The pieces are almost all in place for Steel City Baseball to field an independent Frontier League team in Joliet’s Silver Cross Field, as the City Council approved a 10-year lease; John Dittrich will be GM of the new effort. Yesterday was a big deal for Steel City Baseball, headed by local resident Alan Oremus, […]
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Steel City Baseball Club LLC buys Joliet assets
Steel City Baseball Club LLC has closed on a purchase of the lease to Joliet’s Silver Cross Field and other physical assets held by the owners of the Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League), clearing the way for a new independent Frontier League team to play there next season. The city will consider a new lease […]
Joliet to enter Frontier League if lease approved
A new Joliet team could be entering the independent Frontier League for the 2011 season if the city on Monday approves a sale of the Silver Cross Field lease from the current Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League) ownership. The city is expected to debate a sale of the lease to a group led by Alan […]
Ramapo ballpark moves forward; lawsuit threatened
A proposed new ballpark for the Rockland Boulders in Ramapo, N.Y., is moving forward after its site was transferred to a quasi-public development agency, but opponents of the facility are threatening a lawsuit in an attempt to detail the project. The city had bought the ballpark site in anticipation of building the ballpark using Ramapo-backed […]
Group says it’s ready to play in Omaha; MECA says otherwise
Representatives of Fast Ball Sports LLC say they have an agreement to play in Omaha‘s TD Ameritrade Park under the North American League banner, but ballpark officials say no lease is in place — and there are no current negotiations slated for one. The group, which includes Minnesota businessman Jim Space, Washington, D.C. attorney George […]
Joliet bid to enter Frontier League under consideration
To understand the issues surrounding a pitch by Joliet officials to have a Frontier League team play at Silver Cross Field next season, there’s one important thing to remember: Peter Ferro isn’t actually selling the Northern League‘s JackHammers. He’s merely selling equipment and a ballpark lease. Everything will now make sense. The latest. We’re told […]
Inland Empire, Traverse City announce radio deals
The Inland Empire 66ers (High Class A; California League) and the Traverse City Beach Bums (independent; Frontier League) extended their current radio deals. The 66ers’ deal with KCAA-AM 1050 will keep the team on the San Bernardino station’s airwaves through 2013. “We are extremely excited to be continuing our relationship with KCAA,” said Inland Empire […]
It’s official: North American League unveiled
All the speculation over a mega-independent league over the last few weeks ended up true, as principals with three indy leagues announced the formation of the North American League tonight. The announcement, alas, was a little short on specifics, and we suspect there’s more fine-tuning coming down the pike. For starters, the press release says […]
First look: New Sugar Land ballpark
Everyone loves a pretty ballpark rendering. To brighten up your offseason, here’s a first look at the new Sugar Land (Texas) ballpark, scheduled to open in 2012 as the home of an independent Atlantic League team. The ballpark will be built by the city with a $30 million budget (funded by economic-development funds; no general […]
Joliet city officials to lobby at Frontier League meetings
Joliet city officials feel so strongly about the Joliet JackHammers entering the Frontier League that they plan to attend league meetings next Monday to make their case, throwing an another roadblock to all four Northern League teams entering en masse into a new indy league effort. It was assumed that Joliet would be part of […]
Nassau County, Atlantic League talking new ballpark
It sounds like the independent Atlantic League might be able to pull off what the New York Mets, the New York Islanders and the Eastern League failed to do: build a new ballpark in Nassau County. Talks are beginning between league officials and Nassau County officials about a new ballpark, which could open as soon […]
Joliet throws monkey wrench in league mergers
Tom Thanas, the Joliet City Manager overseeing the sale of the Joliet JackHammers (independent; Northern League), says that the team would not be playing in a new North American League, saying that the city would not allow a move; instead, he and city officials would dictate participation in the competing Frontier League. Thanas is involved […]
Seals: Canaries in the coal mine?
Many in baseball were stunned when respected operators Darren and Russ Parker pulled the plug on the Victoria Seals (independent; Golden Baseball League) for the 2011 season, citing issues with the city and concerns about the future of the GBL. Was the decision a harbinger of what’s to come with independent baseball? When the Parkers, […]