Independent baseball league

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An independent baseball league is a professional baseball organization located in the United States or Canada that is not operated in conjunction with either a Major League Baseball team or an affiliated Minor League Baseball team. Being independent allows teams to be located close to major league teams without their consent. Such leagues have been around for many years and were once known as "outlaw leagues" due to their position outside the rules of affiliated minor league baseball.

The Northern League and Frontier League both started play in 1993, and the Northern League's success paved the way for other independent leagues like the Texas-Louisiana League and Northeast League. The Atlantic League has had more marquee players than any other independent league, including Jose Canseco, Mat Latos, Steve Lombardozzi Jr., Francisco Rodríguez, Chien-Ming Wang, Roger Clemens, Rich Hill, Scott Kazmir, Juan González, John Rocker, and Dontrelle Willis. Two former Atlantic League players are in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Tim Raines and Rickey Henderson. Gary Carter, another Hall of Famer, managed in the league. The Atlantic League has had many notable managers and coaches, including Wally Backman, Frank Viola, Tommy John, Sparky Lyle, and Bud Harrelson . The Northern League alumni include Leon "Bull" Durham, J. D. Drew, and Darryl Strawberry.

Independent leagues have flourished in northeastern states, where dense populations can often support multiple franchises. Because they are not subject to the territorial limitations imposed on affiliated minor-league teams, independent clubs can relocate as close to affiliated teams (and one another) as they choose to. For example, the city of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, cannot have an affiliated team because of its proximity to the Harrisburg Senators and Reading Fightin Phils, leaving the Atlantic League to place a team—the Lancaster Barnstormers—to fill the void. Another example is the greater New York City metropolitan area, where there are many independent teams: the Long Island Ducks, New Jersey Jackals, New York Boulders, and Sussex County Miners. The Kansas City area is home not only to the American League's Kansas City Royals, but also the independent Kansas City Monarchs.

Current leagues[]

Map of independent league teams

RedHawks

Dogs

Canaries

Explorers

Goldeyes

RailCats

Monarchs

Saltdogs

Railroaders

Milkmen

Cougars

Apollos

DockHounds

Barnstormers

Blue Crabs

Revolution

Ducks

Rockers

Honey Hunters

Legends

Dirty Birds

Crushers

Jackals

Boulders

Capitales

Miners

Aigles

ValleyCats

Titans

Wild Things

Otters

Y'alls

Grizzlies

Slammers

Boomers

Miners

ThunderBolts

Mustangs

Voyagers

Chukars

PaddleHeads

Vibes

Rockies

Raptors

Hawks

Owlz

Cowboys

Wind

Stockade

Invaders

Fuego

Triggers

Saguaros

Train Robbers

Reserve

Pacifics

Snow Sox

Amberjacks

Wild

Thunderbirds

Surge

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Independent Baseball teams

  American Association

  Atlantic league

  Frontier league

  Pioneer League

  Pecos League

  Empire League

  United Shores League (4 teams play in one stadium)

Defunct leagues[]

See also[]

• List of professional baseball leagues
• List of baseball teams in Canada (including leagues)

References[]

External links[]

• IndependentBaseball.net