Nor-Gwyn Baseball & Softball Organization
Incorporated in 1986, Nor-Gwyn Baseball, Inc. evolved from three predecessor organizations with a history dating back to the early 1950s. Nor-Gwyn Baseball & Softball is an independent, community-based, all-volunteer organization that is governed by a Board of Directors elected by its members. The day-to-day operations of the organization and each of its major programs is managed by a group of officers that are elected by the board, and by several standing and ad hoc committees that are appointed by its President.
Major sources of funds are from registration fees; various fundraising projects; grants from businesses as well as local & state governments; local business advertisement through field signs and team sponsorship; and our internal operation of two refreshment stands. Major uses of funds are for uniforms and equipment, field and building maintenance, league and umpire fees, and other administrative expenses.
Our History:
In 1986, three youth baseball and softball organizations in our community merged to form the Nor-Gwyn Baseball & Softball as we know it today. Below is background information for these organizations - North Wales American Legion Baseball, Gwyn-Nor Youth Baseball League, and the Upper Gwynedd-North Wales Baseball Association.
American Legion Baseball: The oldest of these organizations had its beginnings in 1949 when the former North Wales American Legion Post formed a baseball team for older teenagers. In those early days, the team played its home games at the North Wales Elementary School. In the 1960s, the North Wales Post ceased operations and Ben Hostelley, a local sporting goods store owner, assumed sponsorship of the team and named it Nor-Gwyn.
Connie Mack Baseball: In subsequent years, Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball added a program for younger teens and called it Knee-High Baseball. Knee-High later separated from American Legion and was renamed Connie Mack Baseball. Initially, area Connie Mack teams were located in North Wales and West Point. Those two programs combined into one in the 1970s and joined Nor-Gwyn Baseball.
Gwyn-Nor Youth Baseball League was formed in the 1960s to provide an instructional and competitive baseball experience for 7-12 year-olds. It started with only four teams and played their games at the former Leeds & Northrup site on Sumneytown Pike, directly across the street from the Upper Gwynedd Township Complex, (currently part of the Merck campus). In 1982, Gwyn-Nor was expanded to include a softball program for girls.
Nor-Gwyn Baseball Complex The Upper Gwynedd-North Wales Baseball Association was formed in the early 1970s for the sole purpose of providing facilities for area youth baseball clubs (prior to organized softball in our community). The association developed a plan with Upper Gwynedd Township to acquire the rights to develop a 9-acre property on Hancock Road in the township which became the Nor-Gwyn Complex. As part of the plan, Upper Gwynedd Township reached agreements with the property's two owners: North Penn School District and Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO). Prior to this time, area baseball games were played at the former Leeds and Northrup site on Sumneytown Pike (now Merck Upper Gwynedd) and at the North Wales Elementary School.
New Name - Nor-Gwyn Youth Baseball In September 2017, the Nor-Gwyn baseball program for players ages 7-12 years was renamed "Nor-Gwyn Youth Baseball." The name change was implemented in response to demands from a Williamsport, Pennsylvania-based youth baseball organization to cease use of that organization's trademarked labels on websites and/or on social media sites in relation to Nor-Gwyn Baseball & Softball. Our name change allowed Nor-Gwyn to continue as an independent youth baseball program. As an independent, Nor-Gwyn Youth Baseball may continue its charter to offer safe, enjoyable services and facilities, at a fair price, to children of the North Penn community and neighboring communities. It enables us to implement the best elements of affiliated baseball programs, minimize registration costs, and open our program to all young people who wish to play the wonderful sport of baseball at Nor-Gwyn.