1960s-Present
Fewer teams dotted the local area during the 60's, but the Larks produced another round of outstanding ball players. Several of the 50's players, Raschi Pfeifer, Walters, Jacobs, Dome, Herman, were joined by Ken Haas, Bob Boyd, Warren Schmidt, Dennis Leiker, Maurice Leiker, Laverne Schumacher, Dave Heil, Ron Shueler, Bob Power and Bill Schafer. Late in that decade Marvin Miller and Ken Dinkel came aboard and led the Larks into the 70's. Haas, Miller, Dinkel and of course, Schueler, who later went on to major league fame both as a player and general manager, were among the best of Larks during those years.
In 1976, the Jayhawk League was formed. This is an NCAA sanctioned summer collegiate league. With the collegiate aspect coming into play, the Larks took on a new look. Hays always had a good talent base and their talent combined with other college players have been a good mix for the new Larks. Travel had become extensive. Trips to Munjor, Victoria, and the like would be a welcome sight compared to the travel now. At one point, the league stretched from Amarillo, Texas to Clarinda, Iowa. Three to five-day road trips are common. Hays and Liberal are the only two teams from the inaugural year in 1976.
The Hutchinson Broncos became the Wichita Broncos and currently are the El Dorado Broncos. Other members were Red Oak, Iowa, St. Joseph, Mo., Clarinda, Iowa, Amarillo, Texas, Elkhart and Topeka. Today the league consists of Hays, Liberal, El Dorado, Dodge City, Haysville, Great Bend and Derby.
The League has been hot bed for talent over the years. Players like Roger Clemens, Ozzie Smith, Rafael Palmero, Barry Bonds, Mike McFarlen and Trevor Hoffman all honed their skills in the Jayhawk League. There are many others who went into a major league career. The Hutchinson Broncos had a starting outfield of Bonds, Palmero and Pet Incaviglia in 1983. The Larks have had their share of marquee names: Jim Leyritz (1985), Lance Berkman (1995), and Albert Pujols (1999) and Jack Wilson (1996). There have been many other Larks players in the major league.