Independent baseball league

Genre of professional baseball in the United States and Canada

Independent baseball leaguesClassification| Minor professional

|

Sport| Baseball
Founded| 1993
No. of teams| 82
Countries| United States and Canada
Most titles| Québec Capitales (10 titles)

An independent baseball league is a professional baseball league in the United States or Canada that is not overseen by Major League Baseball or its affiliated Minor League Baseball system (historically referred to as organized baseball).[1]

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, Staten Island FerryHawks, New Jersey Jackals, New York Boulders, and Sussex County Miners.

The Atlantic League is considered as the top level of competition among the independent leagues, comparable to Double-A,[2][3] and 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.

## History

[edit]

Haymarket Park, home to the Lincoln Saltdogs, an independent baseball team in Lincoln, Nebraska

Independent leagues are those professional leagues in the United States and Canada not under the purview of organized Minor League Baseball and the Commissioner of Baseball. Independent baseball existed in the early 20th century and has become prominent again since 1993.[4]

Leagues operated mostly autonomously before 1902, when the majority joined the NAPBL. From then until 1915, a total of eight new and existing leagues remained independent. Most joined the National Association after one season of independence. Notable exceptions were the California League, which was independent in 1902 and from 1907 to 1909; the United States Baseball League, which folded during its independent 1912 season; and the Colonial League, a National Association Member that went independent in 1915 and then folded.[5] Another independent league, the Federal League, played at a level considered major league from 1914 to 1915.[6]

Few independent leagues existed between 1915 and 1993. Major exceptions included the Carolina League and the Quebec-based Provincial League. The Carolina League, based in the North Carolina Piedmont region, gained a reputation as a notorious "outlaw league" during its existence from 1936 to 1938.[7] The Provincial League fielded six teams across Quebec and was independent from 1948 to 1949. Similarly to early 20th-century independent leagues, it joined the National Association in 1950, playing for six more years.[5][8]

Independent leagues saw new growth after 1992, after the new Professional Baseball Agreement in organized baseball instituted more stringent revenue and stadium requirements on members.[9] 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. Over the next eight years, at least 16 independent leagues formed, of which six existed in 2002.[5] As of the 2024 season, there are seven active leagues, with four of them acting as MLB Partner Leagues.[10]

Additionally, Major League Baseball co-operatively operates the MLB Draft League, which operates as an amateur collegiate summer baseball league in the first half of each season and a professional league outside of the structure of Minor League Baseball for the remainder.[11]

## Current leagues

[edit]

Overview of current independent baseball leagues  Affiliation  | League  | First season  | Teams  | Geographical area

|
|
|
|

MLB Showcase
League  | MLB Draft League | 2021  | 6  | Northern Appalachia, Mid-Atlantic
Appalachian League | 1911  | 10  | Southern Appalachia
MLB Partner
Leagues  | American Association of Professional Baseball | 2006  | 12  | Midwest, Manitoba, Texas
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball | 1998  | 10  | Mid-Atlantic, Southeast
Frontier League | 1993  | 18  | Northeast, Midwest, Ontario, Quebec
Pioneer Baseball League | 1939  | 12  | Northern Mountain States, California
Independent  | Empire Professional Baseball League | 2016  | 4  | Upstate New York
Pecos League | 2011  | 16  | California, Southwest, Southern Mountain States, Great Plains
United Shore Professional Baseball League | 2016  | 4  | Utica, Michigan

RedHawks

Dogs

Canaries

Explorers

Goldeyes

RailCats

Monarchs

Saltdogs

Railroaders

Milkmen

Cougars

DockHounds

Stormers

Blue Crabs

Revolution

Ducks

Flying Boxcars

Rockers

Ghost Peppers

Legends

Dirty Birds

FerryHawks

Crushers

Jackals

Boulders

Capitales

Miners

Aigles

ValleyCats

Titans

Wild Things

Otters

Y'alls

Grizzlies

Slammers

Boomers

ThunderBolts

Rox

Mud Monsters

Bird Dawgs

Mustangs

Voyagers

Chukars

PaddleHeads

Vibes

Jackalopes

Raptors

Hawks

Owlz

Ballers

Cowboys

Weirdos

Wind

Invaders

Fuego

Triggers

Saguaros

Flycatchers

Train Robbers

Leprechauns

Sturgeon

Pacifics

Seaweed

Drakes

Bills

80s

Thunderbirds

Surge

Riverpigs

Border Hounds

USPBL

Keys

Scrappers

Spikes

Thunder

Black Bears

Crosscutters

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Independent baseball league teams

