The newly rebranded Rockford Aviators (independent; Frontier League) unveiled their new logos for the 2013 season. The team’s colors remain navy, orange and Columbia blue. “We received a lot of great feedback last year when we added orange and Columbia blue to the already familiar navy and wanted to keep that look,” said team president […]
Archive | Independent Baseball
New owners: We’ll have baseball in Skylands Park in 2014
The incoming owners of Skylands Park, the former home to affiliated and indy ball in Sussex County (N.J.), say baseball will be back at the shuttered ballpark in 2014. 17 Mile LLC is set to close on a deal to buy the ballpark for $950,000 (confirming our story on Dec. 13 on the sale price, […]
Wild Things to host ’13 Frontier League ASG
The Washington Wild Things will be hosting the 2013 Frontier League All-Star Game, and the event will have a unique twist: players will assist Habitat for Humanity in building a house. The event will take place July 15-18, culminating in the actual game. “We consider it an honor to be selected to host the event,” […]
Vallejo in, Sonoma County out in Pacific Association
The Vallejo Admirals would replace the Sonoma County Grapes travel team in the independent Pacific Association if a proposed lease is approved by the Greater Vallejo Recreation District. The team would play at Wilson Park, a rather modest 500-seat facility that would need some upgrades to reach 500-600 seating for pro baseball. Redwood Sports and […]
Bryant: ULB will operate in six cities in 2013
John Bryant, co-owner of independent United League Baseball, says his circuit will operate in six cities in 2013, with two expansion franchises on the way. Right now the ULB consists of the Fort Worth Cats, San Angelo Colts, Edinburg Roadrunners and Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings. Bryant told the Abilene Reporter-News he expects to add two […]
Bridgeport mayor: We’re ready to open new ballpark for 2014 season
Bridgeport (W. Va.) Mayor Jim Christie says his city is ready to open a new ballpark for the 2014 season to house an independent Frontier League team — if funding issues can be worked out. Of course, veterans in the baseball world know that the issue of funding is typically the biggest hurdle in opening […]
New for 2013: Rockford Aviators
The name-the-team contest in Rockford has a winner: the Rockford RiverHawks will now be known as the Rockford Aviators (independent; Frontier League). “This was important to our fans and it showed due to the over 3,000 name entries over the three week period,” said Aviators President Bryan Wickline. “We want to thank each and every […]
League: No pro ball in Abilene this season
The Abilene Prairie Dogs, which failed to finish the season last year, will not play this season, as independent United League Baseball finalizes a 2013 lineup. Byron Pierce and John Bryant say they’ll continue efforts to build a new ballpark in Abilene, but the rent and low capacity at Walt Driggers Field make fielding a […]
Ferguson walks away from AWBL
Tim Ferguson and the independent American West Baseball League have split ways, as the Yuma Desert Rats have folded before playing a single game at Desert Sun Stadium. What this means for the 2013 season remains to be seen. The AWBL already scrapped a winter league to be run out of Yuma, and while Ferguson […]
Capitales to honor two institutions in 2013
The Quebec Capitales (independent; Can-Am League) will mark two anniversaries in 2013: the team’s 15th anniversary and the 75th anniversary of Municipal Stadium. The Capitales were a founding member of what would become the independent Can-Am League, taking up residence at one of baseball’s grand facilities: Stade Municipal, or Municipal Stadium, opened in 1938 and […]
Edinburg to negotiate new lease with RoadRunners ownership, passes on American Association
Despite having problems with unpaid rent at Edinburg Baseball Stadium, the Edinburg City Council decided to go ahead with lease negotiations with the Edinburg Roadrunners (independent; United League Baseball) for 2013 and beyond. Problems with unpaid rent at the end of the 2012 season caused the council to terminate the ballpark lease with Edinburg Equities, […]
Freedom first out of the gate on Manti Te’o promo
It was inevitable someone in minor-league baseball would jump on the whole Manti Te’o weirdness and come out with a promo. Ladies and gentleman, we have a winner: the Florence Freedom (independent; Frontier League), who announced plans for a girlfriend bobblehead. Manti Te’o is the Notre Dame linebacker and Heisman Trophy finalist whose road to […]
New for 2013: Pacific Association
The North American League is no more, as four independent teams from California and Hawaii reboot with the creation of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs. The four clubs in the new Pacific Association comprised the North Division of the North American League in 2012: the San Rafael Pacifics, Sonoma County Grapes, Hawaii Stars […]