Why the Northern League

LedgerSko · 03-22-2003, 01:24 AM

Here is the history of why the Nothern League got to where it is today.

After the 2002 Northern League baseball season the tension between the powers that be in the East and the powers that be in the Central could not come to terms on the direction of the league. Like in some partnerships the East wanted to be recognized as the power base and so did the Central, but the central felt a little inferior because they lost the title in the 2002 season. The East held a grudge against the Central because the Central was the original base of the league, and the East didnt really like the Nothern League moniker because it wasnt really there's.

So the league decided that for better or for worse that it would be best to split and go their seperate ways, which caused shockwaves throughout the league. Many owners in each league were very concerned about the financial stability of the league as a whole.

Debates raged from September to December on the future of the Northern League. Owners all over were ready to cut ties and sell their teams. It was then that Jordan Gillis owner of the Sioux Falls Canaries and Scott Anderson then owner of the Joliet Jackhammers stepped forward and made progressive plans for the league.

"The league will move forward. We will expand into 2 different markets. A franchise will move to Kansas City and be known as the T-Bones. I stadium plan is already underway. Madison will also get it's franchise back, and I will resign as president of the Jackhammers and relocate closer to home and take over the Black Wolf. Any owner wishing to leave the league in this time of crisis is able to."

The ideological shift of the league left the old gray owners of St. Paul and Winnipeg, as they promptly offered their teams for sale. Within the following week every other team in the Northern League was for sale except the lonesome franchises in Sioux Falls and Madison.

Anderson and Gillis moved forward while owners were being sought. Tough times were abound in the Northern League. Many owners negotiated outs in the players contracts so they basically sold the rights to the team only. The league was in chaos and the steady guidance of Gillis and Anderson guided the league in its new direction. Slowly but surely new owners took over. Guys like Brian Cook in Sioux City and Cole Hobson in Winnipeg.

Many of the Northern League's stars were being wooed by other leagues. The East especially was salivating over some of the Central players more out of spite than anything. Many teams in the Western Baseball League were in contact with SP Josh Perotta as they tried to lure him out west. SP Richard Hedberg was also in contact with Brockton and Berkshire, but on December 28th 2002 the all-stars of the Northern League made a pledge. Every player that was a league all-star in 2002 pledged their allegance to the Northern League and agreed to be redrafted. This new draft into the nations premier independent league also brought some new talent from other independent leagues. Winnipeg's Donald Ricci played his 2002 ball with the Richmond Roosters of the Frontier League. Closer Alan Loving of Lincoln was plucked from the Aberdeen Arsenal of the Atlantic League, but withs its all stars in tack and very few defectors the NL trudged along.

Extensive owners meetings held in January and February proved that the league would survive and play baseball in 2003. Since most of the contracts were bought out or dissolved the league decided to hold an dispersal draft of the talent throughout the league. The draft would be held in February to give the teams enough time to prepare for the season.

Former Goldeye and 2002 league MVP Bryan Warner had this to say, " I am just glad to still be playing baseball. I love this game and this league gives me the opportunity to keep playing. I am not sure what really happened with the split and with the quarrels between the owners but I think Gillis and Anderson will lead this league in the right direction. Now I just have to see where I get drafted."

The draft rolled around and the expansion team from KC had the first pick and chose CF Todd Beier. With Kansas City making that pick it showed that the league would be fine and would move on. A wise man once said, it's never as good as it seems, and it is never as bad as it seems.

Spring training is scheduled for April and the first game of the revamped NL season will be held on May 28th as the Gary RailCats travel to Madison to face the Black Wolf.

The league has survived and moved on, now let's play ball !!!

Check us out an www.nlbaseball.net

If you are interested the waiting list is on the message board !!!!

03-22-2003, 01:24 AM	#1
LedgerSko All Star Starter Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 1,085	Why the Northern League Here is the history of why the Nothern League got to where it is today. After the 2002 Northern League baseball season the tension between the powers that be in the East and the powers that be in the Central could not come to terms on the direction of the league. Like in some partnerships the East wanted to be recognized as the power base and so did the Central, but the central felt a little inferior because they lost the title in the 2002 season. The East held a grudge against the Central because the Central was the original base of the league, and the East didnt really like the Nothern League moniker because it wasnt really there's. So the league decided that for better or for worse that it would be best to split and go their seperate ways, which caused shockwaves throughout the league. Many owners in each league were very concerned about the financial stability of the league as a whole. Debates raged from September to December on the future of the Northern League. Owners all over were ready to cut ties and sell their teams. It was then that Jordan Gillis owner of the Sioux Falls Canaries and Scott Anderson then owner of the Joliet Jackhammers stepped forward and made progressive plans for the league. "The league will move forward. We will expand into 2 different markets. A franchise will move to Kansas City and be known as the T-Bones. I stadium plan is already underway. Madison will also get it's franchise back, and I will resign as president of the Jackhammers and relocate closer to home and take over the Black Wolf. Any owner wishing to leave the league in this time of crisis is able to." The ideological shift of the league left the old gray owners of St. Paul and Winnipeg, as they promptly offered their teams for sale. Within the following week every other team in the Northern League was for sale except the lonesome franchises in Sioux Falls and Madison. Anderson and Gillis moved forward while owners were being sought. Tough times were abound in the Northern League. Many owners negotiated outs in the players contracts so they basically sold the rights to the team only. The league was in chaos and the steady guidance of Gillis and Anderson guided the league in its new direction. Slowly but surely new owners took over. Guys like Brian Cook in Sioux City and Cole Hobson in Winnipeg. Many of the Northern League's stars were being wooed by other leagues. The East especially was salivating over some of the Central players more out of spite than anything. Many teams in the Western Baseball League were in contact with SP Josh Perotta as they tried to lure him out west. SP Richard Hedberg was also in contact with Brockton and Berkshire, but on December 28th 2002 the all-stars of the Northern League made a pledge. Every player that was a league all-star in 2002 pledged their allegance to the Northern League and agreed to be redrafted. This new draft into the nations premier independent league also brought some new talent from other independent leagues. Winnipeg's Donald Ricci played his 2002 ball with the Richmond Roosters of the Frontier League. Closer Alan Loving of Lincoln was plucked from the Aberdeen Arsenal of the Atlantic League, but withs its all stars in tack and very few defectors the NL trudged along. Extensive owners meetings held in January and February proved that the league would survive and play baseball in 2003. Since most of the contracts were bought out or dissolved the league decided to hold an dispersal draft of the talent throughout the league. The draft would be held in February to give the teams enough time to prepare for the season. Former Goldeye and 2002 league MVP Bryan Warner had this to say, " I am just glad to still be playing baseball. I love this game and this league gives me the opportunity to keep playing. I am not sure what really happened with the split and with the quarrels between the owners but I think Gillis and Anderson will lead this league in the right direction. Now I just have to see where I get drafted." The draft rolled around and the expansion team from KC had the first pick and chose CF Todd Beier. With Kansas City making that pick it showed that the league would be fine and would move on. A wise man once said, it's never as good as it seems, and it is never as bad as it seems. Spring training is scheduled for April and the first game of the revamped NL season will be held on May 28th as the Gary RailCats travel to Madison to face the Black Wolf. The league has survived and moved on, now let's play ball !!! Check us out an www.nlbaseball.net If you are interested the waiting list is on the message board !!!!