Independent Leagues

[Frank_reilly]

I have been recording all Baseball League's history, especially the Independent Leagues. I would like to know if any ones knows if the United League and the New York State Leagues going to play this coming 2008 Season. I have email both Leagues and it seems to me that they are not going to play(haven't heard an answer, yet).

[BoofBonser26]

The United League (http://www.unitedleague.org/) is certainly playing - they have a countdown on their official website to the first pitch. They've reached an agreement with the Golden League to play their All-Star games against each other.






I've heard conflicting reports on the NYSL, but their website hints towards another season in NY.

[fastbal95]

Frank,

Since you have been following independent leagues, what league, in your opinion, is the best. Or have the best players or toughest compettion? What league compares with what level of affiliated ball? Thanks

[Frank_reilly]

If you go to the website of United League they still have the 2007 Schedule posted on the website that is why i am asking about that United League. The NY State League hasnt change their website with any new information and I have email them twice.

To Fastbal95-- to me , i am a fan of the Atlantic League but which league is the best or team is the best i am not going to sa. I collect what cities have baseball teams and where they move to, not final standings etc. To me the Atlantic League and American Association is like Triple A and most of the other leauges are like A Leagues excpet for NY State League which that League is like Rookie League

[gman5431]

If you go to the website of United League they still have the 2007 Schedule posted on the website that is why i am asking about that United League. The NY State League hasnt change their website with any new information and I have email them twice.

To Fastbal95-- to me , i am a fan of the Atlantic League but which league is the best or team is the best i am not going to sa. I collect what cities have baseball teams and where they move to, not final standings etc. To me the Atlantic League and American Association is like Triple A and most of the other leauges are like A Leagues excpet for NY State League which that League is like Rookie League

No shout out for the Frontier League? With the recent issues and teams jumping from the originally Northern League, the FL stands argueably as the most stable and long running indy league out there. Adding new teams in markets ready for growth. The financial status of the FL cannot be questioned. Also, as a fan of all indy ball, i have seen play in all the leagues mentioned, i think the FL ranks right up there. I do like the Atlantic League as well, some of their cities are cool and they have really sweet ballparks. The Frontier League has some gems of their own as well, like Bosse Field in Evansville and growing markets like Florence, Ky.

G Man

[Frank_reilly]

here is your shout for the Frontier League, to me this is an A League. it is a good leage just like any other Independent League

[disgrig]

Here in St. Louis we are lucky enough to have two Frontier League teams--the Gateway Grizzlies on the east side and the River City Rascals on the west side. I am a fan of both.

I think teams such as those featured in the Frontier League offer a glimpse into what a time earlier in the 20th century when semi-pro and barnstorming teams brought baseball to small towns across the country.

[riredsox]

Does anyone know if there are any independent teams in the RI-Eastren Mass area? Thanks.

[gman5431]

Here in St. Louis we are lucky enough to have two Frontier League teams--the Gateway Grizzlies on the east side and the River City Rascals on the west side. I am a fan of both.

I think teams such as those featured in the Frontier League offer a glimpse into what a time earlier in the 20th century when semi-pro and barnstorming teams brought baseball to small towns across the country.

I made it to a Grizzlies game in 2005 during my visit to old Busch Stadium and its a great event. They have a nice little ballpark. I rememeber you can see downtown St Louis and the arch from the parking lot. If i remember correctly its set in a small town called Sauget on the IL side of the river. I can remember there is a tall wooden left field wall with no concourse behind it and then a very short right field wall, like less then 4 feet high with a lawn behind it. I sat out on the lawn and with the short wall and short dimensions i remarked that we may get hit with a line drive homer, and the next batter hit one off our blanket (i ducked and rolled, haha). Didnt get to make it out to River City, but hope to if/when i visit St. Louis again this summer.

G Man

[gman5431]

Does anyone know if there are any independent teams in the RI-Eastren Mass area? Thanks.

Yeah there are a few, the Brockton Rox for example are pretty popular. However, if you are in that area, then the best ball you will ever see is over on the Cape. The Cape is a great event and best of all.....its free.

G Man

[efin98]

Does anyone know if there are any independent teams in the RI-Eastren Mass area? Thanks.

Just the Brockton Rox and Worcester Tornadoes of the Can Am League. Then you have the summer New England College League and the Cape Cod League.

Unfortunately the North Shore Spirit out of Lynn folded after this past season :ughh

[Cowtipper]

Holy cow, I thought I was "up" on all the indy leagues and I had never even heard of the New York State League.

