The Lutheran Dart League
The Lutheran Dart League was formed in 1932 to provide an opportunity for inexpensive Lutheran fellowship during the time of the “Great Depression.” Dart baseball was played with many of the same rules as baseball and so was understood by essentially all of the men who participated. Obviously, the game of dartball predated the Lutheran Dart League since the boards and darts were available and the first teams appeared to have knowledge of the game. The schedule for the first season, 1932-1933, referred to the league as the “Western Division” implying some level of organized darts was being played before 1932.
There were twelve teams that participated in the first season for the Lutheran Dart League. They were:
| Ebenezer, Chicago | | Concordia, Berwyn |
| Grace (OBC), Chicago | | Immanuel, Elmhurst |
| Christ, Oak Park | | Zion, Hinsdale |
| St. Paul, Oak Park | | St. Paul, Brookfield |
| St. John, Forest Park | | St. Marks, Chicago |
| Redeemer, Cicero | | Nazareth, Chicago |
Only two of the original 12 teams have fielded teams over the entire 75 years the league has operated: St. John Forest Park and Immanuel Elmhurst. The league grew rapidly, and reached its maximum in the 1950 - 1951 season with 45 teams. Since that time there has been a slow decline in the number of teams, to the present number of 25 teams.
The League is currently divided into two conferences, East and West. The West Conference is further divided into two divisions of 8 teams each. The East Conference is a single division of 9 teams. The season runs from September through April, features a Mid-Season Tournament, an All-Star Game and concludes with a Championship Tournament featuring the best 16 teams (the top four teams from each of the three divisions, and four wildcard teams). Trophies for each of the top four teams are presented at the Annual Awards Night Banquet, following the end of the season.
Portions excerpted from "Lutheran Dart League: 75 Years 1932 - 2007"