IndependentBaseball.net

Most people generally consider independent baseball leagues, as we know them today, to have started in 1993 with the Northern League and Frontier League.  In actuality, professional independent league baseball has an interesting history.  Many independently-owned teams were playing in the affiliated minor leagues throughout the 1970′s and 1980′s.

Other independent leagues existed in the earlier days of baseball before the formal structure of Minor League Baseball, as we know it.  One unique piece of history, however, is the Empire State League.  The league had 4 teams playing in one location (Long Island, NY) in 1987.

While it was not exactly as we know independent baseball today, it served as a catalyst for the 1993 inception which then spawned 20+ leagues and over 250 teams.  Here is background on the Empire State League:

• http://www.indygraveyard.com/leagues/empirestateleague/index.htm
• http://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/09/nyregion/major-dreams-in-a-minor-league.html?pagewanted=all
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_State_League

Resources for those involved with baseball at any level:

If you, or someone you know, is a youth baseball parent and frustrated with the experience then click here: Youth Baseball Parents

If you, or someone you, want guidance from actual independent minor league baseball executives on how to succeed in the independent minor leagues then click here: Independent Baseball Advice Interviews

If you simply want to find out about independent minor league baseball tryouts then click here: Independent Minor League Baseball Tryouts Notification List

If you, or someone you care about, want to improve the mental game of baseball then click here: Improving Your Baseball Mental Game

If you, or someone you know, need to improve your 60 yard dash time then click here: Click Here

Click this link if you, or someone you know, need baseball equipment which occasionally is on sale and/or offers free shipping (check the site for any such incentives):