The independent North American League has apparently settled at 12 teams for the 2011 season, with two divisions of six teams each; meanwhile, league officials have talked with Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission leaders about putting a team in the Metrodome. Really. The league lineup: in the Eastern Division — Rockford RiverHawks, Lake County Fielders, Schaumburg […]
Tag Archives | northern league
NAL at 12 teams, tentatively; no schedule yet
The new independent North American League — made up of former Golden Baseball League, Northern League and United Baseball League teams — now sits at 12 teams, as franchises looking toward the 2011 season are still waiting on a schedule. The current lineup, we’re told, consists of a Midwest Division (Lake County Fielders, Rockford RiverHawks, […]
New group takes control of Joliet ballpark
The regime change in Joliet, Ill., is complete, as a new ownership group led by Alan Oremus takes control of Silver Cross Field and sets up operations today. Now comes the fun part: prepping for the 2011 season. Steel City Baseball paid $915,000 for the privilege of playing at Silver Cross Field, along with all […]
The Week That Was: Dec. 5
It was a week of league shifts, ownership changes, new team names and crumbling ballparks in the baseball world. Here are the most popular stories of the past week on Ballpark Digest, as meausured by page views. New for 2012: Sugar Land Skeeters Bernie Robbins Stadium in state of disrepair Joliet to enter Frontier League […]
Schaumburg sets eviction date for Flyers; sale expected next week
The village of Schaumburg moved another step closer to evicting the Schaumburg Flyers (independent; Northern League) from Alexian Field, but ownership says an impending sale of the team’s assets should clear up all back rent owed the city. The sale of the Flyers’ assets and other properties isn’t big news: it’s been in the works […]
Joliet approves Steel City Baseball lease for Silver Cross Field
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]