The Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) will reach a milestone on March 10, when the team’s logo and uniforms will be unveiled at an event at the city’s Rialto Theatre. Tickets are available at Silver Cross Field. Tickets are free but are limited and required for entry. The red-carpet event, “The Grand Slammer: Identity Released,” […]
Archive | Independent Baseball
Crushers unveil 2011 Frontier League All-Star Game Logo
The Lake Erie Crushers (independent; Frontier League) unveiled the logo for the 2011 Frontier League All-Star Game to be played on Wednesday, July 13 at All Pro Freight Stadium. The Crushers are planning an All-Star Week, beginning Monday, July 11th, including a Home Run Derby, community appearances by the Frontier League All-Stars and the […]
Could Ted Mondale help build a new Saints ballpark?
With the Metrodome needing serious repairs and the Minnesota Vikings (NFL) and St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) asking the public to pony up for new facilities, Ted Mondale is proposing a Twin Cities-area stadium authority to address the issues. You may recognize the name: he’s the son of former vice-president Walter Mondale and a […]
Dayton proposes $20M for new Saints ballpark
We’re a long ways from any money actually changing hands, but a bid from the St. Paul Saints (independent; American Association) for state funding is off to a good start, as it’s made Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton‘s initial bonding proposal, presented today to the State Legislature. Dayton released a wish list for a billion-dollar bonding […]
Pecos League set at six for ’11
With the addition of a Ruidoso, N.M. team and the loss of a Clovis, N.M., team, the start-up independent Pecos League is now set at six teams for the 2011 season. Built somewhat on the ashes of the failed Continental Baseball League, the new venture features the Ruidoso (N.M.) Osos, Alpine (Tex.) Cowboys, Carlsbad (N.M.) […]
Lawsuit filed to prevent new Ramapo ballpark
As they promised, a group opposing a new Ramapo ballpark for an independent Can-Am League team has filed suit in an effort to prevent further construction on the project. The complaint from Preserve Ramapo is pretty clear: the Ramapo Local Development Corp. and the city are circumventing the will of the people after the ballpark […]
Capitals owners: NAL is nice, but we really want PCL ball
The Edmonton Capitals are set for a season in the independent North American League, but the team’s owners are pretty open about their lack of enthusiasm about indy ball — and their preference to field a team in the Pacific Coast League. Good luck. The Capitals are owned by the Katz Group, owner of the […]
Outlaws, Chico State reach ballpark lease for ’11
The Chico Outlaws (independent; North American League) and Chico State University announced the team would be playing the 2011 season at the team’s only home in franchise history, Nettleton Stadium. “It will be good to be back at The Net, said Chico Outlaws President Mike Marshall. “We have been the most successful team in the […]
Flyers tax woes date back to August
The Schaumburg Flyers (independent; North American League) have been operating without an Illinois business license since August 25, 2010, a situation that caused the state to shutter the team’s doors at Alexian Field. It’s been dubbed a “misunderstanding” by Flyers owner Rich Ehrenreich, who says the state has been paid but the payments were made […]
Slammers make first hire: Bart Zeller
The manager is the face of a baseball team in the community, and the Joliet Slammers (independent; Frontier League) made a key hire in their early history: Bart Zeller is the team’s new field manager. A native of Chicago Heights, Ill., Zeller attended Eastern Illinois University before signing with the St. Louis Cardinals and playing […]
Taxes becoming huge issue for Skylands Park
Back taxes on Skylands Park, the former home of the New Jersey Cardinals (short season A; NY-Penn League) and Sussex SkyHawks (independent; Can-Am League), are a big problem for ballpark owners, who face a rough road in the near future and prepare for a year without baseball. There’s a reason you don’t see too many […]
Flyers sale postponed; team loses business license
The sale of the Schaumburg Flyers (independent; North American League) has been pushed back a month, but the asset is diminishing daily: the team’s business license from the state of Illinois has been revoked because of nonpayment of taxes. The decision to postpone a scheduled Jan. 20 hearing to evict the team from Alexian Field […]
Pro baseball returning to Thurman Munson Stadium
Canton’s Thurman Munson Stadium, the former home of the Canton-Akron Indians (Class AA; Eastern League) and two independent Frontier League teams, may once again see pro baseball in the form of the startup Ultimate Baseball League. The ballpark, which opened in 1989, has been used for amateur baseball since the demise of the Canton Coyotes; […]