Independent baseball league

Independent baseball leagues
Sport	Baseball
Founded	1993
No. of teams	74
Countries	United States ; Canada

Last updated April 22, 2024

An independent baseball league is a professional baseball term in the United States or Canada for leagues that are not overseen by Major League Baseball or its affiliated Minor League Baseball system (historically referred to as organized baseball).^[1]

Independent leagues have flourished in northeastern states, where dense populations can often support multiple franchises. Because they are not subject to the territorial limitations imposed on affiliated minor-league teams, independent clubs can relocate as close to affiliated teams (and one another) as they choose to. For example, the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, cannot have an affiliated team because of its proximity to the Harrisburg Senators and Reading Fightin Phils, leaving the Atlantic League to place a team—the Lancaster Barnstormers—to fill the void. Another example is the greater New York City metropolitan area, where there are many independent teams: the Long Island Ducks, Staten Island FerryHawks, New Jersey Jackals, New York Boulders, and Sussex County Miners.

The Atlantic League considered as the top level of competition among the independent leagues,^[2] and has had more marquee players than any other independent league, including Jose Canseco, Mat Latos, Steve Lombardozzi Jr., Francisco Rodríguez, Chien-Ming Wang, Roger Clemens, Rich Hill, Scott Kazmir, Juan González, John Rocker, and Dontrelle Willis. Two former Atlantic League players are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Tim Raines and Rickey Henderson. Gary Carter, another Hall of Famer, managed in the league. The Atlantic League has had many notable managers and coaches, including Wally Backman, Frank Viola, Tommy John, Sparky Lyle, and Bud Harrelson. The Northern League alumni include Leon "Bull" Durham, J. D. Drew, and Darryl Strawberry.

History

Independent leagues are those professional leagues in the United States and Canada not under the purview of organized Minor League Baseball and the Commissioner of Baseball. Independent baseball existed in the early 20th century and has become prominent again since 1993.^[3]

Leagues operated mostly autonomously before 1902, when the majority joined the NAPBL. From then until 1915, a total of eight new and existing leagues remained independent. Most joined the National Association after one season of independence. Notable exceptions were the California League, which was independent in 1902 and from 1907 to 1909; the United States Baseball League, which folded during its independent 1912 season; and the Colonial League, a National Association Member that went independent in 1915 and then folded.^[4] Another independent league, the Federal League, played at a level considered major league from 1914 to 1915.^[5]

Few independent leagues existed between 1915 and 1993. Major exceptions included the Carolina League and the Quebec-based Provincial League. The Carolina League, based in the North Carolina Piedmont region, gained a reputation as a notorious "outlaw league" during its existence from 1936 to 1938.^[6] The Provincial League fielded six teams across Quebec and was independent from 1948 to 1949. Similarly to early 20th-century independent leagues, it joined the National Association in 1950, playing for six more years.^[4]^[7]

Independent leagues saw new growth after 1992, after the new Professional Baseball Agreement in organized baseball instituted more stringent revenue and stadium requirements on members.^[8] The Northern League and Frontier League both started play in 1993, and the Northern League's success paved the way for other independent leagues like the Texas-Louisiana League and Northeast League. Over the next eight years, at least 16 independent leagues formed, of which six existed in 2002.^[4] As of the 2024 season, there are seven active leagues, with four of them acting as MLB Partner Leagues.^[9]

Current leagues

Affiliation	League	First season	Teams	Geographical area
MLB Partner Leagues	American Association of Professional Baseball	2006	12	Midwest, Manitoba, Texas
	Atlantic League of Professional Baseball	1998	10	Mid-Atlantic, Southeast
	Frontier League	1993	16	Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Ontario, Quebec
	Pioneer Baseball League	1939	12	Northern Mountain States, California
Independent	Empire Professional Baseball League	2016	4	Upstate New York
	Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs	2011	16	California, Southwest, Southern Mountain States, Great Plains
	United Shore Professional Baseball League	2016	4	Utica, Michigan

Dogs

Milkmen

Cougars

Ducks

Rockers

Legends

Jackals

Miners

Aigles

ValleyCats

Titans

Wild Things

Otters

Y'alls

Boomers

Chukars

Vibes

Rockies

Raptors

Hawks

Owlz

Ballers

Cowboys

Weirdos

Wind

Fuego

Seaweed

Drakes

Bills

80's

Surge

Map of independent baseball league teams

American Association

Atlantic League

Frontier League

Pioneer League

Pecos League

Empire League

United Shore League (4 teams play in one stadium)

