After a few years in the doldrums, the Sioux Falls Pheasants (independent; American Association) are seeing a boost in the box office, attracting 100,000 fans for the first time since 2009. The Pheasants have averaged 2,511 fans per game through 40 openings, an increase of nearly 61 percent over the average in 2011. With nine home […]
Archive | Independent Baseball
Pupfish unveil new look for 2013 for simple reason: old caps didn’t sell
The White Sands Pupfish (independent; Pecos League) are getting a jump on 2013, unveiling new branding and uniforms featuring a pupfish flipping a baseball into its mouth. The Pupfish will wear black hats with the fish on the front, WS on the side and the New Mexico State Flag on the back. In a press […]
Indy teams fighting over Canseco?
Well, this is a new one: Jose Canseco can’t join the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (independent; North American League) because of a contract he signed with the Worcester Tornadoes (independent; Can-Am League) for 2012. The issue: Canseco signed a contract with the Tornadoes for this season and played 20 games before the two sides parted […]
Canseco signs with Rio Grande, misses first game
Just days after declaring bankruptcy, Jose Canseco signed a contract with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (independent; North American League) — and promptly missed his scheduled debut. Canseco, who parted ways with the Worcester Tornadoes (independent; Can-Am League) earlier this season after just 20 games, was scheduled to make his WhiteWings 2012 debut Saturday night […]
Atlantic League looks at speeding up games
The independent Atlantic League is tackling a common issue in pro baseball: whether games should be sped up and how to accomplish the task. It’s not a new problem: it seems every gathering of front-office types will include some discussion of whether games run too long, and the independent Northern League launched with the baseball […]
Baseball returns to Surf Stadium
Surf Stadium/The Sandcastle, the former home of the Atlantic City Surf (independent; Can-Am League), has been fixed up to the point where it will be hosting baseball again in the form of the 2012 Babe Ruth Mid-Atlantic Baseball Tournament. As you’ll recall, the Surf moved out of the ballpark because of its deteriorating condition, leaving city […]
Skeeters sell naming rights to club level
The Sugar Land Skeeters (independent; Atlantic League) announced today a new five-year agreement with Insperity for naming rights sponsorship of the Sky Box and Club Level at Constellation Field. Effective immediately, the Sky Box and Club Level will be known as the Insperity Club Level, and the former Legends Club has now become the Insperity […]
Jose Canseco files for bankruptcy
Jose Canseco, the flamboyant baseball star who started the season with the Worcester Tornadoes (independent; Can-Am League), has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Canseco filed yesterday in Las Vegas. The filing listed $20,850 in assets and $1.686 million in liabilities, including $506,000 owed to the IRS. Canseco, still listed on the Tornadoes roster as an inactive […]
Tkachuk: I’ll fund American Association team on my own
Keith Tkachuk is so eager to see an independent American Association team in Fort McMurray that he’s willing to spring for it, with or without local investors. The former GM of the Edmonton Capitals (independent; North American League) was in WInnipeg to pitch league officials on the Fort McMurray market and why it would be perfect […]
No beer here: the sad history of the London Rippers
The demise of the London Rippers (independent; Frontier League) has some fairly basic lessons for potential baseball entrepreneurs: know your market and read your contracts carefully. The London Rippers withdrew from the Frontier League Wednesday morning at 12:01 a.m., days after being locked out of its team office/gift shop for nonpayment of rent. It was […]
Fort McMurray: We’re open to American Association team
A rep from Fort McMurray (AB) is in Winnipeg to see how the independent American Association does business, but the odds of indy ball reaching northern Alberta are slim at the very, very best. Tim Reid, chief operating officer of the corporation that runs MacDonald Island Park, where a new ballpark could potentially be housed, […]
Rippers pull out of Frontier League; to be replaced by road team
Facing financial problems, the London Rippers (independent; Frontier League) ownership is withdrawing its membership in the circuit as of midnight tonight, replaced by the Road Warriors, with any home games moving to the opponent’s ballpark. The word comes from league officials, who have been presented with a steady deterioration in the team’s finances, a deterioration […]
St. Paul approves Saints funding deal; next up, state funds
As expected, the St. Paul City Council today approved a $27-million funding package for a new Lowertown St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark, as both sides await word on a matching state grant. The package calls for the city to pay $17 million toward the new ballpark project ($8.5 million in bonds, repaid over […]