In my time of covering professional baseball, I have been asked the age-old question countless times — “What is Independent Baseball?” It is often alarming to see even the most diehard fans of the game ask this question. So, what is Independent Baseball and what makes it so special?
There is something so incredibly special about Independent Baseball.
The hot summer nights shared with family and friends. Stadiums being just the right size for all children to enjoy time with the home team’s mascot. The sweet sound of a two-seam fastball making contact with the bat. Sitting right behind home plate and hearing the umpire’s every call – good and bad. Friday night fireworks and children running the bases with their hometown heroes.
Once known as the outlaws of baseball, leagues were originally formed to give communities baseball that would possibly never have the chance of seeing affiliated teams in their hometown. Not only did it give fans a chance at seeing professional baseball at a cheaper cost, it gave the smaller communities a boost with stadium jobs and careers within organizations.
Along with boosting communities, indy ball gives former affiliated baseball players and those who were not drafted out of college an opportunity to be seen by scouts in the hopes of being signed with a Major League Baseball organization.
For fans of the game that often miss the feel of old school baseball, indy ball is absolutely baseball heaven. It’s a great way to research up and coming players, seeing them grind in an independent league and eventually making it to an affiliated team. Most of the men who play in an independent league are the most hardworking baseball players one could meet. They are the ones who are not afraid of chasing after their dreams.
Independent games are the perfect atmosphere for young children who are falling in love with the game of baseball. Most leagues have taken a few pointers from Minor League teams, including the Frontier League, which often has an assortment of events focused on children throughout the game and in between innings. Unlike Major League Baseball games where children often have to fight their way down to meet their heroes and end up without autographs, independent league players stay late after the game often having full conversations with children, families and spectators. It gives fans a chance to see players are, in fact, human too.
Current Leagues
American Association of Independent Professional Baseball was founded in October of 2005 when it was announced the St. Paul Saints, Lincoln Saltdogs, Sioux City Explorers and Sioux Falls Canaries were leaving the Northern League. Around that time, the Central Baseball League announced they would be disbanding after only four seasons – leaving teams looking for a new league. And thus, the American Association was born.
The league began playing in 2006 with a 96-game schedule that would later become expanded to 100-game season. The league often recruits baseball players from college along with ex-major and minor leaguers.
For more information on the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, you can visit their website here.
Current teams within the league: Chicago Dogs, Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Gary SouthShore Railcats, Milwaukee Milkmen, St. Paul Saints, Winnipeg Goldeyes, Cleburne Railroaders, Kansas City T-Bones, Lincoln Saltdogs, Sioux City Explorers, Sioux Fall Canaries, and Texas AirHogs.
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball was founded and played its first season in 1998. The actual creation of the league was the result of the New York Mets’ objection to Frank Boulton’s proposal which would have had the former Albany-Colonie Yankees move because of the territorial rights to the region. Boulton decided to create a new league with a higher salary cap and longer season than most of the other independent leagues. The league was then modeled after the Pacific Coast League with facilities that are qualified as Triple-A level standards.
To date, the Atlantic League is known for being the most successful and highest level of baseball within the independent league circuit. Boulton’s goals included signing former Major League Baseball players to raise the level of play above other leagues – this included Tim Raines, Rickey Henderson, Roger Clemens, Jose Canseco, Rich Hill, and John Rocker. Several other former players such as Gary Carter, Tommy John, and Bud Harrelson coached and managed teams within the league.
In 2015, the league signed a formal agreement with Major League Baseball which put into writing the rules that ALPB would follow in selling its players’ contracts to MLB clubs and minor league affiliates. By 2019, ALPB reached another agreement to test multiple rule changes during the season. This included such rules as using a radar tracking system to assist umpires in calling ball and strikes, reducing time between half innings by 20 seconds, banning mound visits with the exception of a pitching change or for medical reasons, restricting infield shifts and requiring pitchers to face at least three batters with the exception of injury or inning change.
Current teams within the league: Lancaster Barnstormers, Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, Sugar Land Skeeters, York Revolution, High Point Rockers, Long Island Ducks, Road Warriors and Somerset Patriots.
For more information on the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, you can visit their website here.
Empire Professional Baseball League was founded in 2015 and was the replacement for the once North Country Baseball League which folded after one season. In its inaugural season, it only fielded four teams based in New York, New Hampshire and Maine. While it is often viewed as a low budget league, it gives players who have recently graduated from college or players with minimal professional experience an opportunity to be signed by a higher-level independent league or affiliated team. All funding for the league comes from advertisement sales, ticket sales and revenue from try-outs. In 2018, the league expanded to six teams for the season with two new franchises – one would be the revival of the New Hampshire Wild.
