Rules

American Legion Baseball Age Chart (2026)

American Legion Baseball works differently from every other chart on this site: eligibility runs on birth-year windows, not a mid-year cutoff date. For the 2026 season, Senior Legion (19U) is open to players born on or after January 1, 2007, and Junior Legion (17U) to players born on or after January 1, 2009. There are no single-year age groups; a Senior roster can legally span ages 13 to 19.

Teenage players in a summer-ball dugout at dusk with a coach holding a roster clipboard

2026 Eligibility Windows

Program	Who is eligible (2026)
Senior American Legion (19U)	Born on or after January 1, 2007, minimum age 13; recent high school graduates remain eligible
Junior American Legion (17U)	Born on or after January 1, 2009, minimum age 13

The calendar-year window means a player's Legion eligibility never changes mid-season: whatever year they were born decides everything, and each new season simply advances both windows by one year (2027: Senior becomes born 2008+, Junior 2010+). Minimum-age details vary slightly by state association, so confirm your state's rule before rostering a 13-year-old.

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Why Legion's System Is Different

Legion baseball is organized around high school and post-graduation summer ball, sponsored by American Legion posts, with rosters drawn from defined school-boundary areas. Because graduated seniors play one last summer, the eligibility question Legion answers is "is this player still young enough," not "which one-year bracket is he in." That's also why Legion overlaps oddly with showcase ball: a 2026 graduate can be playing Senior Legion and 18U PG events in the same summer under two different eligibility systems, and the showcase grad-year chart is the one recruiters read.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ages play American Legion baseball?

Senior Legion: roughly 13-19 (born on or after January 1, 2007 for the 2026 season). Junior Legion: roughly 13-17 (born on or after January 1, 2009). Most Senior rosters concentrate at 16-19.

Can a high school graduate play Legion ball?

Yes. Players who graduate in the spring remain eligible for that summer's Senior season as long as they meet the birth-year window, which is a defining feature of the program.

Is there an age cutoff date like May 1 or August 31?

No. Legion uses calendar birth years only. If the birth year qualifies, the player qualifies all season regardless of birth month.

Does Legion baseball have pitch count rules?

Yes; Legion has adopted pitch count and rest requirements, with specifics administered through state associations. Check your state's current rules, and see the pitch count comparison for how rulesets differ.

Managing a Legion roster alongside travel and school ball? Keep every player's eligibility in one place.