Alexandria Aces Open in Front of 552

The Alexandria Aces (United League Baseball) opened in front of a whopping 552 fans on Thursday night at partially condemned Bringhurst Field.  Read more here.  This is not good news for the franchise that was revived as an independent professional club after the summer collegiate version (Texas Collegiate League) went dark when it was clear the city would not fix the stadium before the 2013 season.

Nogales May Try to Give It a Try

Despite the reality that the start-up indy pro American West Baseball League has pulled the plug on its inaugural 2013 season, the Nogales (AZ) Desert Ghosts may move forward anyway, if playing nothing more than a limited exhibition schedule.  Read more here.

Manti Te’o Girlfriend Bobblehead Thursday (See the Box Here)

PRESS RELEASE – This Thursday, May 23, when the Florence Freedom take on the Schaumburg Boomers at University of Cincinnati Medical Center Stadium, the first 1,000 fans through the gates can get their hands on the famed Manti Te’o Girlfriend Bobblehead presented by 100.3 The Fan.  [The Freedom first announced this promo back in January, so no late-to-the-party copycats  here.]

Patriots Host Ballpark Comic Con

The indy pro Somerset Patriots (Atlantic League) hosted the first ever Ballpark Comic Con at TD Bank Ballpark on Saturday, May 18.  Read more here.  View photo here.

A custom made comic con keepsake poster designed by Sam Guerrero from Engine [9] Studios – Somerset Patriots Facebook Photo

Feds Investigating Ramapo Ballpark Refinancing

Federal authorities are reportedly investigating whether Ramapo’s (NY) Local Development Corp. falsely claimed assets it did not have to back the refinancing of bonds, including the $25 million bond for Provident Bank Park, home of the independent professional Rockland Boulders (Can-Am League).  Read more here.  View photo of federal raid here.

Saints Introduce ‘Mackleboar’

PRESS RELEASE – The St. Paul Saints are one of the most prominent Independent League Baseball teams in the country.  In searching for one of their most iconic members of the 2013 family it was only appropriate they looked towards a musician who has risen to fame without using a major record label.  Fans will want to flock to the Thrift Shop, but My Oh My the Saints hope Midway

Financial Problems Threaten Future of 78-year-Old Tournament

An internal audit of the city-owned National Baseball Congress’ books shows its operators, the indy pro Wichita Wingnuts (American Association), are more than a quarter-million dollars in debt and two years in arrears to the city on lease payments for Lawrence-Dumont Stadium.  Read more here.

Study Gives Fredericksburg Thumbs Up to Hosting Professional Baseball

As expected, representatives from Washington (DC)-based Brailsford & Dunlavey presented to the Fredericksburg (VA) Economic Development Authority today the positive results of a study assessing the economic viability of building a new multi-use baseball stadium in the market.  Read more here.

Preliminary Ballpark Study to be Presented in Fredericksburg

Representatives from Washington (DC)-based Brailsford & Dunlavey will present to the Fredericksburg (VA) Economic Development Authority on Monday the preliminary results of a study assessing the economic viability of building a new multi-purpose baseball stadium in the market.  Read more here.

Saints Block Party, Largest Game of Catch, Naming of the Pig Set for Next Week

PRESS RELEASE – The St. Paul Saints circus is coming to downtown St. Paul.  There will be pigs, nuns, baseball players, inflatables, food and fun and is the block party to end all block parties.  It’s the Hiway Federal Credit Union World’s Largest Game of Catch, in conjunction with the Greater St. Paul Building and Managers Association (BOMA).

Mother’s Day Is Joplin’s Time to Shine

Mike Beatty from The Joplin Globe makes a pitch for fans to turn out in force at century-old Joe Becker Stadium on Mother’s Day, May 12, to watch the indy pro American Association’s Kansas City T-Bones and Wichita Wingnuts play an exhibition game.  Locals hope to show the league that Joplin is capable of supporting a franchise.  Read more here.

Saints 2013 Promotions Highlighted With ‘This is Twinkie Territory’

PRESS RELEASE – It’s a beautiful day in our neighborhood as the 21st season of St. Paul Saints baseball officially kicks off Thursday, May 16. Twinkies, food trucks and donuts will satiate the hunger pains from a long off-season. Don’t worry we will have TP for the BM after all that gorging. Fans will get the Hall of Fame treatment with dollar bills handed out at the gate, but for those wanting their

Patriots Go Green With Solar Panels

Somerset County (NJ) Improvement Authority has completed their solar initiative on the site of TD Bank Ballpark, home of the indy pro Somerset Patriots (Atlantic League), with the installation of the 3,465 solar panels.  Read more here.

