Minor Casualties: Two More Independent Baseball Teams Cut

The Southwestern States League and the Ultimate Baseball League are the latest casualties of the Independent baseball curse. 

Whether they should be categorized as leagues that failed would be unfair; they never got off the starting blocks. 

In all actuality, the new leagues were behind the eight-ball from the beginning.   

When the North American League came to fruition, it brought together some of the best Indy baseball being played today. And of course that reality was unfortunately due to financial constraints. 

The Southwestern States League suffered such significant financial setbacks that executives running it were not getting paid, thus leading to their resignation. According to ballparkbiz.com, Steve Maddock, director of baseball operations, contacted them with the news, telling the site that unpaid bills were piling up, while employees were not getting paid. 

The Ultimate Baseball League has not really endured any financial constraints, more or less, contractual disagreements with the Johnston group leading to a 2012 start date.

“The stadium deal in Johnstown was agreed to and voted on by City Council,” said UBL co-owner Andrew Haines. “Then the City changed some terms that were not mutually beneficial for both parties. It needs to be a win/win for both the city and the baseball team.”

Haines added, “instead of force a schedule this year, we want to make sure there is enough time to promote and market the teams in each market.”

If new leagues are to be successful, the game plan needs to be executed properly. It appears the UBL has the right idea in mind. 

Not to be a downer, but if the NAL, a power house in this game, is having a few hiccups, what chance do the others have. I wish them all the best, but the odds are definitely against them.

Devon is the founder of The GM’s Perspective