National Urban Professional Baseball League

nupbl.jpg

A LOT of players and readers have been asking me for information on the National Urban Professional Baseball League (NUPBL).

Many articles have been appearing about this new indy league starting this summer… (stop me if you’ve heard this one before…). You can read all of these articles on their “Press Release” page on the official website.

It does appear that some players (I’ll assume they’re players in this league as there are no rosters) have been out in the community, and the league is trying to reach out to surrounding communities… That is always a plus.

The NUPBL claims to be a “rebirth” of the Negro leagues because African Americans have been “limited” in their opportunities to play baseball, while then stating in the next sentence that they are in “NO WAY” limited to only African American players.

To me, this is just sending a ton of mixed signals to what this league is trying to do.

I’ve reached out to the league multiple times, as I’ve also stated in my article back in November, but they have failed to respond to my questions – even the biggest scams in recent history had enough respect to email me back and give me BS answers. This league has decided to just ignore it.

That’s fine, but I can’t ignore reporting about them.

The only information I know about this league is what is provided on their official website, that just so happens to be full of grammatical errors and stock photographs.

Their “About Us” page states:

Vision
Promote Diversity in Baseball
Develop Economic, Social and Educational Programs
Promote Entrepreneurship
Mission Statement
Inspire individuals to use their God given talent and abilities
to reach their personal and professional goals
The creation of this professional Baseball League is designed to provide family entertainment.This league will be dedicated to the generations of baseball players who were denied the opportunity to play baseball because of factors other than their ability to play the game of baseball.
African American baseball players has been limited in their opportunity to participate in the game of baseball
“America’s Pastime”
on the high school, college and the professional baseball level.While this league in “NO WAY” will be limited to only African America players. We will seek out the best baseball players from across the United State and the World regardless of their ethnic back round.

The league in its initial conception will consist of four teams with plans for future expansion.

Play a seventy two game schedule between
May thru August in addition to play-offs

Team (s) will consist of
Team manager
Coaches
24 players per team
Targeted ages for the team will be players 17 years old and older (that have completed or will be completing their H.S. eligibility).
The players in this league will be paid
Scheduled to start in May 2018

We will form the teams by selecting players (not withstanding their racial back round) from across the United State and the World by way of open try-outs to be held at a number of sites (see tryouts).
After the teams are formed the players that will makeup these teams will actively take part in pre-planned promotion activities.

The names of the teams in this league will reflect that of past Negro League players i.e. Rube Foster All-Stars, Satchel Paige All-Stars, and Josh Gibson All-Stars etc. To honor the history and memories of past African America baseball players (the same as the Negro League Museum in Kansas City, MO).

The main page states that games will be played at Wooten Legion Field in Laurel, Mississippi and USA Stadium in Millington, Tennessee.
Opening day is May 25th…
Will the players be paid? Will there be housing provided? Are stats going to be available?
There are no answers for that.
But… if you’ve paid more money for Season Tickets than I’ve ever paid for any another indy league, you can get free game day meals! The stock photos look delicious!
I’m not trying to make this league a joke, but it’s really hard to see this league as anything other than another fly-by-night, one and done league. Everything about this suggests the league is trying to take advantage of players.
I hope I’m wrong. I hope I can do an update in a couple months and say how successful this league is… that the players are taken care of, the fields are playable, players will be paid, and statistics will be posted.
I just don’t want players to get scammed again. I’ve seen it WAY too many times over the last few years. I care about players. I just want them to do their research and know what they’re getting into. I try to do as much research for them as possible, but some times, I just can’t get straight answers.

*Update* apparently the city in Tennessee has backed out. All games will happen in Mississippi.

I’ve also been told that the league does not want to give me any information.

12 thoughts on “National Urban Professional Baseball League”

  1. After reading your article I took a look at the NUBPL site. It does not take one long to come to the conclusion that this is a scam. Anyone that remotely follows baseball can easily see many issues. This website screams “Scam!”

    Like

  2. Hi, I’ll be taking photos of all the players in the Pecos League. I think it’s the east division. Anyway it’s the teams that come to Santa Fe. If you need any I’d be happy to supply them, no charge. I’ve done it since 2013. Keep up the good work. Mike

    Sent from my iPhone

    >

    Like

  3. The comments the players are making are almost the exact same comments that the players for the Thoroughbred League, Ozark League, Mt Rainier League, etc. made before the start of their respective seasons. Some players are so desperate for any shot at all that they put the blinders on to all the warning flags. Really hope it works out for them but this story has been told each of the past several years.

    Like

  4. NUPBL is a complete scam, players are being taken advantage of, the league is asking them for money to get them rooms to stay in, players who arrive and don’t have the deposits are being left on the street, Tennessee has backed out of the league and are not supporting any longer due to calling out the scam so all games supposed to be played in Mississippi but who knows if the season will last, These kids will probably get no money for playing, this needs to stop, the local news should be notified and run a story on them to hold them accountable, someone needs to help these young men out and stop this scam.

    Like

      1. Hi,
        I would like to speak to you about this “league” as well.
        Thank you for your help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

        Like

Leave a comment