Abilene Blue Sox Already Looking Ahead to New Home

The Abilene (TX) Blue Sox plan to play in the upstart Pecos League starting in 2012 at McMurry University’s Walt Driggers Field, but team owner Richard Kemp is already eyeballing a location at Rose Park for a new home, after a couple of successful years at Driggers.  The challenges at Rose Park would include limited space, the likelihood of no beer sales, and paying for renovations.  According to a quote

Hmmm…Former SWSL Officials Prepare to Launch New Summer Collegiate Circuit

A new summer collegiate league is apparently being formed by Richard Kemp and Brian Ramsey, two former officials from the now-defunct (?) indy pro Southwestern States League.  The league will be called the National Association of Baseball Clubs.

Abilene Blue Sox to Join Pecos League in 2012

The Abilene Blue Sox were slated to play in the upstart Southwestern States League, until team operator Richard Kemp, who had been named league commissioner, withdrew from the league.  It’s now been announced that the Blue Sox will join the Pecos League in 2012.  McMurry University’s Walt Driggers Field will serve as the team’s home park.  To tee things up, the Pecos League will play a number

Steve Maddock Surfaces with Roadrunners After Brief SWSL Run

We don’t typically report on field managers, players, or the play on the baseball field, but we felt it noteworthy that Steve Maddock, who recently shut down the upstart Southwestern States League founded and fumbled by Nate Snyder, has been named the new field manager for the United League’s/North American League’s Edinburg (TX) Roadrunners.

Stick a Fork in it, the Southwestern States League is Done

We have been informed by Steve Maddock, director of baseball operations for the upstart Southwestern States League, that he has closed down the circuit and informed the SWSL’s host communities.  According to Maddock, the league’s bills have been piling up, and founder and financier Nate Snyder is not returning phone calls or responding to e-mails.  Like Brian Ramsey, who resigned last month

Southwestern States League Mess Hits the Clovis Newspaper

The start-up Southwestern States League might have a little more trouble on its hands, as the newspaper in its largest market by far is raising legitimate questions about the league’s future.  Yes, we’re mentioned.  Read more here.

Calling Out the Southwestern States League

Things have been eerily quiet here for a few days on the Southwestern States League front, but you can bet there is plenty going on behind the scenes.  And wounds definitely have not healed.  In fact, the league leadership (Nate Synder) got “served” by Mr. Ramsey on the former SSBL fan forum on March 1.

As the Southwestern States League Turns…

For those of you who have not been paying close attention to the ugly story unfolding for the new Southwestern States League, you might want to catch up by reading a few back chapters and the nearly 60 comments that have been submitted.  Read more here.  Let this be Baseball Business 101 for all you aspiring baseball entrepreneurs out there.

Ramsey Resigns from SSL

Brian Ramsey, a front office official for the new Southwestern States League, has announced that he has resigned from the organization over what might simply be described as a failure to get paid.  In addition to exploring markets in the Texas and Oklahoma region for the league, Ramsey launched and operated the SSL fan forum.  Needless to say, we are not surprised.

SSL Announces 2011 Teams in South Division

The new Southwestern States League has announced that the 2011 lineup (to date) will include the Clovis (NM) Rhythm, Brenham (TX) Bulls, Blackwell (OK) Broncos, Elk City (OK) Wranglers, and Kingfisher (OK) Pioneers.  The Clovis team will play at Clovis Schools-run Bell Park, where beer sales are not allowed.  Read more here.  The Bulls, Broncos, Wranglers, and Pioneers will play at Fireman’s Park,

SSL Pulls Plug on North Division for 2011

The new Southwestern States League has decided to delay moving forward with a North division until 2012.  This will allow the league to focus on the South division for 2011, while efforts are made to market the league and improve facilities in the North.  (Note to self:  Remind new baseball league entrepreneurs to put together a sound strategic business plan and do their due diligence before launching

New SSL Awards Franchises to Meridian (ID) and Ontario (OR)

The new indy pro Southwestern States League has announced that Meridian (ID) and Ontario (OR) will join La Grande (OR) in the circuit’s North Division.  Now, we’ve talked ad nauseum about the viability of the teams in the North primarily as it relates to inadequate facilities, but the fact that the new owner of the “Meridian Buccanneers” is generally soliciting investors via a user group on

La Grande (OR) to Enter SSL North Division

The new Southwestern States League has announced that La Grande (OR) will join the league as a member of the North Division.  The “Wilcats” will play their games at Optimist Memorial Field, which is billed as the only lighted baseball field in Union County.  We will hold fire for now as we see how the league evolves over the next few months, but the decision to place an indy pro team in a horribly amateur

Permian Basin League Becomes Southwestern States League, New Markets on Deck?

The new indy pro Permian Basin League is now the Southwestern States League.  We’re not sure why a name change was necessary, but it smells of uncertainty or the simple lack of a sound strategic plan, not unlike the comings and goings of team names and logos in the defunct Continental Baseball League and new Pecos League, before markets and