[spark240]

The New York State League of 2007 hardly qualified as a real league. They only had one field, in Utica, and all four teams played all their games there. Hardly anybody went to the games, and the whole thing collapsed before the first season was out. As far as I can tell, calling it Rookie level (as if it was comparable to, say, the Appy League) is giving it way too much credit.

[slidekellyslide]

My hometown has a team in the American Association (Which is now an independent league), the Lincoln Saltdogs. We picked up a few players from the NY State League when it folded last season. There is some pretty good baseball played in the AA with teams in St Paul, Sioux Falls, Sioux City, Lincoln, Wichita, Ft Worth, El Paso, Grand Prairie, Penasacola and Shreveport. Lincoln IMO has one of the finest low minor league stadiums in America.

http://www.ballparkreviews.com/lincoln/lincoln.htm

[TheJourneyman]

another that barely qualifies as a league.

Continental Baseball League here in Texas
http://www.cblproball.com/

[Digitalballparks]

The Rhode Island - Massachusetts area is also home to the NECBL. It is one of the leagues that we cover most heavily on the website. The NECBL has taken over all of the old Minor League stadiums in New England that have been abandoned for one reason or another and brought them back into service. They are a collegiate summer league like the cape league, BUT they operate the same as any independent league. The only actual difference is that the players don't get paid. Other than that... you wouldn't notice the difference (except the fields are nicer)... and by the way... they just took over that great ballpark in Lynn called Fraser Field.

Almost all of their ballparks past and present are represented on http://www.digitalballparks.com. There are dozens of photos of each

Eric
President
http://www.digitalballparks.com

[efin98]

and by the way... they just took over that great ballpark in Lynn called Fraser Field.

Great of the league to jump at the chance to play in the Boston area and pick up where the North Shore Spirit left off...even if the team doesn't work out the stadium would make the perfect place to play a championship series(neutral field, large capacity, "centrally" located for teams north/south/west...)

[Digitalballparks]

I tell you efin, it's a real coup for the league. The ballpark was drawing in the 100,000 range and if the NECBL can draw 1/2 that, it's a no lose situation for them. The only problem would be that they'ld have to give it up again for another fully pro team. I think leaving that stadium was a major mistake for the Can-Am League. It was hardly at the bottom of their attendance figures, and it was a very well made stadium. Very sturdy and one of the most attractive in the Can-Am League.

Oh well... one man's trash is certainly the NECBL's treasure.

Eric
President
http://www.digitalballparks.com

[Pitcher1983]

Hi guys.
I am a pitcher from italy.
I am 24 y.o., i pitch in the italian baseball league. Some people here says we play A-AA level baseball, for we take a lot of foreign born players from the atlantic league, and minor leagues (only after minor leaguers are released though).
Anyway, i'd like to have a chance to play indy ball next year. This year i think i'm late, i can't go to any tryouts so i'm playing in italy this season.
I've been looking around on the indy league websites, i see that every year they plan free tryouts and whoever wants to join has just to pay something and go there to be seen by the scouts.
I'd like to know how usually the tryouts are run, the age that is the best to go there, if they pay indy leaguers and how mutch, if it's easy to get into the roster, etc etc.
I accept any advice of course!
i'd play in ANY league, ANY state, i'm looking just for experience outside europe.
I was thinking for the next year about a 20 day spring training in USA, within that time i would travel from place to place to run tryouts.
thanks

[spark240]

I am a pitcher from italy....Anyway, i'd like to have a chance to play indy ball next year. This year i think i'm late, i can't go to any tryouts so i'm playing in italy this season.

I think playing in one of these leagues would be a great experience for you, if you can get on a roster.

There are still some tryouts coming up, either individual team tryouts or whole-league tryout camps from which players (if selected) would be dispersed among the teams of that league. Some leagues do only the league camps, some do only individual team tryouts, some do both.

Most of the independent league seasons begin later in the year than the full-season MLB-affiliated minor leagues, which among other things allows them to look at players who were cut from the rosters of affiliated teams.

Most of the leagues say that they're looking for players who have either college baseball experience (in American NCAA or NAIA colleges) or professional experience. I certainly expect that they would be interested in looking at players from the Italian league, but I'd get in touch with them and make sure first. For you, the big issue is going to be the expense of traveling to the United States and around the country to get to the tryouts in different places, so you want to make sure you're not wasting a trip.


I'd like to know how usually the tryouts are run, the age that is the best to go there, if they pay indy leaguers and how mutch, if it's easy to get into the roster, etc etc.

