More Information About The American West Baseball League

Posted on May 15, 2012 by

During the week of the start of 3 independent leagues (American Association, Can-Am League, and Frontier League), more news came out of California about a new independent league for 2013.  The American West Baseball League, to be owned by Godfather Media Inc., discussed their plans to have a developmental winter league this year to groom talent for the 2013 season.  They also discussed the possibility of a new team in Irvine, California as well as resurrecting the old Long Beach Armada team.

Quotes and more information can be found in this article:

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News About Independent Baseball For This Week

Posted on May 14, 2012 by

This week will be an interesting one for the independent baseball industry.  Here is the preview:

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First Game In Santa Fe Fuego History

Posted on May 11, 2012 by

The Santa Fe Fuego and the Trinidad Triggers, both new teams in the Pecos League, had their first game earlier this week.  It was held at Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Announced attendance for the game was over 1100.

Here is more information about the game and its reception:

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Proposed New Independent Baseball League

Posted on May 10, 2012 by

Michael Cummings of Godfather Media (a publicly-traded Pink Sheet company) announced this week that the Yuma Panthers and Orange County Flyers, which recently withdrew from the North American League, that they will start a new independent league and developmental fall & winter leagues.  The new entity will be called the American West Baseball League (AWBL).

The AWBL also announced former Tucson Toros (Golden League 2010) general manager, Sean Smock, to be the league’s new commissioner.  He has recently served as a consultant to professional baseball teams on various topics.

Here is the information with quotes:

The league said that they are pursuing markets in California, Nevada, and Arizona.  Many of these cities are previous Golden League or Western League teams.

Once the league has more established happenings, such as a schedule and confirmed ownership, then their content will be added to this website.  Again, with the recent pull out of the NAL plus several proposed independent leagues in recent years never amounting to much (despite lots of noise on the internet), IndependentBaseball.net wants to give you the best portal to everything to do with independent baseball leagues.  We wish the new venture all the best and will give it coverage once it meets certain minimum standards to make it worthy of your attention.

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Lawsuit Against Lawyers For Former Northern League

Posted on May 7, 2012 by

The Northern League was one of the first two independent baseball leagues to begin play in 1993, with the Frontier League being the other.  Its last season was 2010.  After that season, several teams left the circuit to join (or re-join) leagues.  Here is the breakdown:

  • To the American Association –> Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Gary RailCats, Kansas City T-Bones, Winnipeg Goldeyes
  • Returning to the Frontier League –> Rockford Riverhawks, who were with the Northern League for one season (2010) after having been in the Frontier League
  • Folded –> Joliet Jackhammers, Schaumburg Flyers
  • To the North American League –> Lake County Fielders

The owners of the entity which operated the Northern League filed a lawsuit against their lawyers who drafted the original agreement.  It deals with the wording of the penalties for those teams which left the league voluntarily.

Here is more information on this lawsuit:  http://www.ballparkdigest.com/201205044827/independent-baseball/news/nothern-league-lives-on-in-court

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Article About Gary RailCats Tryouts

Posted on May 6, 2012 by

Unlike certain other professional sports, independent baseball has open tryouts for prospective players where it is possible that an overlooked player can make it onto the team that day.  Here is a recent article about the Gary Southshore RailCats (American Association) and its recent pro tryout, with a good number of photos taken from during the day:

Players who want to attend open pro baseball tryouts for independent baseball leagues and winter (or spring) developmental leagues can be notified of upcoming tryouts during the rest of 2012 and into 2013 at either:

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Saints Attempt To Set World’s Largest Game of Catch

Posted on May 5, 2012 by

On May 16, the St. Paul Saints (American Association) are attempting to set the record for the world’s largest game of catch at a block party in St. Paul, Minnesota.  In addition, the pig mascot for the Saints will be named for the 2012 season at the block party.

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New Sonoma County Travel Team To Be Named Grapes

Posted on May 4, 2012 by

A recent article coming out of the San Rafael area indicates that the possible new travel/neutral site team to play in the North American League’s Northern Division will be named the Sonoma County Grapes.  No definitive status exists yet, due to not yet securing fields, managers, players, and staff.  Once confirmed then it will be posted on the site:

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White Sands Pupfish Have New Scoreboard

Posted on May 3, 2012 by

The White Sands Pupfish (Alomogordo, New Mexico) added an enhanced scoreboard to Griggs Park for the 2012 season.  A mock-up image of the new stadium addition is included with this article:

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Maui and San Rafael Owners To Add Travel Teams

Posted on May 2, 2012 by

According to a recent article, the San Rafael Pacifics and the Na Koa Ikaika Maui (Maui Strong Warriors) will add 2 travel teams to comprise the Northern Division of the 2012 North American League season.  A travel team will play in the Sonoma County (California) region and the other travel team is supposed to be based in Hilo, Hawaii.  Whether the travel teams will fly to play scheduled games against the teams from the other state is still to be determined.

No teams have been named, nor have their been any announcements regarding front office executives or players.  Once those come aboard then they will be posted on this site.

The trick is to somehow turn a profit (or at least break even) this season with so much that originally was scheduled to happen falling apart.  Obviously, travel teams won’t draw any money in terms of tickets, concessions, or parking.   Their costs are going to be kept to a minimum, and any “neutral site” games (where the Hilo travel team has to face the Sonoma County travel team at a 3rd location) will have to be hyped as a series to showcase NAL baseball to a market which is considering adding a 2013 team.

The odds will be tough, but if the teams can find unique ways to generate revenue and minimize their costs (fixed and variable) then the teams have a chance to survive for next year.  Hopefully the quality on the field is solid so that the local fans support the teams during the summer as the demise of these teams would end independent baseball on the West Coast and Hawaii for some degree of time.

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