About The Northeast Indiana Baseball Association (NEIBA)
A
loose knit group of former baseball players gathered during the 1940’s
and 1950’s to form a unique baseball organization. Beginning in 1946
or 1947, the group began hosting an annual old-timers game, sponsored
by the Fort Wayne Baseball Federation for the benefit of amateur baseball
within
the city. However, there was little formal activity until 1953 when
it the formation of a local National Hot Stove League of America was
announced, complete
with newly elected officers.
However, facing diminished interest in the early 1960’s, the group was
revamped to boost public and media interest. The restructuring included a name
change to the Fort Wayne Oldtimers Baseball Association. Additionally, at the
October 16, 1961 meeting, Co-Chairmen, Red Carrington and Elmer Wagner, announced
the formation of a Fort Wayne Baseball Hall of Fame; with Lou Holterman and James “Hub” Hart
being named as the first two inductees.
They continued to operate through the 1970’s and 1980’s before going on hiatus in the early 1990’s. In 1992, a halt in group activity was spurred by the unfortunate passing of many of the more proactive members. A few short years later, in 1998 led mainly by Bob Parker, the group resurfaced and revived the induction of deserving candidates to the local Hall of Fame. In 2002, the Dean Kruse Foundation’s American Heritage Village invited the organization to house the organizations’ long-sought museum and Hall of Fame.
In 2003, the group undertook another name change to the modern-day Northeast Indiana Baseball Association (NEIBA). In addition to the Museum, the Hall of Fame and Annual HOF Awards Banquet, NEIBA publishes a quarterly publication, Line Drives.
* This information was adapted from work previously published by Don Graham