseball history, celebrated right here in the heart of the United States.

But why Wichita? And what do you mean "World Series"?

Today, we will dive into the rich history as well as take a look at the 2025 World Series.

The History of the NBC World Series

Take a look way back nearly 100 years.

The year is 1935.

Raymond “Hap” Dumont hosted the first NBC National Tournament (called the Little World Series) at the legendary Lawrence-Dumont Stadium to showcase the best amateur talent from the states and around the world.

Hap offered baseball legend and future Baseball Hall of Famer Satchel Paige $1000 ($23,464.60 in 2025 monies). Did Hap have $1000?

Well, no. He was a Sporting Goods salesman.

But he had confidence that his tournament would work.

Hap made enough money from this first tournament to pay Paige as well as throw some dough at the other 32 teams, thanks in part to Sporting News (think ESPN of back in the day, baseball’s “bible” at the time) covering the event.

The teams were mostly town and industrial teams back then and featured former (and older) minor league and major league players or those ineligible for the pros.

Diversity was a big deal for NBC.

5 teams were classified as “integrated” including a team consisting of Native American players and another with Japanese players.

Satchel Paige was a victim of the color barrier. As a black man, he was not eligible to play minor or major league baseball. Playing in the NBC World Series paid off not only monetarily for Paige, but on the field as well as he won 4 games, struck out 60 batters and won MVP of the tournament as he lead the Bismarck Churchills to the first NBC World Series Championship. Paige did eventually break through the color barrier and was able to play in the MLB starting in 1948 (a year after Jackie Robinson).

NBC World Series Alumni

For the last 90 years, Wichita has been the destination for elite collegiate/amateur baseball and professional league hopefuls from the fields of Lawrence-Dumont (RIP) downtown to WSU’s Eck Stadium today.

Since its start in 1935, the NBC World Series has produced more than 800 Major League Baseball players.

You might recognize a few:

• Satchel Paige, Mark McGwire, Joe Carter, Roger Clemens, Ozzie Smith, Albert Pujols, Time Lincecum, Heath Bell

Each year, nearly every MLB team sends scouts to the tournament looking for the next diamond in the rough.

Since 1975, the NBC World Series also recognizes an NBC tournament alum who made it to the big leagues as the “Graduate of the Year”.

2025 NBC World Series

That brings us to today.

The 91st NBC World Series kicks off Opening Day next Thursday on July 24th with a double header starting at 6pm. The Championship Night game with fireworks is Saturday, August 2nd back DOWNTOWN!

There are numerous fun events, games, and game times at all times of the day.

You can find tickets as low as $5 for general admission at your local Quiktrip or ​find tickets online​!

This year, there are ​16 teams ranging from local Wichita area and Kansas teams like Hays (defending champs) to teams from Alaska and San Diego.

2025 Promo Schedule

Check out the various promos throughout the week.

Thursday, July 24 - Opening Night

Friday, July 25 - Military Appreciation Day: All military members get in free when they show their military ID or DD214 at the box office

Saturday, July 26 - Baseball ‘Round the Clock (More on this below)

Sunday, July 27 - Baseball ‘Round the Clock

Monday, July 28 - Pizza Hut and Taco Bell Buyout Night

Tuesday, July 29 - Sonic Buyout Night

Wednesday, July 30 - Midwest Ford Dealers Buyout Night

Thursday, July 31 - Heartland Heroes Day: All first responders, educators, and medical professionals get in FREE when you show your work ID or badge at the box office

Friday, August 1 - Aviation Day / Alumni Weekend

Saturday, August 2 - Championship Night / Little League Night / Alumni Weekend

NBC Kids Club

Don’t forget about the NBC Kids Club where Kids Club Members (12 and under) get free entry to ALL 10 DAYS of the NBC World Series when they register (for free)!

Baseball ‘Round the Clock

One of the coolest and most beloved traditions of the NBC World Series is Baseball ‘Round the Clock. It went away for a while, but made its triumphant return last year.

So, what is it?

It is a test of endurance and fanaticism (I think that is a word).

Long story short, it is 11 games in 33 hours. That is only 1 night (you can do it!)

You buy your ticket, sign, the wave, and show up. Gates open at 11am.

During each of the 11 games, there will be at least one random check-in announced. It could be in the first inning, could be in the seventh inning. Once you hear the call, you have 10 minutes to make it to the designated check-in point (confirmed via punch card at every check-in.

While you’re enjoying the ball games, you can also partake in other activities like painting rocks, making crafts, yard games, maybe sleeping?

Tips to survive:

• Make friends - don’t want to miss that 10 minute check-in window cause you dozed off

• Bring something to sleep with, maybe a pillow

• I’m not sure what else cause I’ve never actually done it (but I will, one day..)

If you can make it through, you are not only a legend, but you’ll earn an exclusive “I Survived Baseball ‘Round the Clock’ T-shirt as well as memories for a lifetime (and maybe some other prizes)!

For more answers to your FAQ, check them out here.

Sign up today!

What do you want to see us go deep on in a future deep dive?

Let us know!

Quick Event Rundown

• The Basketball Tournament (TBT) | Koch Arena | 7/18 - 7/22

• 2025 Anniversary Film Series: Tommy Boy | Orpheum | 7/17 - 6pm

• RiverFlix Ratatouille | Wichita Foundation Amphitheater | 7/18 - 6pm

• Nate Bargatze | Intrust Bank Arena | 12/10 (rescheduled from September)