We’re not sure what this says about the level of play, but 65-year-old Bill “Spaceman” Lee threw a complete-game victory and went 1-for-3 in his debut with the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; North American League). Lee took the mound in front of 1,265 fans at Albert Park and pitched a complete game in a 9-4 […]
Tag Archives | north american league
Canseco suing Worcester Tornadoes over unpaid salary
Jose Canseco’s return to indy ball may be more profitable than anticipated if he prevails in a lawsuit against the Worcester Tornadoes (independent; Can-Am League) over an unpaid salary, which is causing him severe emotional distress. Canseco filed the suit today against the Tornadoes and team owner Todd Breighner for “breach of contract, defamation, unjust enrichment, failure […]
Lake Charles eying pro ball
Lake Charles officials have begun preliminary discussions of independent North American League baseball in that Louisiana city, an effort that would include a new ballpark. The last pro team in Lake Charles was the Lake Charles Giants, who played in 1957 at Legion Field. That ballpark still exists, but it’s not suitable for the pro […]
Pacifics sign “Spaceman” Lee to contract
Bill “Spaceman” Lee is coming out of retirement after signing a contract with the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; North American League) in an attempt to set a record for the oldest pitcher to win a pro baseball game. The 65-year-old lefty will take the mound Thursday, Aug. 23, for the Pacifics. The former Red Sox and […]
Milwaukie to study economic impact of summer-collegiate ball
The Milwaukie (Ore.) City Council voted to spend $5,000 on updated economic studies to determine the impact of a summer-collegiate team team at a new ballpark — but declined to start negotiating with the West Coast League. The city had been negotiating with the short-season Northwest League about the possible move of a franchise, but […]
Indy teams fighting over Canseco?
Well, this is a new one: Jose Canseco can’t join the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (independent; North American League) because of a contract he signed with the Worcester Tornadoes (independent; Can-Am League) for 2012. The issue: Canseco signed a contract with the Tornadoes for this season and played 20 games before the two sides parted […]
Canseco signs with Rio Grande, misses first game
Just days after declaring bankruptcy, Jose Canseco signed a contract with the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (independent; North American League) — and promptly missed his scheduled debut. Canseco, who parted ways with the Worcester Tornadoes (independent; Can-Am League) earlier this season after just 20 games, was scheduled to make his WhiteWings 2012 debut Saturday night […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Pacifics pack Albert Park in opener
It was a good opener for the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; North American League), as the team sold out Albert Park. Of course, it doesn’t take much to sell out a thousand-seat venue, and the team worked awfully hard to pull off the sellout. The real key to success will be how the team draws […]
Pacifics launch season tonight
It will either be a unqualified success or an amazing crash, as the San Rafael Pacifics (independent; North American League) open team history tonight at Albert Park. We’ll give the Pacifics ownership big props for gutsiness: down to two years, they and Bob Young, owner of Maui Na Koa Ikaika, went out and added two […]