The Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League was founded in 1966 by some of the leading baseball figures in the Metropolitan New york Area. Tony Russo, then varsity baseball coach at Long Island University, was managing a team in a summer collegiate league that folded in mid-season. He returned home determined to organize a league to serve college players in the tri-state area.
Rudy Riska (Downtown Athletic Club) and Jack Kaiser (St. Johns University) agreed to help form the ACBL. Early leadership also came from former Major Leaguers Jerry Coleman and Frank Torrre plus Hall of Fame Broadcaster Bob Wolff.
The purpose of the ACBL is to provide college baseball players with an opportunity to improve themselves and gain the kind of exposure necessary to continue onto a career in professional baseball.
The ACBL abides by NCAA rules and regulations regarding participation of student athletes in summer college leagues and is partially funded by Major League Baseball. The ACBL is a charter member of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NACSB).
