Independent Baseball Leagues
From SoSH
Independent Baseball Leagues are professional baseball organizations located in the United States and Canada. They are not operated in conjunction with either Major League Baseball or affiliated with Minor League Baseball. Being independent allows teams to be located close to major league teams without their consent.
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. The Atlantic League has had more marquee players than any other independent league, including Jose Canseco, Rickey Henderson, Ozzie Canseco, Ruben Sierra, Carlos Baerga, and John Rocker. The Northern League alumni include Leon Durham, JD Drew, Dennis Boyd and Darryl Strawberry.
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.
Independent Leagues
- American Association
- Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
- Can-Am League
- Continental Baseball League
- Frontier League
- Golden Baseball League
- Northern League
- South Coast League
- United League
Winter Leagues
Defunct Independent Leagues
- All-American Association
- Big South League
- Canadian Baseball League
- Central Baseball League
- Great Central League
- Heartland League
- Mid-America League
- North Atlantic League
- North Central League
- Northeast League
- Prairie League of Professional Baseball
- Southeastern League
- Texas-Louisiana League
- Western Baseball League