* American Association
* Atlantic League
* Frontier League
* Pioneer League
* Pecos League
* Empire League
* United Shore League (4 teams play in one stadium)
* MLB Draft League

## Defunct leagues

[edit]

Overview of former independent baseball leagues  League  | First season  | Last season  | Geographical area

|
|
|

All-American Association | 2001  | 2001  | Southern United States
Arizona–Mexico League | 2003  | 2003  | Arizona, Mexico
Atlantic Coast League | 1995  | 1995  | Southeastern United States
Big South League | 1996  | 1997  | Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee
Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball | 2005  | 2019  | Northeast, Quebec, Ontario
Canadian Baseball League | 2003  | 2003  | Canada
Carolina League | 1936  | 1938  | North Carolina's Piedmont region
Central Baseball League | 1994  | 2005  | Southern United States
Continental Baseball League | 2007  | 2010  | Southwestern United States
Empire State League | 1987  | 1987  | New York
Freedom Pro Baseball League | 2012  | 2013  | Arizona
Golden Baseball League | 2005  | 2010  | Hawaii, Western United States, Western Canada, Mexico
Golden State League | 1995  | 1995  | California
Great Central League | 1994  | 1994  | Upper Midwest
Heartland League | 1996  | 1998  | Midwestern United States, Northeastern United States, Southeastern United States
Inter-American League | 1978  | 1979  | United States, Dominican Republic, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela
Mid-America League | 1995  | 1995  | Midwestern United States
Mount Rainier Professional Baseball League | 2015  | 2015  | Washington, Oregon, Montana
North Atlantic League | 1995  | 1996  | Northeastern United States, Canada
North American League | 2011  | 2012  | Western United States, Texas, Illinois, Canada
North Central League  | 1994  | 1995  | Upper Midwest, Canada
North Country Baseball League | 2015  | 2015  | New York, Maine
Northeast League | 1995  | 2004  | Northeastern United States, Canada
Northern League | 1993  | 2010  | Upper Midwest, Kansas, Canada
Pacific Association | 2013  | 2019  | California
Prairie League | 1995  | 1997  | Upper Midwest, Canada
South Coast League | 2007  | 2007  | Southeastern United States
Southeastern League | 2002  | 2003  | Southeastern United States
Southwest Baseball League  | 1995  | 1997  | Southwestern United States
Thoroughbred Baseball League  | 2017  | 2017  | Kentucky
United League Baseball | 2006  | 2014  | Texas
Western Baseball League | 1995  | 2002  | Pacific States

## Outside of North America

[edit]

Pirates

Guyners

Dogs

Socks

RedHopes

Planets

Braves

Dreams

Pegasus

Bears

Grandserows

Firewinds

Thunderbirds

Stars

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Map of independent baseball leagues and teams in Japan

Shikoku Island League Plus

Baseball Challenge League

Nihonkai League Baseball

Independent baseball leagues and teams exist outside of North America, though rarer.

In Japan, the Japan Independent Baseball League Organization, which consists of the Shikoku Island League Plus and Baseball Challenge League, operates independently from Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).[12] Japan also has a variety of independent semi-professional leagues consisting of industrial teams, where the players are regular employees of the company that own the team and are additionally paid to play baseball for the company on the side.[12] South Korea also has series of small independent leagues.[13]

Additionally, as of 2024, two Japanese teams without affiliation to NPB teams play within NPB's minor leagues (the Eastern League and the Western League).[12] Similarly, within KBO Futures League, the minor league of Korea Baseball Organization (KBO), there is an unaffiliated team that consists only of South Korean military personnel.[14]

A select number of Japanese independent teams also participate in the off-season Miyazaki Phoenix League alongside Japanese and Korean minor league teams. An all-star team of Japanese independent and industrial league players was invited to participate at the 2025 Caribbean Series under the moniker of the Japan Breeze.[15]

Overview of Japanese independent baseball leagues  League  | First season  | Teams  | Geographical area

|
|
|

Shikoku Island League Plus | 2005  | 4  | Shikoku
Baseball Challenge League | 2006  | 8  | Chūbu, Kantō, Tōhoku
Nihonkai League Baseball | 2022  | 2  | Chūbu

