In response to a lawsuit filed by the Lake County Fielders (independent; North American League), a Zion official says it’s simple why the team didn’t get a new ballpark: bills went unpaid. J. Delaine Rogers, the former economic-development director for the Illinois city, was sued by Grand Slam Sports (parent of the Fielders) along with […]
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Laredo officially joins American Association
Though there was never talk to the contrary, today the independent American Association officially announced the Laredo Lemurs would be joining the circuit, beginning next season. The Lemurs will be playing in a new 6,000-seat, $18-million ballpark next season. The team is owned by Laredo Baseball Investors, LLC, with Mark Schuster serving as president and chief […]
Ehrenreich suing Zion, potential Schaumburg buyers
The threatened lawsuits have been filed, as Rich Ehrenreich has filed two actions: one against the city of Zion for not building a new ballpark and one against investors who failed to consummate a purchase of the now-defunct Schaumburg Flyers (independent; Northern League). Though the two lawsuits are filed by separate corporate entities, the commonality […]
Boomers making good first impression in Schaumburg
After years of strife over professional baseball and the future of Alexian Field, the management of the Schaumburg Boomers (independent; Frontier League) are wowing the locals. You know the backstory: the final years of the Schaumburg Flyers (independent; Northern League) were marked by disputes with the city over rent, cultimated by the eviction of the […]
New for 2012: San Rafael Pacifics
We have a name for the newest team in the independent North American League: the San Rafael Pacifics will be playing out of Albert Park in 2012. The goal for the team’s logo design, according to a press release, is to honor the many things that make San Rafael and Marin County unique: Albert Park […]
Bell: Cats will be back in 2012
Despite a move by the American Association to remove the Fort Worth Cats from its 2012 lineup, owner Carl Bell says he’s selling the team to new owners, who would field a team next season. Earlier this week the American Association pulled the team’s membership after Bell failed to provide a $200,000 letter of credit, […]
Fort Worth booted from American Association — for now
Yet another change in the independent American Association lineup: the Fort Worth Cats have had their league membership revoked after failing to put up a required letter of credit for 2012. “We regret having to take this action,” said league commissioner Miles Wolff. “Fort Worth has been a valuable member of the league since we […]
Shapiro to head San Rafael NAL team
Mike Shapiro, who has spent many years in the front offices of the San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves, will be heading up the new independent North American League team in his hometown, San Rafael. Shapiro has been named president and general manager of the new franchise set to play its home games at Albert […]
New for 2012: Schaumburg Boomers
We have a name for the newest team in the independent Frontier League: the Schaumburg Boomers, who will begin play at Alexian Field in 2012. As you can tell, a Boomer is a male prairie chicken. Here’s an explanation of the logo from the team: The Schaumburg Boomers name comes from a nickname for the […]
North American League expands to Fort McMurray
A Fort McMurray (Alberta) team is now part of the independent North American League, but the team won’t play next year except perhaps as a road team. Your primer on Fort McMurray: it’s in northeastern Alberta and is in the middle of oil country. The population isn’t large — just some 76,797 residents, according to […]
2012 Frontier League sched out; London in
Independent baseball will return to London’s historic Labatt Park next summer, as the 2012 Frontier League schedule released today adds both London and Schaumburg to the mix. That Schaumburg would be in the Frontier League was previously announced when the Alexian Field lease and rights to the market were sold to attorney Pat Salvi, already […]
Goldeyes organization of the year in American Association
Nice award for our friends north of the border: the Winnipeg Goldeyes were named organization of the year in the independent American Association for the 2011 season. “This award illustrates the respect the Goldeyes have in the American Association and it’s a privilege to be given this award by the other 13 teams in the […]
Lupton, Bethpage Ballpark honored by Atlantic League
Keith Lupton of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs was named the independent Atlantic League’s General Manager of the Year, while Bethpage Ballpark, home of the Long Island Ducks, was named Park of the Year. Bethpage Ballpark boasted the best attendance in the league for a 12th consecutive season and was the site for four playoff […]