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.

AWBL Signs Agreement with Nogales (AZ), Ownership Group Announced

PRESS RELEASE – Embark Holdings, Inc subsidiary American West Baseball League today announced that they have signed an agreement with the City of Nogales and an Ownership Group has agreed to own and operate the team in Nogales, Arizona. The ownership group consists of MLB Players and business professionals. The new team will play at War Memorial Stadium and start this 2013 season.

AWBL Expands to Las Cruces

PRESS RELEASE – Embark Holdings, Inc. subsidiary American West Baseball League today announced that they have agreed to bring a Professional Baseball team to Las Cruces, New Mexico.

American West Baseball League Signs Letter of Intent for New Territory

PRESS RELEASE – Embark Holdings, the parent company to American West Baseball League announced the signing of a Letter of Intent between American West Baseball League and an individual, as it continues to grow through strategic territories, such as Northern California Territory.

Pair Invest in AWBL and Acquire Flyers, League Releases Financials

PRESS RELEASE – Embark Holdings, Inc. subsidiary American West Baseball League today announced that Edinson and Edgar Renteria have agreed to invest an undisclosed amount into the American West Baseball League for an ownership interest and also have acquired the territorial rights to Fullerton, Ca., the home of the Fullerton Flyers.

North County Cannons Unveil Logo

The expansion North County Cannons from the start-up indy pro American West Baseball League have unveiled their logo for the 2013 season.  Read more here about the new franchise.

Hoynes Pays AWBL Franchise Fee, Team Will Play at Cal State San Marcos

Retired Marine Major Jim Hoynes has reportedly paid the franchise fee to launch the indy pro North County Cannons as a new franchise in the developing American West Baseball League (AWBL).  The team will play at the baseball facility at Cal State University San Marcos in San Marcos (CA) beginning in 2013.  Read more here.

AWBL’s Yuma Panthers Sold, Logo Changed

PRESS RELEASE – The American West Baseball League today announced that it has sold the Yuma Panthers an Arizona-based independent minor league baseball team.

AWBL Unveils Website

The developing indy pro American West Baseball League owned  and operated by Michael Cummings and his Embark Holdings, Inc. (formerly Godfather Media, Inc.), has launched a new website.  While no ballpark lease agreements have been announced, teams listed on the site include the Fullerton (CA) Flyers, Long Beach (CA) Splash, Mesa (AZ), North County (assuming San Diego, CA area) Cannons, and Yuma (AZ) Panthers.  View website here.  Thanks to John for the link.

AWBL’s Version of Fullerton Flyers: GM Announced, Logo Unveiled

PRESS RELEASE – Embark Holdings, Inc., the parent company to American West Baseball League (a Professional Minor Baseball League), is pleased to announce the appointment of Danny DiPace to the position of President/GM and the new logo of the Fullerton Flyers.

AWBL Creator Godfather Media Now Embark Holdings (Seriously)

Godfather Media, Inc., which launched the new indy pro American West Baseball League, has changed its name to Embark Holdings, Inc.  Before Godfather, CEO Michael Cummings operated a similar holding company called Xcellence in Entertainment, Inc. (XnE), which no

Long Beach State AD: We’re Really Not Interested

In a piece this afternoon in the Long Beach Press-Telegram, columnist Bob Keisser hacks away at the previous independent ball clubs that made Blair Field their home and raises questions about Godfather Media, the proposed American West Baseball League, and announced Long Beach Splash.  When Keissler questioned Long Beach State University Athletic Director Vic Cegles about the

Name, Logo Released for AWBL Expansion Franchise in Long Beach

PRESS RELEASE – Godfather Media, Inc. has unveiled the name and logo for American West Baseball League’s (AWBL) Long Beach member that will start its summer league in 2013. The team name for Long Beach will be the Long Beach Splash.  (Go to the team’s Facebook page here.)

Godfather Media Announces Fifth AWBL Market

PRESS RELEASE – Godfather Media, Inc. is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement between its subsidiary American West Baseball League (AWBL) and Albie Lopez, former MLB player, and Eddie Marin, a local businessman and sports agent for the Mesa, Arizona Territory.

Godfather Media Makes AWBL Appointments

Godfather media has announced that attorney Michael L. Leyva, has been named General Counsel and Edward A. Wong has been named Controller for the developing indy pro American West Baseball League.  Both are former partners in the defunt indy pro St. George Roadrunners (Golden Baseball League) and Hot Corner Baseball, LLC.  Read Godfather press releases here and here.

