The Coronavirus pandemic has greatly changed how we will be spending our summer this year. Unfortunately, independent baseball hasn’t been left out of the impact this virus has had on America.
But there IS professional baseball happening all over the country. You just have to know where to look. And if going to a stadium doesn’t sound appealing during a global pandemic, there are plenty of ways to get your baseball fix by watching online.
Atlantic League
While the Atlantic League is not operating for the 2020 season, the Sugar Land Skeeters have created their own 4-team league (The Constellation Energy League) based out of their stadium in Sugar Land, Texas.
The four teams that will be playing are:
Sugar Land Skeeters – Managed by Pete Incaviglia
Team Texas – Managed by Roger and Koby Clemens
Sugar Land Lightning Sloths – Managed by Greg Swindell
Eastern Reyes del Tigre – Managed by Dave Eiland
There will be a total of seven games played at Constellation Field each week from the Opening Day on July 3 through the conclusion of the season on Aug. 23 (56 total games). The schedule is subject to change, but single games are anticipated to be played on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and doubleheaders will be played on Saturday and Sunday.
Games will be broadcasted by AT&T Sportsnet or streamed online through Meridix.
Tickets can also be purchased HERE.
The Somerset Patriots are another Atlantic League team looking to bring professional baseball to their ballpark this summer. The Patriots will play the New Jersey Blasters on Fridays and Saturdays for a 12-game, six weekend schedule beginning on July 17th at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, New Jersey.
Games can be seen live on their Youtube Channel HERE.
Tickets can also be purchased HERE.
American Association
The American Association is continuing with a 6-team league based out of “hub cities.”
The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and Winnipeg Goldeyes are operating out of Fargo, The Sioux Falls Canaries and St. Paul Saints are operating out of Sioux Falls, while the Chicago Dogs and Milwaukee Milkmen will operate out of their own respective stadiums.
The entire 60-game season can be streamed online for $19.99 at: https://www.aabaseball.tv/
Tickets can be purchased at the following links:
Fargo/Winnipeg TICKETS
Sioux Falls/St. Paul TICKETS
Chicago TICKETS
Milwaukee TICKETS
Frontier League
The Frontier League as a whole has canceled their championship season, but multiple teams have created their own leagues to continue play throughout the summer.
Washington has become home to a 4-team league. The Washington Wild Things and Slammin’ Sammies (operated by the Wild Things) and the Baseball Brilliance Sox and Road Warrior Black Sox (operated by Joe Torre and the Black Sox) are playing an 80 game season, consisting of double headers Thursday-Sunday.
Every game can be streamed live for free at: Watch LIVE
Individual game tickets can be purchased HERE.
The Black Sox will also be holding their own games Monday – Wednesday (not open to the public) as a part of a minor league system and a way to get guys a chance to play daily while having the option to “move up” to the big league based on performance and need.
For more information about the Black Sox, check out their official website HERE.
Florence and the Lexington Legends (usually a MiLB team) announced their own 4-team league, the Battle of the Bourbon Trail.
Both cities will form two teams that will play in front of fans every Wednesday through Sunday starting in Florence on July 31st and run for 7 weeks.
Each organization will field two high caliber teams. Florence will host the Y’alls and the return of the Freedom. Lexington will host the Legends and their second identity, Las Leyendas.
Florence tickets can be purchased HERE.
Lexington tickets can be purchased HERE.
Joliet is holding the Champion Cup. Four teams will compete for the Cup, all playing a 27 game schedule each at DuPage Medical Group Field from July 16 through September 6.
Each team will play 3-4 home games per week in a schedule that generally will include night games on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday with additional ticketed day games on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Fans can purchase an online channel ticket to watch the full season for $49.99 HERE, individual games for $5.99 HERE or purchase tickets to attend HERE.
All-American Challenge
A 32-game schedule will feature the New Jersey Jackals and the Jersey Wise Guys playing at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, NJ, Sussex County Miners and Skylands Cardinals at Skylands Stadium in Augusta, NJ; Rockland Boulders (not affiliated with the New York Boulders) and New York Brave Palisades Credit Union Park. All games will be held on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Yogi Berra Stadium TICKETS
Skylands Stadium TICKETS
Palisades Credit Union Park TICKETS
United Shore Pro Baseball League
The USPBL has started their 2020 season. The league has always consisted of 4 teams playing at Jimmy John’s Field in Utica, Michigan. Games are played Wednesday – Sunday.
Games are shown live through Facebook and Youtube.
A limited number of single game tickets are also available HERE.
Pecos League
The Pecos League is operating with 4 teams for the 2020 season. The Houston Apollos, Roswell Invaders, Salina Stockade and Tucson Saguaros are all playing at Coastal Park in Houston, TX. The games (mostly double headers) will take place Wednesdays – Sundays.
The schedule and links to individual tickets can be found HERE.
Games are also streamed for a cost through Meridix.
Indy Ball Island 