Founder

Founder Raymond Harry "Hap" Dumont (1904–1971) spent his career working in sports. Early in life, he was a sports editor for newspapers in Wichita and Hutchinson. He also promoted boxing and wrestling matches. When the opportunity arose, he sold sporting equipment, succeeding in the mail-order business even as the great depression lingered.^[10]

Dumont got his start promoting baseball with a game between circus clowns and firemen in 1925. Kansas had blue laws at the time that limited business activities on Sundays; that included the circus but not baseball. Sparks Bros Circus clowns and roustabouts inquired about playing a local baseball team to earn some extra money on their day off. Dumont setup the game at Island Park located on Ackerman Island in Wichita. Abe Goldstein, a famous clown, performed on the field and in the stands. The clowns did not provide all of the tricks as the Firemen's centerfielder patrolled the outfield on the back of a motorcycle driven by a policeman. A sellout crowd of 3,500 turned out to see the game.^[11][12][13]

Island Park burnt down in 1933 when a cigarette ignited the wooden structure. Without a venue to host his baseball games, Dumont petitioned the city of Wichita for a W.P.A. project to construct a new stadium. He presented an idea for a national, semi-professional baseball tournament to be held in Wichita. An idea that had not occurred to Dumont prior to the conversation.^[13] Lawrence Stadium was constructed prior to the 1934 baseball season. In 1978, Lawrence Stadium was renamed Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in honor of Dumont.^[14]

Dumont continued to use gimmicks to promote his baseball tournaments. Games were held early in the morning when graveyard shifts ended. An emphasis was put on "wumps", women umpires. One rule allowed the batter to run to either first or third base when the bases were unoccupied. Dumont had a microphone installed at home plate. When activated the microphone would rise up from the ground, allowing arguments at the plate to be broadcast to the whole stadium. To keep games moving at a rapid pace, he implemented an air device that could dust home plate. A timer with a buzzer was installed on the outfield wall. If either team took more than 90 seconds between innings or 20 seconds between pitches, a ball or strike was awarded to penalize the offender^[13][15]

In 1945, Dumont created a national uproar with a plan for a global tournament. Just five days after Japan surrendered in World War II, Dumont announced his plan for a September tournament that would include an invitation to Japan. Dumont quickly withdrew the proposal and the tournament was not held.^[16] Five years later with the authorization of General Douglas MacArthur, the series was held in Tokyo and Osaka Japan.^[17]

Dumont died in his office on July 3, 1971 while preparing for the 1971 National Baseball Congress World Series.^[18] His wife, Anne Dumont, retained ownership of the National Baseball Congress with Larry Davis leading the organization.^[19]

National Baseball Congress

The National Baseball Congress is best known for promoting amateur baseball games, but their reach extended beyond the games. The National Baseball Congress printed an Official Baseball Annual that included two hundred pages of rules and records. A pocket size version of baseball rules was also printed. Certification was provided for umpires, scorers and leagues through the National Baseball Congress. Player contracts were tracked via a national system to prevent "team jumping". The organization also sold trophies, medals, baseballs, umpire equipment and even insurance.^[13]

Wichita businessman Dee Hubbard purchased the National Baseball Congress in 1972, following the death of Hap Dumont. The organization was renamed National Baseball Congress of America.^[20]