Ottawa and Montreal Buoy Can-Am Spirits For Two Years From Now

Barring any stunning surprises at league meetings in the next two weeks, the American Association and Can-Am League appear headed for their third consecutive season with some form of inter-league play, but two Canadian developments have Miles Wolff feeling optimistic the Can-Am is getting some traction to build beyond its current five-team landscape.

The commissioner over both of those leagues, which had 18 of Independent Baseball’s primary 46 teams in five circuits this season, Wolff acknowledged Thursday the news of recent days in Ottawa rejoining the Can-Am League two years from now seems “pretty definite”.

Ottawa, in a market that makes the longtime Independent executive salivate because of its one million people, had a Can-Am team for one season (2008) before it folded, but the city’s Finance and Economic Development Committee has given its support to a 10-year lease of Ottawa Stadium (after a Double-A venture proved far too expensive), and the City Council has only to give its blessing next week.

But wait, there is more.

“I am cautiously optimistic” that Montreal , which still needs a stadium, will be ready by 2015, Wolff said.  “There has been some real movement”.  These moves would give the nine-year-old Can-Am four Canadian franchises, including five-time champion Quebec and 2013 entry Trois-Rivieres.

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 With 12 Names Added, 187 Have Now Reached Majors

So, one day you find yourself playing in an Independent League far from your dream of being in the major leagues.  What are your chances of climbing all the way through these non-major league-affiliated leagues, then one of the 30 major league minor league systems and actually suiting up in Yankee Stadium, Dodger Stadium or another American or National League ballpark?

Admittedly, the percentages are not what mom or dad would like to see for their offspring who could be embarking, if they are among the truly fortunate, on a six-figure job on Wall Street or even managing the nearest Wal-Mart.

But they do happen.  Records maintained by this Independent Baseball Insider column show major league lightning has struck for at least 187 players since the Indy game cranked up in 1993, with a dozen of them getting the first time call to the majors just this season, including three whose very first professional games were played for an Independent team. 

St. Paul Tops With 18 Big-Leaguers

The St. Paul (MN) Saints , who got their start the same season as Independent Baseball and have been part of first the Northern League and in recent years the American Association , have had 18 of their players reach the majors by our unofficial tally, five more than Somerset, NJ , Newark, NJ and Long Island, NY. Nashua, NH , now with a team in a summer collegiate league, produced 11 major leaguers, while Camden, NJ has had nine, Bridgeport, CT eight, Sioux Falls, SD and Winnipeg, Canada seven apiece.   Sioux City, IA rounds out the top ten with five players advancing.

Indy Hurlers Jumped MLB Total to 117 Wins

So much has been said about Cleveland’s 24-game turnaround from last season, but what about a 50-win improvement?  That is exactly what former Independent pitchers did in the major leagues this year, improving from 67 victories among 17 hurlers one year ago to a whopping 117 triumphs (117-83) for 23 moundsmen this season.  Toss in 45 saves for good measure.  Only five of the 28 pitchers who got some major league time did not pick up any victories.

            (This is an excerpt from the column Bob Wirz writes year round on Independent Baseball.  Forty columns are planned during 2013.  Fans may subscribe at reduced rates at www.WirzandAssociates.com , enjoy added stories on the blog www.IndyBaseballChatter.com , or comment to RWirz@aol.com .  The author has 16 years of major league baseball public relations experience with Kansas City and as spokesman for two Commissioners and lives in Stratford, CT.)