Bisbee Team Named, Logos Unveiled

PRESS RELEASE – Bisbee Professional Baseball team will play as the Bisbee Copperheads.  Go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bisbee-Copperheads/ or @BisbeeCopperhea to see the logos and get more information about the team.

Embark Holdings New CEO Issues Letter to Shareholders, Sun Rays Prepare for Inaugural Season

To provide a little additional clarity on the past and current relationship between Embark Holdings, Inc. and the start-up indy pro American West Baseball League, we are posting below a recent letter to Embark shareholders from the company’s new CEO Daniel Amato.  Meanwhile, the newly launched  Las Cruces (NM) Sun Rays are confidently preparing

Slammers Ask Fans to Name New Hound Mascot

The indy pro Joliet Slammers (Frontier League) have adopted a puppy, and they have appropriately chosen a convict-sniffing bloodhound to drive home the team’s branding theme.  Fans are now being asked to help the Slammers name the new pooch mascot.  “Jake” is way too obvious, but it’s the right way to go.  Watch puppy video and submit name suggestions here.

Dubois County Bombers: New Ownership, New League

Slipping under our radar over the past few months, the summer collegiate Dubois County Bombers have quietly moved from the Prospect League to the Ohio Valley League under new ownership.  Like the indy pro Frontier League after the 2002 season, the Prospect League has unfortunately lost a nifty little ballpark — League Stadium — which was built as a set for the movie A League of

Saints to Play Umpireless Game, Will Use Judge and Jury

PRESS RELEASE – In ballparks across the country, “Three Blind Mice” often blares over the speakers when they are introduced.  Fans will heckle them, managers will argue with them and every close call they make is scrutinized.  The men in blue on a baseball field often wish they could disappear when thousands of people are against them.  The St. Paul Saints will make that happen for

New Ballpark Designs Released, Site Passes Environmental Muster

The city of St. Paul has finalized an environmental assessment of the Lowertown site for the new $54 million, 7,000-seat ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association). Meanwhile new preliminary designs of the developing stadium have been released.  Read more here.

Mayoral Candidate on Ballpark: ‘There’s Going to be (Parking) Chaos’

Tim Holden is a small business owner and political novice who has been inspired to run against St. Paul (MN) Mayor Chris Coleman because of the chaotic and tragic parking situation he says will occur in Lowertown St. Paul when the new ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) is built.  Read more here.

Boomers Hold First-Ever Beer Tasting Event

The indy pro Schaumburg Boomers (Frontier League) held their inaugural Ballpark Brew Fest on Saturday at Boomers Stadium (formerly Alexian Field).  The event showcased the newest batches of craft beers by well-known and up-and-coming brewers, including the country’s first vegan brewery.  Live music was provided by a Talking Heads tribute band.  Read more and view photo gallery here.

As the AWBL Turns…

There are no real surprises here, as we have been skeptically monitoring the developing indy pro American West Baseball League and those involved for a long time, but Rodney Johnson, president of the Arizona Chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), has posted a story you will likely find very interesting, particularly as it relates to financials and quotes from those no longer involved.  Read more here.

New Look for Atlantic League

The indy pro Atlantic League has launched a new website at www.atlanticleague.com, as the circuit begins its 16th season of operation.  Thanks to IndyFan for the heads up.

O’Fallon Locks In Rascals Long Term After Dramatic Drop in Annual Lease Payment

The city of O’Fallon (MO) and indy pro River City Rascals (Frontier League) have agreed to a new long-term contract for the use of T.R. Hughes Ballpark.  Under the deal, the Rascal’s rent will drop from $175,000 in 2012 to $50,000 in 2013.  The payment will then gradually increase over the next nine years but stay below the 2012 number.  Read more and view news clip here.

Roadrunners Finally Release 2013 Schedule, Maddock Leaves Cats

We don’t typically talk about schedules, but the fact that the indy pro Edinburg Roadrunners are the first United League Baseball team out of the gate with a schedule with a mere month before the season begins is worthy of mention.  According to the schedule, the ULB’s lineup will include the Forth Worth Cats, McAllen Thunder, Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings, San Angelo Colts, and repatriated

ULB Returns to Alexandria

The indy pro United League Baseball (ULB) has reached an agreement with the city of Alexandria (LA) to place a team at Bringhurst Field starting this season.  The team will play in a partially condemned facility, just as the summer collegiate Alexandria Aces (Texas Collegiate League) did late last year.