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "What Is Independent Baseball?". FloBaseball. 10 November 2023.
2. ^ "Indy Ball 101". IndyBallIsland.com. 21 June 2018.
3. ^ WordPress, Lucian E. Marin-Built for. "What are non-MLB associated baseball league talent equivalents? at Nationals Arm Race". Retrieved 2025-02-24.
4. ^ Kraus, Rebecca S. (2012). Minor League Baseball: Community Building Through Hometown Sports. Routledge. p. 43\. ISBN 978-0789017567. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
5. ^ a b c Kraus, Rebecca S. (2012). Minor League Baseball: Community Building Through Hometown Sports. Routledge. p. 44\. ISBN 978-0789017567. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
6. ^ Thorn, John (May 4, 2015). "Why Is the National Association Not a Major League … and Other Records Issues". Our Game. Retrieved November 21, 2019.
7. ^ R.G. (Hank) Utley, Scott Verner (1999). The Independent Carolina Baseball League, 1936–1938: Baseball Outlaws. McFarland. ISBN 0786423188. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
8. ^ Bjarkman, Peter C. (2005). Diamonds Around the Globe: The Encyclopedia of International Baseball. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 78–79\. ISBN 0313322686. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved November 7, 2013.
9. ^ Kraus, Rebecca S. (2012). Minor League Baseball: Community Building Through Hometown Sports. Routledge. p. 47\. ISBN 978-0789017567. Archived from the original on June 23, 2014. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
10. ^ "Partner Leagues". MLB.
11. ^ "2024 MLB Draft League Informational FAQ". MLB Draft League. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
12. ^ a b c Karasawa, Yuri (March 31, 2024). "What is Minor League Baseball in Japan Like?". JapanBall.com.
13. ^ Kang, Hyun-kyung (April 6, 2017). "Independent baseball club helps players get second chance in KBO League". The Korea Times.
14. ^ Kim, Hyo-Kyung; Park, So-Young (April 16, 2019). "Military service looms over KBO". Korea JoongAng Daily.
15. ^ "Who are the Japan Breeze?". World Baseball. January 20, 2025. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved January 28, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* IndependentBaseball.net

* v
* t
* e

Professional baseball leagues

Americas

Major|

* Major League Baseball
* American League
* National League

Minor|

| Triple-A|

* International League
* Pacific Coast League

|

Double-A|

* Eastern League
* Southern League
* Texas League

High-A|

* Midwest League
* Northwest League
* South Atlantic League

Single-A|

* California League
* Carolina League
* Florida State League

Rookie|

* Arizona Complex League
* Dominican Summer League
* Florida Complex League

Independent|

| MLB Partner Leagues|

* American Association
* Atlantic League
* Frontier League
* Pioneer League
* MLB Draft League

|

Non-partnered leagues|

* Cuban National Series
* Curaçao AA League
* Empire League
* Mexican League
* Liga Norte de México
* Pecos League
* United Shore League
* Venezuelan Major League
* Women's Pro Baseball League

Off-season|

| MLB-affiliated|

* Arizona Fall League
* Dominican Professional Baseball League
* Mexican Pacific League
* Puerto Rico Baseball League
* Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
* Liga Paralela

|

Independent|

* Argentine Baseball League
* Colombian Professional Baseball League
* Cuban Elite League
* Curaçao Professional Baseball League
* Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League
* Panamanian Professional Baseball League
* Veracruz Winter League

Defunct|

| MLB-recognized|

* American Association
* Federal League
* Negro league baseball
* Players' League
* Union Association

|

Other major|

* All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
* Continental League
* Cuban League
* National Association
* United States Baseball League

Minor|

* List of defunct minor leagues

Asia

China|

* China National Baseball League

Israel|

| Defunct major|

* Israel Baseball League

|

Japan|

| Major|

* Nippon Professional Baseball
* Central League
* Pacific League

|

Minor|

* Eastern League
* Western League

Off-season|

* Miyazaki Phoenix League

Independent|

* Baseball Challenge League
* Shikoku Island League Plus

Women's|

* Japan Women's Baseball League

South Korea|

| Major|

* KBO League

|

Minor|

* KBO Futures League

Taiwan|

| Major|

* Chinese Professional Baseball League

|

Minor|

* Chinese Professional Baseball League

Defunct major|

* Taiwan Major League

United Arab Emirates|

* Baseball United

Europe

Italy and San Marino|

* Italian Baseball League

Netherlands|

| Major|

* Honkbal Hoofdklasse

|

Minor|

* Honkbal Overgangsklasse

Rookie|

* Honkbal Rookie League

Oceania

Australia|

| MLB-affiliated:|

Australian Baseball League

|

Inter-league

* Asia Professional Baseball Championship
* Asia Winter Baseball League
* Baseball Champions League Americas
* Caribbean Series
* Serie de las Américas
* Latin American Series
* Triple-A National Championship Game

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