It’s official: four teams — the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Gary-SouthShore RailCats, Kansas City T-Bones and Winnipeg Goldeyes — will be leaving the independent Northern League for the American Association for the 2011 season. The four teams will leave behind four Chicagoland teams in the Northern League for the 2011 season, presumably with Clark Griffith still as […]
Archive | Independent Baseball
Northern League split: Four to AA, four remain
According to several sources at the ownership level, the current game plan for the independent Northern League has the four Chicagoland teams remaining in the circuit and Clark Griffith continuing as commissioner, while four teams — Winnipeg, Fargo-Moorhead, Gary-SouthShore and Kansas City — moving to the American Association. The four Chicagoland teams — Rockford RiverHawks, […]
More on Fullerton ballpark proposal
Despite an awkwardly phrased press release that threatened a franchise move if a new ballpark wasn’t forthcoming, the Orange County Flyers (independent; Golden Baseball League) are serious about working with Fullerton on a new facility located on a historic baseball site. For a year now the Flyers have a deal to negotiate a deal to […]
Indy realignment: Two scenarios
Insiders tell us there are two scenarios for the potential realignment of the Frontier League, Northern League and American Association. Under both, the current Northern League would cease to exist — but could come back in name only in the second. Things are coming to a head in the potential independent-baseball realignment, first reported here […]
It’s official: Bears to Can-Am Association
The Newark Bears are officially moving from the Atlantic League to the Can-Am Association, a move that all sides hope will revive the fortunes of the struggling franchise. The Bears will be replaced in the Atlantic League by the Pennsylvania Road Warriors. Indy ball has struggled in Newark, despite a relatively new ballpark — Bears […]
Kaval leaves Golden League; Outcalt is new CEO
A small shakeup at Diamond Sports & Entertainment, the parent of the independent Golden Baseball League and the Arizona Winter League: CEO David Kaval is stepping down, to be replaced as CEO by Kevin Outcalt. Kaval, a founder of the indy circuit, will remain as chairman of the Board of Directors. He’s leaving the GBL […]
Bears to Can-Am Association?
The Newark Bears may be switching from the Atlantic League to the Can-Am Association, a move that may help the struggling team in the long term but could cause some headaches for both indy circuits. It’s no secret indy ball has struggled in Newark, despite a relatively new ballpark — Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium […]
Dillas officially evicted; Amarillo to seek new tenant for ballpark
The decision by Potter County Commissioners to end the lease for the Amarillo Dillas (independent; United League Baseball) may have terminated the current version of the team over unpaid rent, but the independent American Association is preparing a bid for the market. The meeting of the Potter County Commissioners was pretty much a formality: Reunion […]
RailCats revamp front office
The Gary-SouthShore RailCats (independent; Northern League) revamped their front office at the end of the 2010 season, as president/GM Roger Wexelberg is out, Andy Viano is in, and Dave Salvi takes over as head of the franchise. Wexelberg became the organization’s first employee in July 2001 when he was hired as Vice President/General Manager, a […]
ULB misses final Dillas payment; team could be evicted today
In potentially a sad ending for a community that’s supported baseball, United League Baseball missed yesterday’s deadline for a final $50,000 to cover back rent at the Amarillo Dilla Villa, and the Amarillo Dillas could be evicted as early as this morning. The independent league had a 2010 lease for the Dilla Villa that called […]
ULB bounces second Amarillo check — but no funds wired this time
Reunion Sports Group, the outfit behind the independent United League Baseball, bounced a second check for back rent at the Amarillo Dilla Villa — but this time there’s no wiring of funds to cover the shortfall, leaving Potter County officials wondering what to do. The league had agreed to lease the Amarillo Dilla Villa for […]
Westfield approves site for sports complex, complete with new ballpark
Westfield, Indiana wants to see itself as the Family Sports Capital of America and is embarking on what could be a billion-dollar sports complex, complete with a 5,000-seat minor-league ballpark. It is an ambitious project, to say the least, encompassing some 300 acres and potentially costing a billion dollars by the time all is said […]
ULB bounces check for Amarillo rent, but immediately corrects it
The drama over the future of United League Baseball in Amarillo was heightened when the beleaguered indy circuit bounced a check to Potter County for Amarillo Dilla Villa back rent, but the league quickly wired funds to cover it. Potter County ordered ULB to make up $100,000 in back rent for the home of the […]