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 […]
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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 […]
Saints “Aints” promotion draws wrath of Fox News
The St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) are holding a promotion sponsored by Minnesota Atheists and American Atheists, and the morning hosts at Fox News are none too pleased. On the Night of Unbelievable Fun, set for Aug. 10, the Saints will wear special “Mr. Paul Aints” jerseys during the game against the Amarillo Sox with the […]
Bringing the wild back to Wild Things
The Washington Wild Things (independent; Frontier League) was once a flagship franchise, but new owner Stuart Williams is spending his time trying to bring the team back from a slump at the box office. Washington used to lead the Frontier League in attendance, but these days the team is next-to-last at 1,595 fans a game, behind […]
Future of North American League in…Japan?
With a two-game series against Ishikawa Million Stars drawing well at Iron Maehara Stadium, Na Koa Ikaika Maui (independent; North American League) owner Bob Young is looking at another indy setup that calls for less travel and more Japanese competition. Na Koa Ikaika draw more than 2,500 fans for the two-game series against the Million […]
St. Paul expected to approve Saints ballpark plan Wednesday
The St. Paul City Council is expected to approve a funding plan for a new Lowertown St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) ballpark despite half of the money for the facility still up in the air. The cost of the project is $54 million. The financing plan calls for St. Paul to issue $8.5 million […]
No expansion on tap for American Association: Wolff
There are no plans for expansion in the independent American Association, reports commissioner Miles Wolff, as the league continues its focus on large markets and stable ownership groups. Visiting Fargo’s Newman Outdoor Field, Wolff addressed the issue of western Canadian teams joining the indy circuit — not likely, given the remote nature of Edmonton and […]
Midseason at Albert Park: How is the NAL doing?
The Albert Park Advisory Committee will be conducting a midseason review of the operations of the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; North American League) next Monday; we’ll do the same for the entire league now. Going forward with a 2012 season after the defection of several teams was a pretty gutsy move for the league owners: […]
New Canadian pro league forming?
Rumors of a new Canadian independent baseball league are surfacing, as the region’s distance from existing circuits is forcing potential owners to stay close to home in search of markets. Several independent leagues — the Northern League, the Golden Baseball League and the North American League — have tried to work on schedules that included […]