The Riverview League is a Class A men's amateur "Town Ball" baseball league in the Southwest Twin Cities metro area.

Riverview League is an example of Town Team Baseball that remains popular in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The Riverview League is one of four metro area leagues that make up Minnesota Baseball Association Class A.

History

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Established in 1987, Riverview League teams have a strong history of success. Minnetonka Millers have won the Class A State Tournament 15 times, including a championship game win over league rival St. Louis Park Pirates in 2017.[1][2] St. Louis Park has claimed three titles (2002, 2008, 2018).[3]

Bloomington Bulldogs claimed the first-ever league title in 1987 and would go on to win the MBA Class A championship defeating Columbia Heights 8–4 in the final. The Bulldogs (1987, 1988) and Richfield Ramblers (2005) are the only teams other than Minnetonka and St. Louis Park to win a league championship.

Teams

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Riverview League
Team Joined

RVL

RVL

titles

State

titles

State

appearances

Bloomington Bandits 2006 0 0 10
Edina Buckshots 2017 0 0 0
Hopkins Berries 2000 0 0 6
MacStrength Grizzlies 2020 0 0 0
Minnetonka Millers 1987 26 15 33
Northwest Orioles 2014 0 0 2
Plymouth Hitdawgs 2012 0 0 0
St. Louis Park 1987 6 3 30

Former league member teams

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  • Bloomington Bulldogs
  • Bloomington Redbirds
  • Brooklyn Center Comets
  • Brooklyn Park Hodags
  • Eden Prairie Eagles
  • Edina Buckshot
  • Edina E-SOX
  • Hamel Hawks (2017–20)
  • Hort Hurricanes
  • Maple Grove Crimson
  • New Hope Athletics
  • Northwest Suburban Red Hawks
  • Park Center
  • Richfield Ramblers
  • Richfield Renegades
  • South River Gnats
  • Spring Lake Park
  • St. Louis Park Atomic
  • Westside Bombers

League champions

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Season Champion State Tournament qualifiers
1987 Bloomington Bulldogs
1988 Bloomington Bulldogs
1989 Minnetonka Millers
1990 Minnetonka Millers
1991 Minnetonka Millers
1992 Minnetonka Millers
1993 Minnetonka Millers
1994 St. Louis Park
1995 Minnetonka Millers
1996 Minnetonka Millers
1997 Minnetonka Millers
1998 Minnetonka Millers
1999 Minnetonka Millers
2000 Minnetonka Millers Hopkins Berries, Bloomington Bulldogs
2001 Minnetonka Millers Hopkins Berries, St. Louis Park
2002 Minnetonka Millers St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bulldogs
2003 St. Louis Park Minnetonka Millers, Bloomington Bulldogs
2004 Minnetonka Millers Bloomington Bulldogs
2005 Richfield Ramblers Minnetonka Millers, St. Louis Park
2006 Minnetonka Millers St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bulldogs
2007 Minnetonka Millers St. Louis Park, Hopkins Berries
2008 Minnetonka Millers St. Louis Park, Hopkins Berries
2009 St. Louis Park Minnetonka Millers, Bloomington Bandits
2010 Minnetonka Millers St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bandits
2011 Minnetonka Millers Bloomington Bandits, St. Louis Park
2012 Minnetonka Millers St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bandits
2013 Minnetonka Millers St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bandits
2014 Minnetonka Millers St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bandits
2015 Minnetonka Millers St. Louis Park, Northwest Orioles
2016 Minnetonka Millers St. Louis Park, Bloomington Bandits
2017 St. Louis Park Minnetonka Millers,[4] Hopkins Berries
2018 Minnetonka Millers St. Louis Park,[5] Bloomington Bandits
2019 Minnetonka Millers St. Louis Park, Hamel Hawks
2020 St. Louis Park Minnetonka Millers,[6] Bloomington Bandits, Northwest Orioles
2021 St. Louis Park Minnetonka Millers, Hopkins Berries, Bloomington Bandits

NOTE: state champion in bold

References

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  1. ^ "Class A state tournament: Millers rally from big deficit to top Pirates 11-9, win 3rd straight championship". Minnesota Baseball Association. August 22, 2017.
  2. ^ "Minnetonka's 'town ball' keeps winning titles with guys who'll remind you of Kirby Puckett and Cal Ripken Jr". Star Tribune. July 10, 2020.
  3. ^ "Class A state tournament: St. Louis Park wins 3rd overall title, tops Lyon's Pub 2-1". Minnesota Baseball Association. August 20, 2018.
  4. ^ "Minnetonka Millers take the long way to another state amateur baseball title". Star Tribune. August 26, 2017.
  5. ^ "Park ends decade state title drought to lift first Ingram Cup". Sun Sailor. August 21, 2018.
  6. ^ "Town team title comes back to Minnetonka". Sun Sailor. August 24, 2020.
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