It Is the Same Five Teams Who Lead in Attendance Although Kansas City, KS Makes a Nice Jump
July 25, 2013 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
The deck has been shuffled, moving Winnipeg, Manitoba, ahead of 2012 newcomer Sugar Land, TX and Kansas City, KS has jumped two spots to third, but the same five teams that led Independent Baseball in per-opening attendance one year ago remain the same past the halfway mark in the ’13 season. Winnipeg, pacing four American […]
An Interview with ESPN’s Baseball Insider Jerry Crasnick
May 23, 2012 by Andrew Martin · Leave a Comment
ESPN has grown from a cable sports news channel to a media conglomerate over the past few decades. They have been able to accomplish this by providing comprehensive analysis in the world of sport through all forms of media- print, online, television, radio, and anything else I may be forgetting. As one of the major […]
Jerome Williams (Three-Hit Shutout), Jered Weaver (No-Hitter) Strut Their Stuff With More Than 100 Others at MLB Doorstep
May 3, 2012 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
My intention this week was to talk up the fact more than 100 Independent Baseball players now populate the rosters of the top two levels of major league-affiliated minor league teams, and while I will get back to that point it is impossible to overlook the masterful shutout turned in by Jerome Williams, who still […]
With Another 84 Contracts Sold and Some Postseason Players, Indy Game Continues to Produce for Majors
October 1, 2011 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
While the next few months before most Independent teams throw a pitch that counts is certain to bring a ton of headlines about franchises struggling and some welcome news on emerging markets, league executives can continue to boast about what a strong source the non-affiliated operations are in providing talent for major league organizations. At […]
Another Indy Milestone Achieved With 150th Major Leaguer
April 7, 2011 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
    Independent Baseball reached another impressive milestone shortly after the major league season opened.           Appearances by rookies Tom Wilhelmsen and Aaron Crow plus a re-appearance by Eric Almonte, who is at the game’s highest level for the first time in eight years, jumped the non-affiliated branch of baseball past the 150 mark in getting […]
Independent Baseball Crowds Back Above Eight Million
September 23, 2010 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
Strengthened by the addition of two more teams in the Northern League and with gains reported in three other leagues, Independent Baseball attendance climbed back above eight million fans for the 2010 regular season. It is the third time in four years the non-affiliated clubs have drawn above that level, this time finishing at 8,130,646. […]
Gibbons Makes Another Statement for Indy Leagues
August 12, 2010 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
Jay Gibbons has struck another harmonious chord for Independent Baseball with his splashy re-entrance into the major leagues with the Los Angeles Dodgers. A longtime Baltimore Orioles outfielder (2001-2007), the left-handed Gibbons erged from a brush with being named in the infamous Mitchell Report to start cleansing his reputation with the Long Island (NY) Ducks […]
Atlantic And Golden Leagues Played Sizeable Roles In Jose Lima’s Life
May 24, 2010 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
The tributes have been pouring in regarding the tragic loss of life by Jose Lima, who was only 37. I was on my way to the Ballpark at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport, CT Sunday when I heard the news on the radio. It seemed like everyone I encountered at the York-Bridgeport Atlantic League game had […]
Gibbons On Exceptional Hitting Streak, Tom Cochran Very Stingy On Mound
April 19, 2010 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
It is difficult to imagine anyone wielding a hotter bat than veteran Jay Gibbons, who is going to make it increasingly difficult for the Los Angeles Dodgers to keep him out of the major leagues if he maintains anything close to his current pace. After starting the season 1-for-9 in three road games for Triple-A […]
Gagne Headed Back To Dodgers; Raul Valdes and Roger LaFrancois Also In the News
February 19, 2010 by Bob Wirz · Leave a Comment
Can you go back home? This is not a reference to Tiger Woods, but rather to onetime unbeatable Los Angeles Dodgers relief ace Eric Gagne. Gagne’s problem seems much simpler of the two. His is more a question of how much speed and movement remain on his bread and butter pitches. The Dodgers and Gagne […]