Godfather Media/AWBL Adds San Diego

Godfather Media, Inc. has announced that the start-up American West Baseball League has awarded the San Diego (CA) territory to James Hoynes.  This brings the claimed founding members of the league to four, including Orange County Flyers, Yuma Panthers, Long Beach-South Bay, and San Diego.  Read more here.

Group Secures Rights for Long Beach Franchise in New League

The start-up American West Baseball League has announced that DC Sports & Entertainment, LLC led by Nicholas Desrosiers has secured the rights to a new franchise in Long Beach (CA).  We assume the target ballpark is Blair Field.  Read press release here.  As you recall, Desrosiers was involved with the failed effort to secure investors and bring a team to Atlantic City (NJ).

Godfather Media Unveils Logo for New League

PRESS RELEASE – Godfather Media, Inc. has unveiled the logo for American West Baseball League (AWBL) a professional minor baseball league that will start its summer league in 2013. Also, the league will have an instructional fall and winter league for players that want to showcase their talent to Professional Baseball Scouts, the fall league will start in October 2012 and the winter league will start between

New Flyers to Pay Old Flyers’ Debt, Return to Goodwin Field?

According to a Cal State Fullerton official, Godfather Media, Inc. has contacted the university about making arrangements to pay off the $75,000 debt owed by the indy pro Fullerton/Orange County Flyers (Golden Baseball League) for the use of Goodwin Field before the team went dark in 2010.  Godfather recently took control of the franchise and apparently wants to bring the Flyers back to Goodwin in

More on the American West Baseball League

The Orange County Register has posted a story about the new American West Baseball League.  It is pretty much a rehash of the Godfather Media, Inc.’s press release.  The league will: (1) charge teams an initial franchise fee and annual league fee, (2) provide sales and marketing training to team owners and staff, (3) share league advertising revenues with teams, and (4) charge players for participating in the fall and winter instructional leagues.  Read more here.

Godfather Media Hires Commissioner to Lead AWBL

Godfather Media, Inc. has announced that it has hired Sean P. Smock, former GM of the defunct indy pro Tucson Toros (Golden Baseball League) to serve as the first commissioner of the developing American West Baseball League.  View press release here.

Godfather Media Launches New League, Agency

Hot on the heels of pulling the Yuma Panthers and Fullerton Flyers out of the indy pro North American League and taking them dark for 2012, Godfather Media, Inc. has announced the formation of the American West Baseball League (AWBL).

San Rafael, Maui Add Traveling Squads

Going into crisis mode to save the Northern Division of the  indy pro North American League and the 2012 season, the Na Koa Ikaika Maui and expansion San Rafael Pacifics will indeed work together to add two traveling teams to replace the departed Yuma Panthers and Fullerton Flyers owned by Michael Cummings and his sketchy Godfather Media, Inc.  Welcome Hilo and Sonoma County.  Read more here.

Pacifics Unveil Mascot, Pick Up NAL Pieces

The indy pro San Rafael Pacifics (North American League) unveiled their new mascot, Sir Francis the Drake, a few days ago, while an appeals court denied a request by a neighborhood group trying to delay the team from coming to Albert Park.  It looked like it was full steam ahead for the expansion club until Friday’s news from Godfather Media.  It now appears that the Pacifics and the Na Koa Ikaika

Yuma Panthers Out for 2012

In not so surprising news, Michael Cummings and Godfather Media, Inc. are calling it quits for the indy pro Yuma Panthers (North American League) for the 2012 season.  Cummings basically blames the instability of the NAL, but he’s been playing dice with the Golden Baseball League/NAL for a few years now, so this isn’t some

Godfather Media Adds Another

Godfather Media Inc. has acquired 60-percent control of the indy pro Orange County/Fullerton Flyers (North American League).  The team sat out the 2011 season, while the ownership group led by Alan Mintz continued to work on a new ballpark deal with the City of Fullerton (CA).  The team is listed as one of four teams in the NAL’s Northern Division and, from what we hear, may be playing as a road team

Godfather Media Announces Joyce as Scorpions New President

Godfather Media, the new owner of the indy pro Yuma Scorpions (North American League), has announced that William M. Joyce will serve as president of the franchise.  Read more here.  Joyce was the CEO of Hot Corner Baseball, which owned and operated the indy pro St. George Roadrunners (Golden Baseball League) when the team’s operations were suspended before the end of the 2010 season.

Scorpions Sold to Godfather Media (UPDATED)

It’s been announced (see press release below) that the indy pro Yuma Scorpions (North American League) have been sold to publicly-traded Godfather Media, Inc.  This may sound like exciting news, and maybe it is, but we see a few red flags here, particularly for potential investors.