About

About

We are an adult (18+) recreational baseball league affiliated with the National Adult Baseball Association (NABA). Headquartered in Denver, Colorado the NABA is one of the largest amateur baseball organizations in the United States, offering competitive and recreational baseball in over 85 leagues in more than 30 states and having more than 30,000 player-members.
Ken Hale formed and affiliated the San Francisco chapter of the NABA in May of 2001 in order to provide an organized and governed recreational baseball product to the Bay Area.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I sign-up?

Players can enter the league two ways â€“ they attend the annual tryout and get drafted by one of the leagueâ€™s 24 teams, or, submit contact and player information to our offices through the contact page and are added to the free- agent list. The free-agent list serves as a proprietary resource, accessible only to league managers and administrators, and provides teams with a pool of talent from which they can acquire additional players during the course of the year. Being added to the free-agent list provides no guarantee that a team will choose to contact you, so the best way to be seen and picked up is to attend the tryout.

When are the tryouts held and do all players who tryout make a team?

Tryouts are held the last weekend in February, with a rain date for the first weekend in March. Not all players who tryout will be drafted. Players who are not selected by a team during the draft process will have their contact information added to the free-agent list.

Where are the games played?

Games are played at a variety of sites all over the Bay Area. If transportation outside of San Francisco is a concern, players are typically able to coordinate car pools within a team to reach destinations in the north, south and east bay.

Does this league use metal or wood bats?

This league allows only wood and wood composite bats. Composite bats provide durability without compromising wood bat action and represent the most financially sustainable product choice for the recreational ball player.

How many teams are in the league?

The league plays host to 24 teams and some 350 players.

What is the average age of league players?

Mean age is probably 26, with the majority of players in their twenties.

What is the equivalent talent level – high school, collegiate, professional?

Talent varies by team, but does cover the spectrum. Very limited professional level talent, a range of 4-year and JC college level experience, but readily constitutes a quality varisty high school level experience. Novice level players and new players are welcome to participate and do represent a population within the league.

When does the season start and finish?

Under ideal weather conditions, the regular season begins the first week of April and runs until the first week of August. Playoffs begin the second week of that month with the Championship Series taking place during the last week of August. The All-Star Game is the final event of the season, closing the year officially over the second weekend in September.

How many games are there per week?

Teams will typically play 12 single games and 4 double-header contests over the course of the 20 game regular season schedule. Games are played almost exclusively on Saturdays or Sundays, with some possibility to be scheduled for a Thursday night game.

What is the cost?

Participation cost per team is $4500 dollars. Average roster size is 15. Cost per player is approximately $300-$400 dollars. Costs are reduced by some teams by carrying more players and/or acquiring sponsorship.

SFNABA Board Members

Stephen Flynn – Director of Operations, Acting President

Stephen Flynn has been a member of the NABA since 2006, a member of SFNABA since 2008. He served as Director of Operations for SFNABA in 2010 and for the first half of 2011 and was named Interim Commissioner of the League and President of the Organization upon Mac Clonan’s departure in June of 2011. Stephen has worked in amateur athletics with both kids and adults since 2001, was a team administrator with UC Davis Club Baseball from 2005-2006 and continues to coach and play competitive amateur baseball in the San Francisco Bay Area. Professionally, he earned BAs from UC Davis in Developmental Psychology and English Composition and has worked as a Corporate Communications Consultant since 2007.

Marc Franssen – Treasurer

Moneyman Marc is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, where he set a student record for tabulating, on-the-fly, the number of ounces in a beer pong tournament divided by distance traveled from table to gullet. Mark balances the books for SFNABA, given his status as the only member of board who can perform multiplication.

Matt Foley – Director of Scheduling/Officiation

Formerly a motivational speaker, Matt’s baseball career started at Bishop O’Dowd in Oakland, where his jersey still hangs from the rafters of their sewage treatment facility. Hey Matt, how can we get back on the right track? For SFNABA, Matt co-ordinates all the scheduling and make-up games for the league.

Nick Cawthon – Director of Technology & Social Media

Once in a generation, there comes a league volunteer so talented, so dynamic, so immensely humble – they transcend the definition of self-effacing modesty through their greatness. Nick’s career highlight was playing bush league (literally) in Australia for the Waverley Waves, where he was surprised to find they ran the bases backwards, due to the Coriolis effect. For SFNABA, Nick builds and maintains all of the league’s marketing efforts.

Chris Gray – Director of Organizational Development

They call Chris Gray – “Dirty”, not just because of his personal hygiene, but because he does the jobs that no one else wants to do. You’ll find Chris everywhere – from the boardroom to the diamond, helping this league run smoothly and arranging our public facing events and activities.

Galen Lichtenstein – Chief Counsel, Head of Player Discipline

Galen is the ears, eyes and voice of the Player. Being a bit of player himself, he advocates the player’s side on all disciplinary and administrative issues. Also looking great in a suit, Galen knows all about the law, like the Constitution and stuff.