Tag Archives: new baseball league

Independent Ball

Western Association Of Professional Baseball

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Today, Indy Ball Island was sent an official press release from the newly formed Western Association of Professional Baseball (WAPB).

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A NEW LEAGUE IS BORN

by Western Association

Newport Beach, CA – The Board of Directors representing the development of North America’s latest premier independent professional baseball league development, proudly announcing the official formation of the Western Association of Professional Baseball Clubs (“WAPB”) an association of independent professional baseball clubs owned by individual ownership groups throughout the Western United States. The League plans to kick off its inaugural season in June of 2020 and is expected to host 8 teams to be located throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, and Nevada. 

The League’s inaugural season will feature a 78-game regular season schedule to begin in the third week of June and wrap up in the first week of September with the top four franchises in the League advancing to the Western Association playoffs in hopes of being crowned League Champion. 

Seasoned professional sports and media executive Peter Young who is tasked with leading the League’s business had this to say about the start-up Western Association, “I’m looking forward to another startup opportunity.  I was fortunate enough to be with the Winnipeg Goldeyes in their first two seasons in the Northern League, winning a championship in 1994.  Then in 2005, I was named the president of the Calgary Vipers as we came into existence a mere two (2) months before the season started but only missed the playoffs in the inaugural season by half a game.  

Like many premier independent professional baseball leagues, the Western Association will seek the highest level of talent available and the League and its’ teams will look to take advantage of the amazing talent pool of the regions we service with both inexperienced players and those with Major League Baseball playing experience that remain unsigned calling the warm-weather states that round up our market home. 

We look forward to serving markets now and in the future that has had limited exposure to professional baseball yet have the right formula of a growing population, strong corporate sector and like most great communities an ever-growing need for affordable family entertainment. 

As we announce our birth, please stay tuned for additional announcements and in the meantime please be sure to follow us on all of our social platforms and be sure to check back often.

The league does have an official website up and running as well at: westernprobaseball.com

The site does have an ABOUT US section (similar to the info found in the press release) and a section on the STAFF involved.

Beyond this information, not much else has become available. Stay tuned to Indy Ball Island in the upcoming weeks and months for more information.

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Independent Ball

An Off Season Start-Up… Is Anyone Even Surprised Anymore?

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Recently, I was contacted by the co-founder of the Arizona Winter League (AWL) warning me about a new start up that appears to be scamming players already. The National Urban Professional Baseball League (NUPBL) has a new website up and running.

Last year, when I first heard about this potential start-up through posts on Facebook and inquiries from various players, I asked (who I believe to be) the owner how they expected to run a league, pay the players, etc… I was promptly told off and blocked when I was trying to do my research as I always do with these leagues.

The tryout section of their new website lists the name “Arizona Fall League” which has been leading players to believe that it has something to do with the AWL. Many players were contacting the winter league to ask about their tryouts in Mississippi, but they obviously had no idea what was going on as they have no affiliation with this NUPBL.

The website says:

2017 Upcoming Tryout Dates:
Arizona Fall League
 Spring/Summer League May – August 2018 
But then right under that the page says that teams will be located in Mississippi, Tennessee, and Texas.
Tryouts are also listed to be happening in California as well as Mississippi and Tennessee.
But…. payments are to be sent to an address in Chicago, IL.
It also claims that all players will be paid including a paid winter league.
Their “About Us” profile offers some more information, although it’s nothing we haven’t heard before:
The league in its initial conception will consist of four teams with plans for future expansion.
 
Play a ninety game schedule between
May thru August in addition to play-offs
6 games per week
45 away games/45 home games
 
Team (s) will consist of
1 team manager
2 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
Tryouts will start in May 2017
Fall team in Arizona
The league starts in the spring of 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 preplanned promotion activities.
The website lists season tickets, job opportunities and a Go Fund Me (go figure…). There is also a contact us page where everyone working for the league appears to be living in a different state.
The website is unorganized and really weird to navigate… just like every other start-up we’ve seen over the last few years.
Players… just DO YOUR RESEARCH and watch out for leagues that pop up every off season.