American Legion Baseball was born 100 years ago in tiny Milbank, S.D., to “teach courage and respect, sportsmanship and citizenship.”

San Diego’s Legion teams made the centennial season one worth celebrating.

Two teams qualified for this year’s state tournament in Orange. Downtown San Diego Post 492 (Hoover Panthers) beat Santee Post 364 (West Hills Tomcats) to finish third in the state. The Panthers lost 6-2 to eventual state champion Petaluma Post 28.

The teams’ performances continued a proud tradition of Legion baseball in San Diego.

Eighty-five years ago Thursday, a San Diego Legion team with two Black players made history in Shelby, N.C. The integrated San Diego Post 6 team defeated a St. Louis team to advance to the finals. Johnny Ritchey and Nelson Manuel broke the American Legi

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