Briefing Today on Virgnia Beach Application for Atlantic League Membership (UPDATED!)

A group that wants to bring professional baseball to Virginia Beach (VA) plans to announce Monday the results of its application to join the indy pro Atlantic League as an expansion team.  Read more here. UPDATE: Virginia Beach group granted conditional approval for an ABL expansion franchise.  Read more here.

Councilman: Loudoun Ballpark Approval No Obstacle for Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg (VA) Councilman Matt Kelly said this past week’s approval by Loudoun County (VA) officials to build a stadium for an independent professional baseball team poses no obstacle to bringing pro baseball to Fredericksburg.  Read more here.

Loudoun County Approves Ballpark Plan

PRESS RELEASE – Following this evening’s vote by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, professional baseball and soccer will come to Loudoun County, Virginia, in 2014. The Board voted unanimously to approve the request to build the privately financed facility in Ashburn within the One Loudoun development at the interchange of Route 7 and Loudoun County

Mayor Gives Thumbs Down to St. Paul Parking Idea

St. Paul (MN) Mayor Chris Coleman said Monday that reusing part of the vacant Gillette/Diamond Products factory for parking below St. Paul’s future Lowertown ballpark for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) won’t work, for both cost and design reasons.  Read more here.

Wingnuts Ditch Long-Time Cashless Payment System at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium

PRESS RELEASE – The Wichita Wingnuts announced Wednesday that Lawrence-Dumont Stadium will be accepting cash at all events for the 2013 season.

Sioux Falls Canaries Return!

PRESS RELEASE – Sioux Falls Sports LLC, the ownership group of the Sioux Falls Pheasants and Sioux Falls Stampede, made several major announcements concerning the Sioux Falls Pheasants baseball club on Tuesday.

Loudoun County Ballpark Proposal Scheduled for Vote

A plan to build a new 5,500-seat ballpark at One Loudoun for the expansion indy pro Loudoun Hounds (Atlantic League) is scheduled to be voted on by the Loudoun County (VA) Board of Supervisors on April 3.  Read more here.

Bismarck Moves Forward with Stadium Renovations

The Bismarck (ND) Park Board on Thursday voted to finalize a plan to renovate Bismarck Municipal Ballpark.  The $1.5 million project is expected to begin this summer.  Bismarck has been talked about for years as a target market for the summer collegiate Northwoods League.  The stadium was the home of the indy pro Dakota Rattlers from the defunct but once-promising Prairie League in the mid 90s.  Read more here.

U. S. Steel Signs 10-Year Pact to Retain Stadium Naming Rights

PRESS RELEASE – U.S. Steel and the Gary SouthShore RailCats have reached a new 10-year naming rights agreement, keeping U. S. Steel Yard the name of the RailCats’ home stadium through the 2022 season.

Two Public Meetings This Week On New Saints Stadium

Citizens, fans and other stakeholders  interested in voicing their opinions about the design and construction of the new ballpark in Lowertown St. Paul for the indy pro St. Paul Saints (American Association) will have a chance to do so Tuesday night before the Lowertown Ballpark Design and Construction Committee.  On Wednesday, an open house has been scheduled to discuss the ballpark’s

Skylands Park Sold

In positive new for the possible return of baseball to Sussex County (NJ), the sale of Skylands Park to Ardmore (PA)-based real estate investment firm 17 Mile LLC indeed closed on Friday, March 15.  The facility sold for $950,000, plus $160,000 in overdue taxes and related fees.  Skylands is the former home of the Single-A New Jersey Cardinals (New York-Penn League) and indy pro Sussex Skyhawks

AWBL’s Las Cruces Team Gets Name and Logo

PRESS RELEASE – Las Cruces Professional Baseball team will play as the Las Cruces Sun Rays.  Go to the team’s Facebook page to see the logo and get more information about the team.

North County Cannons Sever Ties AWBL, Will Not Play in 2013

PRESS RELEASE – The North County Cannons, a new minor league baseball team, will not be playing this summer.  Team owner and president, Jim Hoynes, confirmed that stadium use negotiations with Cal State San Marcos were concluded without success and every effort to locate an alternate playing location has turned up negative.

Revived Northern League Hires Former Dodgers GM as Commissioner

PRESS RELEASE – The Northern League of Professional Baseball, a DC Sports & Entertainment, LLC company, is pleased to announce the hiring of veteran big league executive Dan Evans as the Commissioner of the Northern League. Evans, who was the General Manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2001-2004, joins the Northern League after successful Major League