Historic baseball tourney returns to Cleve Borman Field July 2 – 6
What began in 1977 as a local holiday event for Napa and Sonoma youth baseball teams has become a longstanding Fourth of July tradition in the Napa Valley.
The former Napa Valley Fourth of July Invitational Baseball Tournament originally organized by Keith Connelly, Chuck Rathjen and Ray Meyer of the Napa Valley Joe DiMaggio Baseball League, was first held at Cleve Borman Field on the grounds of Yountville’s Veterans Home. The tournament quickly expanded from six teams to 16, drawing teams from across the Bay Area and even one from Italy in 2001.
After the passing of co-founder Keith Connelly in 2002, the tournament was renamed in his honor until 2017, when it reverted back to its original name at the request of his family. It was briefly paused in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, returning the following year renamed as the Bill Buckner Memorial Tournament.
Buckner (1949-2019), a Napa High School graduate, was born in Vallejo and raised in American Canyon. He was a Major League Baseball player who played for teams including the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, California Angels and Kansas City Royals.
Now capped at eight teams, with the goal of growing to 12 in 2026, the tournament remains a highlight of the local Napa Valley summer calendar. It is open to players 19 and under and draws crowds of baseball enthusiasts.
Since 2022, the Napa Valley Joe DiMaggio Baseball League has partnered with the Napa Valley Baseball Club to present the event. Tournament directors Steve Meyer and Chris Padowan, with support from Larry Scorza and Gary Newman, oversee the logistics and the schedule.
“Many great memories have been made through the years on the Veterans Home grounds, watching baseball,” said Meyer, who has led the tournament since 2002 and was present at its debut.
Past participants have included future MLB players Eric Byrnes and Troy Tulowitzki, cementing the tournament’s reputation as a launching pad for young talent and a celebration of community spirit.
The Bill Buckner Memorial Tournament is set for July 2 – 6 at Cleve Borman Field on the campus of the California Veterans Home in Yountville. For the full schedule visit https://napavalleybaseballclub.com/schedule. Admission is $5 per person, per day.
