The 2025 Connie Mack World Series (CMWS) is set to once again transform Farmington, New Mexico, into the epicenter of amateur baseball, providing the ultimate stage for the nation’s top 18U talent. As of today, December 17, 2025, excitement is building for the prestigious tournament, which stands as the pinnacle of the American Amateur Baseball Congress (AABC) program.
This year’s event promises a fresh slate of intense competition, with the best teams from across the United States vying for the coveted championship title. The CMWS is more than just a tournament; it is a decades-long tradition where future Major League Baseball (MLB) stars are forged, and the community spirit of Farmington shines brightest.
The Grand Old Man of Baseball: Who Was Connie Mack?
Before diving into the 2025 tournament details, it is essential to understand the namesake behind this historic event. The Connie Mack World Series is named in honor of Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy (1862–1956), a legendary figure in baseball history. He is universally known by his adopted moniker, Connie Mack.
Mack’s career was one of unparalleled longevity and success. He was a professional baseball catcher, manager, and team owner, but he is most famous for his staggering 50-year tenure as the manager of the Philadelphia Athletics. His career managerial wins, losses, and games managed remain records in Major League Baseball history. Mack was a five-time World Series champion and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937. His legacy embodies the dedication, sportsmanship, and enduring spirit of baseball that the AABC aims to instill in its young players.
2025 Connie Mack World Series: Key Dates and Location
The 2025 CMWS is scheduled to take place during the height of summer, bringing thousands of fans and scouts to the high desert of New Mexico. The tournament’s enduring home is the city of Farmington, which has hosted the event since 1965, cementing its status as the "Amateur Baseball Capital of the World."
Official 2025 CMWS Schedule Overview
The 12-team tournament will span over a week, combining community celebration with high-stakes baseball action.
- Thursday, July 24: Team Registration and Arrival Day.
- Friday, July 25: The CMWS officially kicks off with the traditional Parade at 10:00 AM on Main Street, followed by the start of Pool Play games.
- Saturday, July 26: Continuation of Pool Play at various venues, including Ricketts Park, Worley Field, and the Farmington Sports Complex.
- Sunday, July 27: Bracket Play begins, shifting the tournament into a high-pressure Double Elimination format.
- Friday, August 1: The Championship Game.
- Saturday, August 2: The "If Necessary" Championship Game (if the bracket winner has not yet lost a game).
The main venue, Ricketts Park, is a legendary field in the amateur baseball world, known for its electric atmosphere and capacity to host large, passionate crowds for the evening games.
The Path to Farmington: Tournament Format and Qualification
The CMWS is an exclusive event, featuring only 12 of the most elite 18U teams in the country. To qualify, teams must navigate a rigorous gauntlet of regional and national qualifying tournaments held throughout the summer. The age limit for players is strict: a player cannot turn 19 prior to May 1st of the tournament year.
Tournament Structure Explained
The CMWS employs a two-stage format designed to test the depth and resilience of every team.
- Pool Play (July 25–26): Teams are divided into pools and play a round-robin schedule. This initial stage determines the seeding for the main bracket.
- Bracket Play (Starts July 27): The tournament transitions into a high-stakes Double Elimination format. A team is not eliminated until it has lost two games in the bracket. This format ensures that only the most consistent and resilient team can ultimately claim the national title.
The rules of play adhere to the official rules of organized baseball as published by MLB, supplemented by the specific regulations outlined in the AABC Handbook.
The Qualifiers and Automatic Bids
Teams earn their spot in Farmington through a series of official AABC-sanctioned qualifying tournaments across the nation. Notable qualifiers, such as the Five Tool New Mexico and Five Tool California events, offer a "paid berth" and a significant lodging stipend to the winner, making the stakes incredibly high for teams like the Southern California Renegades or the Midland Redskins, who are perennial contenders.
The 2024 Champion, the Southern California Renegades, secured the title by defeating the Midland Redskins 6-0 in the final game. Both teams, along with the Host Team from Farmington (often the 505 Panthers), are typically granted automatic or preferential bids, setting the stage for a dramatic return to Ricketts Park in 2025.
The Legacy of Greatness: MLB Stars Forged in Farmington
The enduring prestige of the Connie Mack World Series stems from its unmatched track record of producing Major League Baseball talent. For decades, MLB scouts have flocked to Farmington to watch the future of the game. The list of CMWS alumni reads like a who's who of baseball legends, solidifying the tournament's reputation as the finest amateur tournament in the United States.
Notable CMWS Alumni and Entities
The following are just a few of the high-profile players who competed in the Connie Mack World Series:
- Ken Griffey Jr.: Hall of Fame outfielder and one of the most beloved players in MLB history.
- Manny Ramirez: 12-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion known for his dynamic hitting.
- Edgar Martinez: Hall of Fame designated hitter and Seattle Mariners legend.
- Jim George: A name associated with the Long Beach, California, baseball scene.
- Mark McGwire: 12-time All-Star and former MLB home run champion.
- Ozzie Smith: Hall of Fame shortstop known as "The Wizard."
- Troy Tulowitzki: Former MLB All-Star shortstop.
The tradition of excellence continues into the 2025 tournament, where the next generation of baseball stars—the Dulins Dodgers, the Tulsa Sandlot, and other regional powerhouses—will look to etch their names into the CMWS history books. The tournament provides a crucial developmental stage, giving these young athletes exposure to college recruiters and professional scouts, making the CMWS a career-defining event for every participant.
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