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Tag Archives | independent

Rockford, Joliet to Frontier League?

The future of the independent Northern League is in doubt, as the Rockford RiverHawks are set to bolt to the independent Frontier League for the 2011 season and the future of the Joliet JackHammers is in doubt, potentially leaving the Schaumburg Flyers out in the cold. The Northern League, a pioneer in the resurgence of independent […]

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The Corn Crib / Normal Cornbelters

It is the corniest ballpark in the independent leagues — which is saying a whole lot. While the Frontier League‘s Normal CornBelters made waves in America’s Heartland because of the team’s unusual marketing strategies and product placement, the real story is how team ownership and ballpark architects managed to create a mid-range ballpark on an […]

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It’s official: Four teams defect from NoL to AA

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 […]

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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, […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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The Week That Was: October 2

Here are the most popular stories published in Ballpark Digest this past week, as measured by page views. The big stories this week: new ballparks in Potomac and Westfield; a baseball institution drops baseball; and the continuing follies in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre over a new ballpark. Westfield approves site for sports complex, complete with new ballpark P-Nats, […]

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Kirk pitches Frederick on AtL ballpark lease; will settle for Keys

Atlantic League mogul Peter Kirk has pitched Frederick (Md.) officials on taking over the lease at Harry Grove Stadium for an independent-league team — but will settle for buying the Frederick Keys (High Class A; Carolina League) as a consolation prize. Kirk certainly is one of the more interesting people in baseball, and he’s seizing […]

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