Major Shakeup Taking Place in Independent Baseball
October 7, 2010 by Bob Wirz · 3 Comments
This may be the most important period for Independent Baseball since it started in 1993. Make it the most important ever since not all that much was really expected when the first two professional leagues of non-major league-affiliation formed 18 years ago.
That’s a bold statement, to be sure, but this is what seems to be happening, with much of it still not announced:
The American Associationexpands to 14 teams, stretching from Winnipeg, CAto the Florida Panhandle,and could well be up to 17 teams a year from now.
- The Frontier Leaguelikely jumps from 12 teams to 16 immediately.
- The Northern League, which along with the Frontier jump-started the Independent game, disappears, with half of its teams going into the Association and probably half to the Frontier.
- The Can-Am Leaguehas increased by one club to seven with the addition of Newark, NJ,previously in the Atlantic League,and soon will be at eight.
- The Atlantic brings its traveling Road Warriorsback to keep at a balanced eight teams although it will be only a one-year move until new franchises in Loudoun, VAand Sugar Land, TXare ready.
- The United Leaguebecomes more unsteady with two of its six teams appearing to be lost.
- The makeup of the 10-team Golden Leaguefor ’11 remains uncertain, but change clearly is in the wind with at least two franchises appearing to be in serious jeopardy and its creator, David Kaval, moving from baseball to soccer.
The only announcement of a franchise move so far is that of Newarkmoving to the Can-Am League.
The remaining dominos are expected to officially tumble in ongoing Frontier Leaguemeetings plus a Northern Leagueconfab in ChicagoSunday and Monday, and an American Associationownership gathering in Grand Prairie, TXTuesday and Wednesday, but the shuffle of teams is real.
Northern League Demise Surprising
The shocker that is going to be the most difficult for some to digest is that there does not seem to be any future for the Northern League unless someone gets creative with inter-league play to maintain the name of the operation that really gave Independent Baseball its first credibility.
Unless some governor steps in with a last minute reprieve, the Northern League is going “poof†although its eight teams of 2010 all will land on their feet. It will be the final jolt to this proud circuit which lost St. Paul plus Sioux City, IA, Sioux Falls, SDand Lincoln, NEin one sudden move to join with some former Central Leaguefranchises and form the American Association a mere five seasons ago. Oh, how feathers got ruffled.
Now as much of the healing process has gradually taken place, the league’s top three drawing teams, Winnipeg, CA, Kansas City, KSand Fargo, NDplus Gary, INare moving to the American Association. It is not quite as certain, but most likely the other four—the Chicago-area’s Joliet, Schaumburg, Rockfordand Lake County—will join the Frontier League.
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Ramapo Could Be Next for Can-Am
Newark, Ramapo, NYand the Quebec Provincetown of Trois Rivieresall are believed to have been discussed during Can-Am Leaguemeetings this week, and my sources believe Ramapo is likely to become the eighth member of the league in coming weeks with Trois Rivieres a possibility for 2012.
(Bob Wirz also writes about Independent Baseball on two other sites, www.IndyBaseballChatter.com and www.AtlanticLeagueBaseball.com . Fans may subscribe from now through 2011 to this Independent Baseball Insider column at bonus rates at www.WirzandAssociates.com or comment to RWirz@aol.com . He has 16 years of major league baseball experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners, and lives in Stratford, CT.)
Good story Bill. As a Goldeyes fan, I am disappointed that the Northern League folded but it was expected. I am happy, however, that teams like Winnipeg and Fargo are transferring into the American Association, and playing against their old opponents in that league next year.
Weren’t the first two professional leagues of non-major league affiliation the National Association in 1871 and the International Association in 1877? Or maybe you prefer the California League and Northwestern League in 1879? Or the dozen or so leagues not part of the Tri-Partite Agreement of 1883? Etc.
So, Newark is moving to the Can-Am? Can you say “Atlantic City Surf?”
The Surf was part of the Atlantic League from the beginning in ’98 to ’06 then, even though they were winning, they weren’t drawing and moved to the Can-Am. In two years they were history.
I worked for the Bears in ’09. Four owners in the last four years though current co-owner Tom Cetnar was part of–maybe a Newark front man for–Gary Veloric’s (JG Wentworth) ownership group. Rumor had it that Cetnar never put up a dime under Veloric’s ownership.
They were mismanaged in ’09 (people who didn’t know much about baseball and marketing a team) and having Cetnar at the helm in ’10 was a disaster. Those attendance numbers? Divide by four or five for the real head count as they count the comps–even if those people don’t show–as part of the official body count. I guess it’s kind of like lying on your golf score, especially if all the teams in the league are doing it (though I’m not sure of that as LI and Somerset were always good draws).
Cetnar, who is probably one of the biggest lowlifes I’ve ever come across (ex-Newark cop and ex-Captain in the Essex Co. Prosecutor’s Office who did time for illegal appropriation of funds), has no management skills, no people skills and no idea how to market the team. I’ve got stories, all true, that’ll make your hair curl.
Maybe they think a rivalry with the nearby Jackals and Skyhawks will drum up business.
I say, “Let’s go surfin’ now…” I give the team two years, tops, and they’re out of either Newark or business.
Grease up that old Santayana quote.