Defunct leagues

League	First season	Last season	Geographical area
All-American Association	2001	2001	Southern United States
Arizona–Mexico League	2003	2003	Arizona, Mexico
Atlantic Coast League	1995	1995	Southeastern United States
Big South League	1996	1997	Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee
Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball	2005	2019	Northeast, Quebec, Ontario
Canadian Baseball League	2003	2003	Canada
Carolina League	1936	1938	North Carolina's Piedmont region
Central Baseball League	1994	2005	Southern United States
Continental Baseball League	2007	2010	Southwestern United States
Empire State League	1987	1987	New York
Freedom Pro Baseball League	2012	2013	Arizona
Golden Baseball League	2005	2010	Hawaii, Western United States, Western Canada, Mexico
Golden State League	1995	1995	California
Great Central League	1994	1994	Upper Midwest
Heartland League	1996	1998	Midwestern United States, Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States
Inter-American League	1978	1979	United States, Dominican Republic, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela
Mid-America League	1995	1995	Midwestern United States
Mount Rainier Professional Baseball League	2015	2015	Washington, Oregon, Montana
North Atlantic League	1995	1996	Northeastern United States, Canada
North American League	2011	2012	Western United States, Texas, Illinois, Canada
North Central League	1994	1995	Upper Midwest, Canada
North Country Baseball League	2015	2015	New York, Maine
Northeast League	1995	2004	Northeastern United States, Canada
Northern League	1993	2010	Upper Midwest, Kansas, Canada
Pacific Association	2013	2019	California
Prairie League	1995	1997	Upper Midwest, Canada
South Coast League	2007	2007	Southeastern United States
Southeastern League	2002	2003	Southeastern United States
Southwest Baseball League	1995	1997	Southwestern United States
Thoroughbred Baseball League	2017	2017	Kentucky
United League Baseball	2006	2014	Texas
Western Baseball League	1995	2002	Pacific States

External links

IndependentBaseball.net

Related Research Articles

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References

↑ "What Is Independent Baseball?". FloBaseball.
↑ "Indy Ball 101". IndyBallIsland.com.
↑ Kraus, Rebecca S. (2012). Minor League Baseball: Community Building Through Hometown Sports. Routledge. p. 43. ISBN 978-0789017567. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
1 2 3 Kraus, Rebecca S. (2012). Minor League Baseball: Community Building Through Hometown Sports. Routledge. p. 44. ISBN 978-0789017567. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
↑ Thorn, John (May 4, 2015). "Why Is the National Association Not a Major League … and Other Records Issues". Our Game. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
↑ R.G. (Hank) Utley, Scott Verner (1999). The Independent Carolina Baseball League, 1936–1938: Baseball Outlaws. ISBN 0786423188. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
↑ Bjarkman, Peter C. (2005). Diamonds Around the Globe: The Encyclopedia of International Baseball. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 78–79. ISBN 0313322686. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
↑ Kraus, Rebecca S. (2012). Minor League Baseball: Community Building Through Hometown Sports. Routledge. p. 47. ISBN 978-0789017567. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
↑ "Partner Leagues". MLB.

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[1] "What Is Independent Baseball?". FloBaseball.

[2] "Indy Ball 101". IndyBallIsland.com.

[3] Kraus, Rebecca S. (2012). Minor League Baseball: Community Building Through Hometown Sports. Routledge. p. 43. ISBN 978-0789017567. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2013.

[Kraus44-4] 1 2 3 Kraus, Rebecca S. (2012). Minor League Baseball: Community Building Through Hometown Sports. Routledge. p. 44. ISBN 978-0789017567. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2013.

[5] Thorn, John (May 4, 2015). "Why Is the National Association Not a Major League … and Other Records Issues". Our Game. Retrieved November 21, 2019.

[6] R.G. (Hank) Utley, Scott Verner (1999). The Independent Carolina Baseball League, 1936–1938: Baseball Outlaws. ISBN 0786423188. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2015.

[7] Bjarkman, Peter C. (2005). Diamonds Around the Globe: The Encyclopedia of International Baseball. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 78–79. ISBN 0313322686. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2013.

[8] Kraus, Rebecca S. (2012). Minor League Baseball: Community Building Through Hometown Sports. Routledge. p. 47. ISBN 978-0789017567. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2013.

[9] "Partner Leagues". MLB.

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