Opponents of an Albert Park lease for the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; North American League) lost their motion to boot the team, allowing the team and the circuit to proceed with the 2012 season. The Albert Park Neighborhood Alliance had argued the leasing of Albert Park by the Pacifics would violate the park’s original grant, which […]
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Skeeters to launch Constellation Field tonight
Peter Kirk tells us Constellation Field is the most spectacular ballpark he’s opened, and we’re guessing Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League) fans will concur at tonight’s opening. Kirk is an expert at new-ballpark openings: he’s launched 15 over the years, both in affiliated ball and independent ball. In recent years there’s been a certain […]
Parcels eyed for new Malden ballpark
The owner of a potential new downtown Malden ballpark says he is working to buy the final three land parcels needed to create a 7-acre site. Alex Bok, president of the Boston Baseball Field of Dreams LLC, already is in negotiations with National Grid to build on the downtown Malden site. The next step is […]
Pacifics: Fate of NAL’s Northern Division rests on winning lawsuit
If an appellate court grants a request to boot the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; North American League) from Albert Park, the league’s Northern Division will shut down, according to Pacifics President Mike Shapiro in papers filed in court. The California First District Court of Appeal is hearing an appeal of a lower-court decision allowing the […]
Jose Canseco resurfaces, this time in Worcester
The unsinkable Jose Canseco is back in baseball for 2012, signing a contract with the Worcester Tornadoes (independent; Can-Am League) to play as a first baseman/designated hitter. Canseco, who spent last season with the independent Yuma Scorpions (independent; North American League) as a player/coach/pitcher, spent the past offseason lobbying various MLB teams via Twitter for […]
Yuma owner acquires NAL Fullerton franchise
We have a final lineup for the 2012 independent North American League season, as the owner of the circuit’s Yuma franchise is taking over the Orange County Flyers. The team, which was dormant last season, has played most of its history at Goodwin Stadium at the Cal State-Fullerton campus. An attempt to build a new ballpark […]
Frontier League returning to Parkersburg?
Parkersburg, W.V., once the home to the Ohio Valley Redcoats, may see a return of independent Frontier League baseball if city officials move ahead with a new-ballpark plan. City officials met with Commissioner Bill Lee, Washington Wild Things managing partner Stu Williams and Tom Rooney, president of the Rooney Sports and Entertainment Group, at the […]
Atlantic League returning to Atlantic City?
Atlantic City is looking at a new name for the old Sandcastle — Surf Stadium — in anticipation of youth tournaments, exhibition games and a return of independent Atlantic League baseball. It’s not a coincidence that the new name of the ballpark is the same as the former Atlantic League team in town, the Atlantic […]
Pacifics ballpark back in court
A neighborhood group is appealing a court decision allowing the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; North American League) to play in Albert Park, arguing it violates grant-deed restrictions. The Pacifics earlier won a court case allowing Centerfield Partners to sign a one-year deal to play at the city-owned park. A neighborhood group, Albert Park Neighborhood Alliance, […]
New Montgomery County ballpark fate tied to theme-park development
A much-anticipated new ballpark in suburban Houston is on hold while local officials wait to see whether a $500-million theme park will be built. Ventura Sports Group and the East Montgomery County Improvement District (EMCID) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in March 2010 for a new independent-league ballpark in the Houston suburb, to be […]
Wild Things to bring new team to Bridgeport, WV
The Washington Wild Things (independent; Frontier League) have entered an exclusive deal to bring pro baseball to the Charles Pointe Master Planned Community in Bridgeport, West Virginia in 2014. Charles Pointe is a $1.4-billion mixed-use community spanning over 1,700 acres in Bridgeport along the I-79 high tech corridor, combining commercial, residential and recreational opportunities, including […]
Saints ballpark bill suffers setback in Senate
Proposed state funding for a new St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark suffered a setback in a Minnesota Senate bonding proposal, where the project was totally zeroed out. The Senate Republicans unveiled a $496-million bonding bill today, and the proposal was pretty naked in its politics: the mostly rural caucus failed to include funding […]
Diamond Sports walks away from North American League management
Diamond Sports and Entertainment, which founded the independent Golden Baseball League and formed the North American League via merger, has walked away from the circuit as league management. Kevin Outcalt, the league commissioner who was part of the original Golden Baseball League, left the organization on March 7, according to a press release issued by […]