In the early 1930s‚ sporting goods salesman Hap Dumont convinced the city of Wichita to build him a stadium‚ promising city officials a national tournament in return.

Seventy-three years later‚ the National Baseball Congress World Series at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium has become a staple for amateur baseball players from all over the country.

“For two weeks every summer‚ the city of Wichita revolves around the NBC World Series‚” says NBC General Manager Eric Edelstein.

Founded by Dumont in 1935‚ approximately nearly 50 summer baseball teams from more than 20 states now compete in the annual event.

“Everywhere from Florida all the way up to Alaska has a team here‚” Edelstein says.

Only one rule restricts who can play on the summer teams – athletes cannot currently be playing baseball profes sionally. As a result‚ the majority of the competitors are college baseball players trying to stay fit during the off-season.

“Around 75 percent are college players right now‚” says Bob Hansen‚ president and CEO of the Wichita Sports Commission.

Hansen says Mark McGwire‚ Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens competed in the NBC World Series before they made it to the major leagues.

Ex-major leaguers have played in the tournament as well‚ including pitcher Satchel Paige.

The teams vary just as much as the players. Some are high-budget summer teams‚ while others consist of what Edelstein calls “working warriors‚” or working adults who play for fun on the weekends.

Either way‚ the amateur players enjoy the two-week tourney just as much as their fans enjoy America’s favorite pastime.

Although most of the tournament features six games a day‚ fervent fans will love Baseball ’Round the Clock‚ held toward the middle of the series.

“It’s $10 to enter‚” Edelstein explains‚ “and you check in at every single game to see if you can make it to all 17 games in 56 hours.”

’Round the Clock literally lasts 24 hours a day‚ with games played in the early hours of the morning‚ Edelstein says.

While some baseball goers can’t stay up that late‚ the ’Round the Clock event makes the NBC World Series a unique tournament – that‚ as well as its history.

“It’s the oldest national amateur baseball tournament in the country‚” Hansen says.