1962-65 Rapid Transit Dreamliners

One of the great teams during the heyday of the National Baseball Congress World Series, the Rapid Transit Dreamliners were named for the local bus company that sponsored the team.  Team members worked for Rapid Transit, many as bus drivers.

The Dreamliners won the NBC World Series three times in a four-year span.  They began their dynasty in the 1962 tournament after losing their second game to North Platte, Nebraska.  The team then won six straight, culminating with a championship win with a run in the ninth to beat Fairbanks, Alaska 7-6.  Third baseman Rocky Krsnich, who delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly, was the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.  Outfielder Gil Carter hit .484 and tied a tournament record with six home runs.  Pitcher Jim Hadley allowed only one earned run in 34 2/3 innings and was 5-0.

The 1963 Dreamliners rematched with Fairbanks by traveling to Alaska to play in the Midnight Sun Series.  They again captured the NBC title, defeating Ponchatoula, Louisiana in the final.

After failing to win the championship in 1964, the ‘65 Dreamliners bounced back to beat Liberal for the title.  That team featured former major leaguers Bobby Boyd and Rod Kanehl, as well as future major league executive Pat Gillick.  Boyd was tournament MVP and is one of eleven Dreamliners in the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame.