Independent Baseball Page
The independent leagues are the fringes of professional baseball,
the teams are made up of players who have spent some time in the
minor leagues. Most players have been released, or were never
considered good enough to sign in the first place. It the place
for dreamers, hangers-on and guys to muster one last hurrah.
But many have used the independent leagues as a place to display
their talents to the scouts before moving on to the affiliated minor leagues.
The pre-eminent and most successful of the independent
leagues, founded in 1993 by former Durhan Bulls owner and president of
Baseball America, Miles Wolf. The Northern League was a runaway success thanks to its swashbuckling atmoshere, savvy owners and presence of a many ex major leaguers such as Daryl Stawberry, Jack Morris, Glenn Davis, Pedro Guerrero, Leon Durham and (1997 College Player of the Year) J.D. Drew. The six team league expanded to eight in 1996 with the addition of the Madison Black Wolf and the Fargo- Moorhead RedHawks. The Northern League and Northeast League have merged in 1999.
SCHAUMBURG FLYERS
PO Box 68905 Shaumburg, IL 60168
Telephone:(847) 891-2255 FAX (847)891-6441
info@flyersball.com
FARGO MOORHEAD REDHAWKS
PO Box 5258, Fargo, ND 58105
Telephone: (701) 235-6161 FAX: (701) 297-9247
redhawks@fmredhawks.com
LINCOLN SALTDOGS
PO Box 84555,Lincoln NE 68501
Telephone: (402)474-2255 FAX: (402) 474-2254
info@lincolnprobaseball.com
SIOUX CITY EXPLORERS
3400 Line Drive, Sioux City, IA 51106
Telephone: (712) 277-9467 FAX: (712) 277-9406
XsBaseball@aol.com
SIOUX FALLS CANARIES
PO Box 84412, Sioux Falls, SD 57118
Telephone: (605) 333-0179 FAX (605) 333-0139
canaries@iw.net
ST. PAUL SAINTS
1771 Energy Park Dr., St. Paul, MN 55108
Telephone: (612) 644-6659 FAX (612) 644-1627
funsgood@spsaints.com
WINNIPEG GOLDEYES
1430 Maroons Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G0L5
Telephone: (204)982-2273 FAX: (204)982-2274
goldeyes@mts.net
GAMES: 86 (split-season) ROSTER LIMIT: 22. ELIGIBILITY RULES: Minimum of five first-year players;
maximum of four veterns (at least four years of professional experience).
Salary Range: $700-2500 a month
Affiliated competition level: California League
Players to Affiliated Baseball: 180.
Former Major Leaguers: 61 ( Jack Morris, Esteban Beltre, Greg Briley,
John Dettmer, George Glinatsis, Lee Guetterman, Steve Howe, Larry See,
Danny Perez, Dwight Smith, Matt Turner, Randy Tomlin,
Paul Carey,Steve Hosey, Juan Nieves, Bernardo Brito, Gerald Young,
Eric Yelding, Kim Batiste,Angel Miranda,
Julio Valera,
Gerald Young,
Brian Giles,
Luis Quinones,
Chris Eddy,
John Hope,
Will Pennyfeather,
John Barfield,
Rich Aude,
Jeff Ware,
Glen Davis, Daryl Stawberry, Blaise Ilsler,
Pedro Guerrero, Terry Lee, Oil Can Boyd, Daryl Motley,Brian Traxler,
Jeff Bittiger, Ozzie Canseco, and Leon Durham)
Future Major Leaguers: Mike Cather, Doug Dascenzo, Jeff Grotewald, J.D. Drew
Ken Grundt, Mike Mimbs, Rey Ordonez,Kevin Millar, Dan Peltier, and Daryl Strawberry
NORTHERN LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
1993: 651,452 (6)
1994: 910,931 (6)
1995: 888,580 (6)
1996: 1,052,818 (8)
1997: 1,027,513 (8)
1998:1,032,922 (8)
Formed Bud Harrelson and Frank Boulton the Atlantic
League finally opened in 1998 after being pushed back twice since 1996.
The Atlantic League has been successful in attracting alot of experienced
minor league baseball personel in the front office, owners and
financial investment. The Atlantic League has decided to go after six-year free agents
and players released from Double-A and Triple-A. Boulton said the league
will try to meet Triple-A playing standards with 5,000 to 7,500-seat stadiums
and $70,000,000 has been allociated to new stadium construction in
Atlantic City,NJ; Bridgeport,CT; Lehigh,PA; Long Island,NY; Newark,NJ;
and Somerset County,NJ.
ATLANTIC CITY SURF
545 N. Albany Ave., Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Telephone: (609)344-8873 FAX: (609)344-7010
surf@acsurf.com
ABERDEEN ARSENAL
200 North Philadelphia Blvd. Suite B
Aberdeen, MD 21001
Telephone:(410) 272-2332 FAX:(410)272-8920
CAMDEN RIVERSHARKS
1 Port Center, 2 Riverside Drive Suite 504
Camden, NJ 08103
Telephone: (856)963-2600
riversharks@riversharks.com
BRIDGEPORT BLUEFISH
189 State Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604
Telephone: (203) 334-8499 FAX:(203)333-1610
cdowd@bridgeportbluefish.com
100 Main Street #1, Nashua, NH 03060
Telephone: (603)883-2255 FAX:(603)883-0880
Pridegm@aol.com
10 Bridge Street
Newark, NJ 07102
Telephone: (973) 483-6900
FAX:(973) 483-6975
BearsBaseball@aol.com
375 Washington Street, Newburgh, NY 12550
Telephone: (914)565-2288 FAX: (914)565-1379
BlkDiamnds@aol.com
20 West Main Street, Somerville,NJ 08876
Telephone: (908)252-0700 FAX:(908)252-0776
mdacosta@somersetpatriots.com
GAMES:100. ROSTER LIMIT:22. ELIGILIBILITY RULES: none
SALARY RANGE: $700-3000 a month
Affiliated competition level: Carolina League
Players to Affiliated Baseball: 20
Former Major Leaguers: 41 (Brian Giles,David Huse, Felix Jose,
Gerald Young, Terry Mc Griff,
Milt Cuyler,Craig Worthington,Luis Aquino,
Matt Murray ,
Dave Fleming ,
Marshall Boze,
Danny Perez ,
Francisco Oliveras, Mario Diaz
and Joe Grahe).
Future Major Leaguers: Milt Cuyler
Atlantic League Attendance 1998:611,677 (6)
Opened in 1995 with teams in Bend,OR; Gray Habor,WA;
Surrey,B.C.; Tri-City,WA; Long Beach,CA; Palm Springs,CA; Salinas,CA; and
Sonoma County, CA. The Long Beach team had to file for bankruptcy in
the middle of the season , but the team was sold to a group of new owners
including Heather Locklear and made a strong rebound on the field and the gate
to take home the Western League title. Cuban Defector Ariel Prieto pitched in
the Western League before becoming a 1st round draft pick of the
Oakland A's and going straight to the Major Leagues. The expansion Chico Heat
set league records for attendance in 1997 and won the Western League title.
The Grays Harbor Gulls ownership have suspended operations during the 1998
season,citing financial difficulties. The Western League has taken over
operations
and the team should finish out the season.
SACRAMENTO STEELHEADS
2527 J Street Sacramento, CA 95816
Telephone: (916)447-9464 FAX: (916) 448-3517
ST. GEORGE PIONEERS
1249 East 100 South #16B, St. George, UT 84790
Telephone: (435) 656-9000 FAX: (435) 628-8389
CHICO HEAT
PO Box 5362, Chico, CA 95927
Telephone: (530)343-4328 FAX: (530)894-1799
brianc@chicoheat.com
LONG BEACH BREAKERS
4700 Deukmejian Drive, Long Beach, CA 90804
Telephone:(562) 987-4487 FAX:(562)570-1737
RENO CHUKARS
240 W. Moana Lane, Reno,NV 89509
Telephone: (702)829-7890 FAX:(702)829-7895
info@renochukars.com
FEATHER RIVER FURY
904 B Street, Marysville, CA 95901
Telephone: (530)741-3600 FAX: (530)741-3087
info@frfury.com
SONOMA COUNTY CRUSHERS
5900 Labath Ave, Rohnert Park,CA 94928
Telephone: (707)588-8300 FAX: (707)588-8721
VALLEY VIPERS
7408 East Osborn Road,Scottsdale,AZ 85251
Telephone: (602)407-6628 FAX: (212)496-5685
YUMA BULLFROGS
1280 Desert Sun Drive,PO Box 4668, Yuma, AZ 85366
Telephone: (520)782-3536 FAX: (520)782-3911
Players to Affiliated Baseball: 36.
Former Major Leaguers: 12 ( Bob Ayrault, Bret Barberie, Mike Hartley,
Mike York, Jeremy Hernandez, Nelson Simmons, Freddie Toliver
Jeremy Hernandez,
Steve Hosey, Charlie Kerfeld, Rafael Novoa,
Jeremy Hernandez,Nelson Simmons,Freddie Toliver,
and Wally Ritchie).
Future Major Leaguers: Ariel Prieto
GAMES: 90. ROSTER: 22. ELIGIBILITY RULES: Maximum 6 veterns-(players with four
or more years of professional experience. Minimum 5 Rookies-( players with no professional experience)
SALARY RANGE:$700-2000 a month
Affiliated competition level: Midwest league
WESTERN LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
1995: 549,399 (8)
1996: 483,259 (8)
1997: 617,684 (8)
1998: 481,521 (6)
opened in 1995 with entries in Albany, Glens Falls,
Mountaindale, Newburgh, Yonkers, and Little Falls,all the teams in
New York State. In 1996 the league moved franchises into Bangor, Maine
and West Warwick,
Rhode Island. The 1997 season brought tremendous growth to the Northeast League
with the addition of the Massachusetts Mad Dogs and the Catskill Coougars from the
North Atlantic League and moved the West Warwick and Newburgh franchises into
Waterbury, Ct. and Allentown, PA. The Elmira Pioneers took home the championship and
over 400,000 fans passed through the Northeast League turnstiles. The Northeast League has joined the Northern League
in 1999.
ADIRONDACK LUMBERJACKS
East Field Dix Ave, Glens Falls, NY 12804
Telephone: (518)743-9618 FAX: (518)743-9721
mail@adirondacklumberjacks.com
ALBANY-COLONIE DIAMOND DOGS
Heritage Park, Albany, NY 12211
Telephone: (518)869-9234 FAX: (518)869-5291
acdogs@acemenet.net
ALLENTOWN AMBASSADORS
1511-25 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18102
Telephone: (610)437-6800 FAX: (610)437-6804
info@ambassadorbaseball.com
ELMIRA PIONEERS
546 Luce Street, Elmira, NY 14901
Telephone: (607)734-1270 FAX: (607)734-0891
pioneers@elmirapioneers.com
NEW JERSEY JACKALS
PO Box 3367, Montclair, NJ 07043
Telephone: (973)244-4395 FAX: (973)244-4280
njjackals@aol.com
QUEBEC CITY LES CAPITALS
100 Rueducar Dinal Marice-Roy
Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
Telephone:(418) 521-2255
FAX:(418) 521-2266
webmaster@capitalesdequebec.com
WATERBURY SPIRIT
PO Box 1876, Waterbury, CT 06722
Telephone: (203)419-0393 FAX: (203)419-0396
weisbart@waterburyspirit.com
GAMES:84. ROSTER LIMIT:22. ELIGIBILITY RULES: NONE
SALARY RANGE: $700-2000 a month
Affiliated competition level: South Atlantic League
Players to Affiliated Baseball: 75
Former Major Leaguers: 11 (Bob Zupcic, Kerwin Moore,Frank Euphemia,
Floyd Youmans, John Cerutii, Hipolito Pena, Tony Mitchell, Ravelo Manzanillo
Denis Boucher, George Tsamis,
Doug Piatt, Les Lancaster, Jarvis Brown, Andy Carter, Jeff Mutis, Dave LaPoint and Dennis
"Oil Can" Boyd)
NORTHEAST LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
1995: 185,471 (6)
1996: 240,116 (6)
1997: 432,910 (8)
1998:580,006 (8)
Opened in 1994 by two Texas businessmen Byron
Pierce and John Bryant and touted a number of former big leaguers managing
and playing. The league owned all of the franchises. The first season was
successful except in San Antonia, TX were they faced stiff competition for fans
from the Class AA Los Angeles Dodgers Affiliate. The league decided to expand into
Pueblo, CO and Laredo, TX but the franchises never developed a fan base and were shut
down in the middle of the 1995 season. In 1998, the Texas-Louisana League will field
seven teams, including new franchises in Lafayette, LA and a non-league owned
team in Greenville, Miss.
ABILENE PRAIRIE DOGS
401 Cypress St. Suite 300, Abilene, TX 79601
Telephone: (915)673-7364 FAX:(915)673-5051
pdog@txproball.com
ALEXANDRIA ACES
1 Babe Ruth Dr., Alexandria, LA 71301
Telephone: (318)473-2237 FAX:(318)473-2229
aces@txproball.com
AMARILLO DILLAS
501 West 9th St., Amarillo, TX 79101
Telephone: (806) 342-3455 FAX: (806) 374-2269
dillas@txproball.com
BAYOU BULLFROGS
601 West Congress St., Lafayette, LA 70501
Telephone: (318)233-0998 FAX:(318)237-3539
frogs@txproball.com
GREENVILLE BLUESMEN
1040 S. Raceway Road, Greenville, MS 38703
Telephone: (601)335-2583 FAX:(601)335-7742
bluesmen@teinfo.com
Mountain Ducks
PO Box 1472, Ozark, MO 65721
Telephone: (417) 581-2868 FAX:(417)581-8342
mtducks@txproball.com
RIO GRANDE VALLEY WHITEWINGS
1216 Fair Park BLVD, Harlingen, TX 78550
Telephone: (956)412-9464 FAX:(956)412-9479
wings@txproball.com
GAMES: 84 .ROSTER LIMIT:23. ELIGIBILITY RULES:none
SALARY RANGE: $700-2000 a month
Affiliated Competition level: Midwest League
Players to Affiliated Baseball: 31
Former Major Leaguers:39
(Mark Bailey,
Mike Bell,
Frank Bolick,
Rod Brewer,
Kevin Brown,
Greg Brummett,
Todd Burns,
Don Carman,
Larry Carter,
Frank DiPino,
Gary Eave,
Mike Felder,
Curt Ford,
Jerry Goff,
Gary Green,
David Haas,
Donald Harris,
Eric Hetzel,
Shawn Hillegas,
Jessie Hollins,
Brad Holman,
Ron Jones,
Kevin King,
Bill Landrum,
Titi Landrum,
Tony Mack,
Rob Mallicoat,
Kelly Mann,
Lonnie Maclin,
Jose Musset,
Robert Moore,
Jamie Nelson,
Randy O'Neal,
Al Osuna,
Clay Parker,
Ken Patterson,
Doug Piatt,
Nicko Riesgo,
Alex Sanchez,
Doug Simons,
Ron Witmeyer,
Eric Yelding)
Future Major Leaguers: (Al Osuna,Frank Bolick, Todd Rizzo)
TEXAS-LOUISIANA LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
1994: 600,000 (8)
1995: 680,725 (10)
1996: 502,305 (6)
1997: 479,350 (6)
1998:530,734 (7)
Founded in 1993 mostly in the Ohio Valley the league
barely survived
it's first season with the Ashland and Wayne County franchises folding
during the season. The league played a 68 game schedule for players 18-24 years
old with no more than one year professional experience, but was mostly made up
of undrafted college players.
The Frontier League founder Bud Bicknel was ousted by the
remaining team owners and later settled a lawsuit with the owners. Since then
the Frontier League
has experienced temendendous jump in popularity after moving franchises into
Evansville,IN; Kalamazoo,MI Canton,OH; Johnstown,PA; Springfield,IL; and
Richmond,IN.
