The All-American Amateur Baseball Association will not hold its annual August tournament in Johnstown and at other locations in the region because of the ongoing uncertainty with the coronavirus pandemic.
“As everybody is aware, the AAABA Tournament is a Johnstown and national tradition. So after 47 years with AAABA, it breaks my heart to cancel this year’s tournament,” said George Acrucio III, president of the Johnstown Oldtimers Baseball Association, in a release announcing the decision.
JOBA is the major sponsor of the event, which features 16 teams representing cities throughout the eastern and Midwest regions of the United States.
Acrucio said the health and well-being of all 320 players, coaches and managers, as well as the volunteers and fans at the tournament’s various locations is paramount, and the crisis, along with the social distancing that goes along with it, would make it impossible to host such event with its games and other activities.
Concerns over team availability, housing and sponsorship revenue, Acrucio said, were some of the issues that factored into the cancellation. He also cited field availability as high schools and colleges are closed.
The hall of fame and players banquets also were canceled.
Plans, Acrucio said, have begun to host the 76th AAABA Tournament in Johnstown in August 2021.
Despite the tournament cancellation, local leagues such as the Johnstown Collegiate Baseball League and Greater City League in Altoona have discussed possibly beginning summer seasons in early June.
