[CivicEvo]

September 1, 2000

After the success of the first year, the USA Baseball League has announced their first expansion, to Philadelphia, effective immediately for the start of the 2001 season. Philadelphia becomes the fifth team in the USA Baseball League as part of the first national league of the International Baseball Federation.

November 1, 2000

With the first international free agents accepted into the IBF via the USA Baseball League, the counts per country stand at the following as of the start of the 2001 season:

United States - 221
Mexico - 8
Canada - 5
Costa Rica - 1
Dominican Republic - 1
Japan - 1
Panama - 1
Curacao - 1

Given the ages of the international prospects, no non-United States players have made their debuts in an IBF Major League at this time.

January 1, 2001

News and notes for the upcoming 2001 season:

The salary cap has been raised 10% with the success of the league to $27,500.

With the addition of Philadelphia to the league, the schedule will now consist of 44 games, with each team playing all other teams 11 times. Each team will play various doubleheaders and have consecutive days off to accommodate the schedule.

Opening Day remains and continues to be July 1st. The trading deadline has been moved back five days to August 5th.

2001 Fast Tracked Results In Next Post.