Only the Ohio Valley Redcoats and Chillicothe Paints were charter members
of the Frontier League. The Frontier League has devoloped a niche for
young undrafted players and in 1996 experienced a tremendous jump in the caliber
of competition mainly through allowing 3 veterns to participate. The Frontier League added
three teams for 1999 with the River City Rascals and the Dubois Red Dragons, Cook County Cheetahs former
of the Heartland League. The Ohio Valley Redcoats interest in the Frontier League have been sold to
a 20 person ownership group in Huntingburg, Indiana. The new owners are moving
the team there and calling them
Dubois
Red Dragons.
CANTON CROCODILES
2501 Allen Ave. SE, Canton, OH 44707
Telephone: (330) 455-2255 FAX (330) 454-4835
tplplay@ssnet.com
COOK COUNTY CHEETAHS
4545 Midlothian Turnpike, Crestwood, IL 60445
Telephone: (708) 489-2255 FAX: (708) 489-2999
steve.arch2@gte.net
CHILLICOTHE PAINTS
59 North Paint Street, Chillicothe,OH 45601
Telephone: (740) 773-8326 FAX: 773-8338
paints@bright.net
EVANSVILLE OTTERS
1701 Main Street, Evansville, IN 47711
Telephone: (812) 435-8686 FAX (812) 435-8688
ottersbb@evansville.net
JOHNSTOWN JOHNNIES
430 Main Street 2nd Floor, Johnstown,PA 15901
Telephone: (814) 536-8326 FAX: (814) 539-0056
comments@jonniesbaseball.com
RICHMOND ROOSTERS
201 NW 13th Street, Richmond, IN 47374
Telephone: (765) 935-7529 FAX: (765) 962-7047
roosters@cnz.com
River City Rascals
PO Box 662
O'Fallon, MO 63366
Telephone: (314) 240-2287 FAX:(314)240-7313
patdaly@rivercityrascals.com
SPRINGFIELD CAPITALS
1351 North Grand Ave East, Springfield, IL 62702
Telephone: (217) 525-5500 FAX: (217) 525-5508
mail@springfieldcapitals.com
DUBOIS COUNTY DRAGONS
504 East 4th Street, Huntingburg, IN 47542
Telephone: (812) 683-4405 FAX: (812) 683-4299
dragons@psci.net
London Werewolves
25 Wilson Avenue
London, Ontario, Canada N6H1X2
Telephone (519) 679-7337
Fax (519) 679-5713
londonbaseball@lon.imag.net
Gateway Grizzlies
PO BOX 1053
O'Fallon, IL 62269
Telephone: (618) 632-0100
Fax: 618-632-0550
emarglous@gatewaygrizzlies.com
Players to Affiliated Baseball: 85
Future Major Leaguers: Morgan Burkhart, Brian Tollberg
GAMES: 80 (spilt-season) ROSTER LIMIT: 22-24 ELIGIBILITY RULES: No
player may be 27 before June 1, 1998. Maximum of three players with unlimited
experience. Maximum of eight players with one year experience. League classifies
one year experience as 50 innings pitched or 100 at bats. Minimum of 11 first
year players.
SALARY RANGE: $550-1100 a month
Affiliated competition level: Appalachian League
FRONTIER LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
1993: 80,000 (8)
1994: 216,228 (8)
1995: 316,800 (8)
1996: 417,619 (8)
1997: 446,401 (8)
1998: 428,138 (8)
DEFUNCT INDEPENDENT LEAGUES
The Heartland league was formed in 1996 with Lafayette
and Anderson as the league nucleus and they were joined by Will County, IL and
Dubois County, IN. The league played a 60 game schedule with Lafayette
taking the championship. In 1997, the league expanded to eight teams with three
teams joining from the Big South League and one team from North Atlantic League.
The Tupelo Tornado and Huntington Rail Kings have suspend operations during the 1998 season and the Heartland League
is once again plauged by low attendance. The Heatland League suspended operations
after the Cook County Cheetahs jumped to the Frontier League.
