Tag Archives: indy ball

Independent Ball

Clearing Up Some Issues with the Heartland Of America Baseball League

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There have recently been some questions surrounding the Heartland Of America Baseball League (HoABL) and the Ozarks Pro Baseball League. I wanted to post this email I received today from Art Wilkinson that will hopefully clear up some of the questions.

Kayla,

Please feel free to re-post this at your election.

There has been a great hue and cry about the division of the Heartland 
of America League and Ozarks Pro Baseball, or as it has been referred 
to, “the Ozark League”.

Players should rest assured that the only goal of every person 
employed by the Heartland of America Baseball League is to promote 
great players with drive, desire and talent, into Affiliated Baseball, 
and ultimately into the Major Leagues. The Heartland of America League 
Managers and Coaches include the over two dozen individuals who have 
played, coached and managed at the Major League Level. This talented 
group of teacher/mentors have hand-picked 210 of the country’s best 
players all under 26 years of age, and are fully prepared to move 
forward in support of assisting these players in realizing their 
dream. Our players come from all four corners of the USA, Canada, 
Mexico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Germany, 
and Australia.

From the moment that we entered the arena of Independent Minor League 
Baseball, we took the position that we would not be a local or even 
regional brand. And, while we ARE “The Heartland of America Baseball 
League,” we are a national, international and global exhibition of The 
Greatest Game that God has ever permitted any man to play.

We would like to thank the scores of Major League Scouts who have 
referred players
directly to our league, as well as those baseball executives who have 
recognized the
excellence of our product and brand…before we have even thrown a 
single pitch. Our very first inter-league trade was made, also before 
a pitch has been thrown, when we sent one of our best 
middle-infielders to the reigning American Association Champion 
Wichita Wingnuts.

I want to assure all players who have been signed by any Manager, 
Coach or Executive of the Heartland of America League that your 
contracts are secure, your participation in our league is secure, and 
with your continued hard work and perseverance, your future will also 
be secure. Likewise any player signed to an Ozarks Pro Baseball 
contract prior to May 23, 2015, can also play in the Heartland of 
America League.

We are all here for one single and undivided purpose. Every league at 
every level seeks to use its best efforts to bring the highest quality 
of baseball to as many as will come out and cheer on their favorite 
team, or player.

Our mission has not changed. The strength of our character remains as 
it always was. And, the men and women of the Heartland of America 
League will never retreat from the daunting task of finding, 
developing and promoting the next generation of Major League Baseball 
Superstars.

Play Ball! We know we will…

With Deepest Respect for All,

Art Wilkinson
Executive VP, Baseball Operations
The Heartland of America League

If you would like to find out more about the Heartland of America Baseball League you can check out their website HERE, or check out the Q&A I did with Art, HERE.

Independent Ball

The East Coast Baseball League Ends Before Ever Playing a Game

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All winter there were questions surrounding a newly formed independent baseball league, the East Coast Baseball League (ECBL). Questions ranged from the obvious – where would the teams play and how would the league be funded – to hard hitting questions about the owner (and then commissioner), Colin Cummins.

Cummins was often seen as a poor business man, who has caused a lot of problems among indy ball employees, managers, and players. The winter league he ran in Myrtle Beach this past off season was unprofessional and did not live up to the expectations of the coaches or the players.

As spring training grew closer, there seemed to be more questions surrounding the league than answers. Advertising and marketing for the teams were practically nonexistent in each town. Rumors of Cummins not paying for the spring training facility started circling on social media.

When players showed up to spring training, they learned that all of the players would be competing for spots on the six different teams. Even though some guys were put onto a “protected list”, the original contracts specifically stating which team the player was to be on were not upheld. Many left on the first day after hearing this information. For the tryouts (spring training), players were split up into different teams and games were played over a couple days before a league-wide draft was to be held. Some players who felt as if they weren’t getting a fair shot even left in the middle of a game.

With so many problems and so much confusion surrounding the league, the Watertown Bucks (the only team not owned by the league) decided to pull out of the ECBL. As the only independently owned team, the Bucks and their owner, Bruce Zicari, are trying to bring other teams along with them to form a new league separate from Cummins and the ECBL.

According to the Watertown Daily Times, three additional teams have currently pulled out of the league as well – Newburgh, Old Orchard Beach, and a traveling team.

While most players were sent home and told to wait for more news and information, the Bucks’ manager and players are in Watertown practicing.  “The team is here and we have everything set, it’s just that we don’t have a league,” Zicari told the Daily Times.

The odds are against Watertown and the other three teams that pulled out of the ECBL. Chances are high that they will never play a game, let alone an entire season. With only one team individually owned, and the previous affiliation with the tainted ECBL, there is a long road ahead to get the financial and community support needed to create a new league in a matter of weeks. However, it does appear that they are going to give it a try as the North Country Baseball League.

The ECBL no longer exists as it did during the off season, but that hasn’t stopped Colin Cummins from holding out hope that he could still make it work. In an article from The Waterloo Region Record, Cummins says that he is still trying to make the season work, and that any reports of the league officially folding are false. Although, this is all news to the Waterloo GM, Andrew Hendriks, who has not been contacted by Cummins or any one else associated with the ECBL.