Current teams within the league: Georgia Rhinos, New Hampshire Wild, Plattsburgh Thunderbirds, Puerto Rico Islanders, Saranac Lake Surge, and Tupper Lake Riverpigs.
For more information on the Empire Professional Baseball League, you can visit their website here.
Frontier League was founded in 1993 and is the oldest running independent league in the United States. In the winter of 1992-93, the decision was made to start a new league that would serve the West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio areas. The goal was to bring professional baseball to cities that would possibly never see affiliated baseball. The first game was played on June 30, 1993 and the rest was history.
Teams in the league recruit and sign their own players – typically undrafted college players, one-time prospects or players who have been released from Minor League Baseball. Unlike other leagues, the rules of the Frontier League limit teams to four “veterans” which are players older than 29 years old as of October 1 of the playing season. Players without any prior affiliated experience must be at least 18 years old in order to play in the Frontier League.
Pay is minimal in the Frontier League. For the 2020 season, each team has a salary cap of $85,000 with player salaries ranging from $600 - $1600 a month. Veterans can earn up to $2,500 per month with the team’s highest-paid player possibly making $4,000 a month. Due to this, players typically live with host families and receive meal money during the season.
In 2019, the league merged with the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball. The Frontier League absorbed five of the Can-Am teams and became not only the oldest league but the largest in independent professional baseball.
Current teams within the league: Lake Erie Crushers, New Jersey Jackals, New York Boulders, Quebec Capitales, Sussex County Miners, Trois-Rivières Aigles, Washington Wild Things, Evansville Otters, Florence Y’alls, Gateway Grizzlies, Joliet Slammers, Schaumburg Boomers, Southern Illinois Miners and Windy City Thunderbolts.
For more information of the Frontier League, you can visit their website here.
Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs were founded in 2013. During the inaugural season, the two Hawaii-based teams played interleague games against the Baseball Challenge League of Japan and the California based teams played against the Freedom Pro League that was located in Arizona. After the 2013 season, both Hawaiian teams ceased operations due to the cost of travel with bringing in Californian opponents.
Current teams within the league: California Dogecoin, Napa Silverados, Sonoma Stompers and Vallejo Admirals.
For more information of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs, you can visit their website here.
Pecos League was founded in 2010 and kicked off its inaugural season in 2011. The league operated with six teams during the first two seasons, expanding to eight teams going into the 2013 season. By 2014, the league reached a high of 10 teams. Unlike most leagues, Pecos typically play 64 games in 78 days – each player earning $50 as a weekly salary.
The league operates a spring developmental league as well – a one-month showcase that begins in March for college graduates and free agents looking to get noticed by a full season league. Fox Sports 1 actually aired a six-part documentary on the league and about the life that players live. It mainly focused on the Trinidad Triggers in 2014.
As of right now, they are the only league that has decided on a set date to begin the 2020 season with 36-games. Split into two divisions, the Mountain Division will play all games in Houston, Texas starting on July 1 – while the Pacific Division will play in California starting in September.
Current teams within the league: Alpine Cowboys, Garden City Wind, Roswell Invaders, Santa Fe Fuego, Trinidad Triggers, Tucson Saguaros, Bakersfield Train Robbers, Martinez Sturgeon, Monterey Amberjacks, San Rafael Pacifics, Santa Cruz Seaweed and Wasco Reserve.
For more information on the Pecos League, you can visit their website here.
United Shore Professional Baseball League was founded and played its inaugural season in 2016. They are a suburban league in the Metro Detroit, Michigan area that play a 50-game regular reason from May to September. All games are played at Jimmy John’s Field in Utica. Fans can watch the games broadcasted live on the USPBL’s YouTube channel and select games air on ESPN3.
The league is focused on 18-25-year-old players who went with out being drafted straight out of college or were released from an affiliated team. The salary range runs from $600-800 a per month with housing provided by host families. Most of the revenue comes from sponsorship partners, advertisements, ticket sales and ballpark concessions.
Current teams within the league: Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers, Eastside Diamond Hoppers, Utica Unicorns and Westside Woolly Mammoths.
For more information on the United Shore Professional Baseball League, you can visit their website here.