HUNTINGTON RAILKINGS
PO Box 6531, Huntington, WV 25772
Telephone: (304) 429-5046 FAX: 429-5096
railkings@newwave.net
LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS
PO Box 385, Lafayette, IN 47902
Telephone: (765-447-8129 FAX: (765)447-8107
leopards@ncli.com
TENNESSEE TOMAHAWKS
300 Jefferson Street, Winchester, TN 37398
Telephone: (931) 962-4900 FAX: (931) 962-4926
tickets@tntomahawks.com
TUPELO TORNADO
PO Box 601, Booneville, MS 38829
Telephone: (601) 842-2221 FAX:(765)447-8107
tornbase@network-one.com
Players to Affiliated Baseball: 28
Former Major Leaguers: 4 ( John Dopson, Jeff Mc Knight, Charlie Mitchell, and Jeff Mitchell).
GAMES: 78 (split-season) ROSTER LIMIT: 23. ELIGIBILITY RULES: None
SALARY RANGE: $600-2000 a month
Affiliated competition level: NY-Penn League
HEARTLAND LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
1996: 61,385 (4)
1997: 211,511 (8)
1998: 111,110 (6)
GREAT CENTRAL LEAGUE : opened in 1994 in Minneapolis, Mason City, Iowa;
Champaign-Urbana,Ill; and Lafayette, IN. The troubles began shortly after mid-season in the
72 game schedule, when various players stopped getting paid. Some players and coaches stuck
around and tried to play out the season anyways, selling T-shirts and taking donations of food
and money to keep the league aflot. But the bills began to mount and League President
Richard Jacobson who owned all four teams decided to call it quits in August.
GOLDEN STATE LEAGUE: The league spent a good deal of time planning the league, but was not able to
raise sufficient capital nor were they able to draw the crowds they had projected. The Golden State League
also had the additional finacial burden of trying to upgrade the high school
facilties it planned to play on. The league reduced the projected teams
from 8 to 6 then 4 and losts
a major investor before the season started. The league opened in June 1995, but lasted only a week.
ATLANTIC COAST LEAGUE: opened during the month of June 1995 in Gastonia, NC;
Spartanburg,SC,Greenwood, SC and Florence, SC. The League President Patrick Gaffney
said the league needed to draw 800 fans a game to break even and never came close.
Players started to leave the league when their checks started bouncing.
The Atlantic Coast League suspend operations after three weeks citing
miscalcuculating
expenses, attendance, bad weather and mounting losses of $50,000 a week.
NORTH CENTRAL LEAGUE: opened in 1994 and founded by George Vedder after
he had a falling out with the league officials of the Northern League and decided
to create his own league. By the end of 1994, two teams Marshal amd Huron had
folded, while three others had jumped to the new Praire League. With hastily
assembled replacements, the league was never able to keep up with expenses
and it folded in mid July 1995 with a trail of bounced checks and huge sums owed to
players and managers.
NORTH CENTRAL LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
1994: 176,318 (6)
MID AMERICAN LEAGUE: Opened in 1995 and had many of the same principals of the
Great Central League including Richard Jacobsen who owned one of the franchises.
The 4 team league was plauged by low attendance and only three teams finished
the season
without any playoffs.
MID- AMERICAN LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
1995: 43,998 (4)
: The league opened in 1995 with four teams in Wellend,
Ontario; Newark, NY; Niagara Nalls, NY and Nashua, NH. The NABL was hampered by low
attendance the first year drawing less than 50,000 fans for all four teams.
Things improved in 1996 with strong franchises in Lynn, Altoona, and Catskill.
But massive problems existed in Wellend with the team averaging less than 200
fans a game
and the Nashua franchise folded in August, after pilling up massive debts to
the city and players.
The Catskill Cougars and Massachusetts Mad Dogs left for the Northeast League.
With two other franchises folding, the Altoona Rail Kings jumped to the
Heartland League. With just the Newark team remaining league president Edward
Broidy suspended operations in 1997.
NORTH ATLANTIC LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
1995: 59,395 (4)
1996: 146,429 (6)
BIG SOUTH LEAGUE: opened in 1996 with a strong showing in Tennesse drawing 57,000
fans and the remaining 5 teams averaging 31,000 fans. In 1997 the Clarksville
Coyotes; Tennessee Tomahawks and Columbia Mules all jumped to the Heartland League.
The league struggled to put four teams on the field in 1997 with just the
Meridan
and Greenville frachises returning. The Tullahoma
franchise
had to be taken over by the league and play all its games on the road.
BIG SOUTH LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
1996: 237,166 (6)
1997: 75,546 (4)
: Opened in eight cities in 1995 spanning South Dakota,
Manitoba, and Saskatchewan with three teams coming over from the North Central League.
The Canadian Division was composed of the
Brandon Grey Owls, Moose Jaw Diamond Dogs, Regina Cyclones, and Saskatoon Riot.
The American Division was composed of the Aberdeen Pheasants, Dakota Rattlers, Minneapolis
Loons, and Minot Mallards. Regina defeated Aberdeen to take home the first
Prairie League Championship.
The 1996 season brought 3 more teams into the Prairie League with the
addition of the Green Bay Sultans, Grand Forks Varmits and the Brainerd Bobcats.
The Minneapolis Loons relocated to Austin Minnesota and were renamed the Southern
Minny Stars. The Brainerd Bobcats were shut down after two weeks after not being able to pay it's
bills. The Minot Mallards defeated the Grand Fork Varmits in four games to take
the championship.
The 1997 season opened the season with eight teams , but had massive
troubles throughout the season. The Moose Jaw Diamond Dogs suspended operations after
the players refused to go on a ten day road trip after not being paid. The Aberdeen Pheasants
were shut down for two days by the league for failure to pay the leagues annual dues
of $15,000. Bills started to pill up with the umpires not getting paid and
checks starting to bounce. With the Prairie League $27,000 in debt and several
franchises owning much more locally, League President Dave Ferguson decided to
suspend operations.
PRAIRIE LEAGUE ATTENDANCE
1995: 320,131 (8)
1996: 313,490 (11)
1997: 213,831 (8)
STRANGE BUT TRUE INDEPENDENT STORIES:
The St. Paul Saints going head to head with the Minnesota Twins have often drawn greater attendance.
Atlanta Braves reliever Kerry Lightenberg contract was purchased from the
Minneaplois Loons (Praire League) for 6 dozen bats and two dozen baseballs.
North Atlantic League president Edward Broidy ordered teams to return
broken bats as defective merchadise.
Andre Keene (Big South League)was traded for cash and a Muddy Waters album.
Pedro Guerrero (Northern League) flew to all his games while the rest of the team took the bus.
Ruben Davila (Texas-LA League) while out on bond for conspiracy
to transport 350 pounds of Marijuana pitched for Corpus Christi (0-0, 6.75
ERA).
Pacific Suns (Western League) Pitcher Ken Krahenbuhl was
traded to the Texas Lousiana League Greensville Bluesman for cash, an
un-named future player, and 10 pounds of catfish.
BEST RECORD OF THE INDEPENDENT LEAGUES
Aberdeen Pheasants (Prairie League 1995) 56-13 (.812)
Ohio Valley Redcoats (Frontier League 1994) 50-17 (.746)
Albany Diamond Dogs (Northeast League 1995)52-18 (.743)
Mass. Mad Dogs (North Atlantic League 1996)56-21 (.718)
Aberdeen Pheasants (Prairie League 1996)54-24 (.692)
WORST RECORD OF THE INDEPENDENT LEAGUES
Tennessee Walkers (Big South League 1996) 8-52 (.113)
Yonkers Hoot Owls (Northeast League 1995) 12-52 (.188)
Rhode Island Tigersharks (Northeast League 1996) 19-60 (.241)
Duluth-Superior Dukes (Northern League 1994) 19-60 (.240)
Catskill Cougars (Northeast League 1997) 21-62 (.253)
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