You show up and register (and pay a fee, $30 to $80), you'll probably do some simple drills, and you'll get to make a few pitches. Speed isn't everything, of course, but it's easy to measure with the radar, so you want to make sure you throw a couple of them just as hard as you can, and get the best high number you can on the gun.

After they've looked at everybody briefly, if you look like you know what you're doing and have a little talent, they'll probably take a second look, and let you throw a few more.

As for how easy it is to make the roster, that all depends on your ability relative to the league. The best independent leagues are pretty selective.

Yes, these are professional leagues and all players receive a salary. It's not much, though. Expect to be able to take care of your own basic expenses during the season, but not to take much money home with you, especially with the dollar-euro exchange rates the way they are now! If you have a great year, you'll be asked to return the next season for a little more pay.

You may have seen these, but here are links to tryout information for the various independent leagues. Good luck!

American Association (http://www.americanassociationbaseball.com/cgi-bin/dist/news.cgi?id=1198097650)

Atlantic League (http://www.atlanticleague.com/info-tryout-team.php)

Canadian-American Association (http://www.canamleague.com/tryouts.php)

Frontier League (http://www.frontierleague.com/tryouts.php)

Golden Baseball League (http://www.goldenbaseball.com/ArDisplay.aspx?ID=4083&SecID=303)

Northern League (http://www.northernleague.com/tryouts.php)

South Coast League (http://www.southcoastleague.com/news/?id=809)

United League (http://www.unitedleague.org/pressbox/releases/index.html?article_id=89)

[Pitcher1983]

Thanks for answering!
well...from my point of view...that would be a good experience even just trying, so maybe it would be worth some money and time...anyway i have people that can host me so i woudn't spend a lot of money for motels, but just for the plane ticket and for hiring a car on the place...then i would come with a friend of mine (pitcher) so we could split expenses.
i have not figured it out yet but i think that i'm gonna get some help from people right here that knows people in USA, in order to get at the right place at the right time, for i've seen so many websites and different leagues that i wouldn't neither know where to start from!
anyway...i think i would be a good college pitcher, but i have to fix some things before i can even think about pro baseball!
i'll keep you posted :)
bye!

[Milwaukee T]

1) For those looking for play in RI; go to Newport and watch the college leage games there. It is the best thing in the area and it is a great little park to watch a game in and then cross th street to eat dinner on the ocean beach. A little piece of heaven. Read up on the stadium and you will also find an incredible chunk of history that so few people know anything about.

Other than that you will need to go north of Boston or down to SW CT. Bridgeport has a stunning park and is well worth the trip. A great way to spend a weekend is to find a B and B on Long Island, drive west on the island, catch the ferry into Bridgeport which is right next door to the stadium, watch a great game that is fan oriented, and then take the ferry back and spend the night at the BnB.

2) The New York State League was little more than a glorified bar league that played all the games at one site, but was an Indy League that lasted for half of 2007. They claim to be back in 2008, but that will have to be seen.

3) Ranking the leagues? Currently?

The Atlantic has some of the biggest names and some of the best, but that is a couple on each team and then the quality drops fast. For roster top to bottom on each team? That would be the American Associatoin or Northern League. As far as fans knowing that thier team will be back next season? The Northern and AA are the winners. The Frontier is a solid contender in each of these catagories though. Chillicothe is a real winner in every way.

Currently I would place by group and in each group:

AA
American Association
Northern League
Atlantic League

High A
Frontier League
Golden League

Low A
Can-Am Association
United League
Continental League

Heading back from year to year though; this would change greatly. Currently it would also be very much open to discussion based upon who wants to use what stat.

I have seen dozens of these games. I have never gone away disappointed. Every game is geared to bringing a fan back and it shows. Most of the players know that they are lucky to be playing and will show that to the fans as well.

The only place that I had ever had a bad time was with the New Haven County Cutters. The staff acted like they were put out to help you and the players were more worried about scoring off the field than they were about on the field. The good news is that a situation like that will correct itself quickly as it did there when the team closed it's doors and are no more.

Please go to these places. They will love to have you there and you will be thrilled that you did.

[Milwaukee T]

Newport's team is the Newport Gulls. It is the true definition of a community team. They are in the New England CBL. The other really good college league is the Northwoods League of the Upper Midwest. Much of the league is made up from cities that are succeeding now rather than in the Independent leagues that they had been members of. It just goes to show that often it is not always what you do to succeed, but often it depends upon whom you ae working with.