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42-735: They were members of the Golden Baseball League from 2005 to 2010 and the North American League in 2011. They were to have joined the American West Baseball League , but left the league due to a fallout with the league's founder and C.E.O. Michael Cummings. They were sold to Godfather Media, Inc. in 2012 and had announced a name change to the Yuma Panthers , but they never played. They were sold to Tim Ferguson for 2013 and renamed

84-683: A 3-13 start. Several factors justify this assertion. Baseball is more popular in Venezuela than Colombia, leading to the Sun to speculate that that country will provide superior prospects to the CPBL agreement. Additionally, the previous agreement with the CPBL was only concluded hours before the start of the season, so that players had to literally get on a plane in Colombia, got off in Yuma and immediately play

126-516: A charter member of the league, only to learn that the government of the Mexican state of Baja California would not permit this. Three of the GBL's teams, Long Beach, Chico and Yuma, operated in cities that once hosted Western Baseball League teams. The WBL operated from 1995 to 2002. On May 9, 2005, Major League Baseball 's all-time stolen base leader, Rickey Henderson , signed a contract to play

168-580: A deal with iBN Sports to broadcast 40 games on the internet showing various teams. North American League (baseball) The North American League (officially known as the North American Baseball League ) was an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season. The league consisted of a merger of three independent leagues, the Northern League of Illinois , United League Baseball of Texas , and

210-549: A farm team for all four CPBL teams. It was reported by some news outlets to be the first time an independent American baseball club had formed an affiliation with a foreign team or league, however, in 1972 and 1973 the California League 's team based in Lodi, California had an affiliation with Nippon Professional Baseball 's Nishitetsu Lions . Yuma's partnership with the CPBL was at one point reportedly being made into

252-610: A feature story for ESPN. In early 2010 the Yuma Sun reported that the Scorpions had ended their affiliation with the CPBL, but had signed a new three-year affiliation agreement with the Venezuelan Baseball Federation (VBF). The move was also portrayed as one that would improve the Scorpions on-field performance. Under the affiliation with the CPBL, the Scorpions went 29-47, worst in the GBL, including

294-468: A financial issue for the teams, in 2011 the league played in a division structure where teams played 75% of their 96-game schedule within their division and made just one lengthy roadtrip of 12 games outside their division. The season concluded with divisional playoffs followed by a North American Championship Series. As of the 2012 season there was no inter division play. The North and United played all games within their own division. The only play outside

336-598: A legacy of lawsuits and a trail of unpaid bills, players and employees. Other baseball teams are the Yuma Desert Dawgs of the defunct Golden State League (1995–96) and American West Leagues (1997–99). The San Diego Padres inhabited Desert Sun Stadium as their spring training complex and used it from 1968 to 1994 before they went to a new facility in Peoria, Arizona . On May 20, 2009 the Yuma Sun reported that

378-604: A single-entity model whereby the league owned all the clubs (except Tijuana and Japan which were partnerships). Since then, several of the clubs have been sold to private groups. In its inaugural season, the league was composed of eight teams: the Chico Outlaws , Fullerton Flyers , Long Beach Armada and San Diego Surf Dawgs in California; Mesa Miners , Surprise Fightin' Falcons and Yuma Scorpions in Arizona and

420-716: The Calgary Vipers and Edmonton Cracker-Cats , joined the GBL, becoming the loop's first two Canadian teams. The league expanded to nine teams in 2009 with the addition of the Victoria Seals , while the Reno Silver Sox moved to Tucson to become the Toros . The Cracker-Cats were sold to Edmonton Oilers owner Daryl Katz and renamed the Edmonton Capitals for the 2009 season. On December 15, 2008,

462-603: The Golden Baseball League based in the Western United States and Western Canada and was a last-ditch effort to save the teams in said league. The league's chairman of the board was Dave Kaval , former CEO of Diamond Sports and Entertainment (owners of the now-defunct GBL), league president was Brian MacInnes and main board member was James C. Peters. After playing two seasons, the North American League folded. To keep travel costs from being

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504-736: The Japan Samurai Bears . All teams played their home games in city- and university-owned stadiums, with the exception of the Samurai Bears, a traveling team of Japanese players that played all of its games on the road. The Japanese team was a late entry as the Tijuana Toros, who led all of minor league baseball in attendance at over 13,000 fans a game, had jumped from the Mexican League to the GBL in December to be

546-529: The Northern League into a new North American League for the 2011 season to form the first nationwide independent professional baseball league. However, the North American League folded after two seasons. The league was founded in 2004 by Stanford University graduates Dave Kaval and Amit Patel. Kaval was the president and chief executive officer (Patel departed after the 2008 season to run his family business conglomerate in Laurel, Mississippi). Brian MacInnes

588-791: The San Francisco Giants . These leagues folded with the NAL in 2013. On November 15, 2006, the Golden Baseball League announced the Arizona Winter League , which would be a short-season instructional league for its summer league. The league began play on January 19, 2007. The Arizona Winter League has just completed its third season. In the first three years, over 130 Arizona Winter League players have been signed to professional contracts. Two of those players, Scott Richmond and Sergio Romo, are now pitching in

630-515: The 2005 season with the Surf Dawgs. The 2005 season ended with a four-team championship tournament on Labor Day Weekend. The tournament ended with San Diego winning two games on the final day, knocking off Mesa in the second game to win the title. José Canseco , another retired star, signed with the Surf Dawgs in 2006 as part of his attempt to return to baseball and promote his book, Juiced , along with its upcoming movie adaptation. Canseco

672-600: The 2009 All-Star Game against the United League, the GBL held its own All-Star Game. The game was between the two divisions, taking place in St. George, Utah - home of the RoadRunners, on Tuesday, July 14. During the game, pitchers Donnie Brandt and Isaac Hess were purchased by major league organizations during the game by Milwaukee and Boston respectively. Fehlandt Lentini won the home run derby . On December 9, 2009

714-494: The 2009 season. The Bisbee Miners , Long Beach Armada and San Diego Surf Dawgs joined the ASL for the 2010 season. The Yuma Scorpions became the first franchise in the league to broadcast select games on Adelphia Cable , which were produced by Arizona Western College Television Services. The Edmonton Capitals televised selected games by reaching an agreement with Shaw TV . The Golden Baseball League announced they had reached

756-844: The Boston Red Sox. On September 30, 2009, the GBL announced that the Hawaiian sports and entertainment company XnE Inc. had purchased the territory rights to place teams in Hawaii and that their inaugural team would play at the War Memorial Complex in Maui in 2010. The team announced their name as Na Koa Ikaika Maui , which means the Strong Warriors of Maui. The Long Beach Armada announced that they were suspending operations due to an ongoing stadium lease dispute with

798-491: The CPBL will handle all on-field personnel and player issues while the team will retain control of promotions, concessions, and other front-office business. The Scorpions will act as a showcase team for players from all four CPBL teams. Yuma Scorpion Reynaldo Rodriguez, of Cartagena, Colombia, was named GBL 2009 Rookie of the Year, the top prospect in all the independent leagues by Baseball America, and had his contract purchased by

840-484: The Desert Rats, but they never played either. The team also played as the Scorpions in the Arizona Winter League from 2007 to 2011. The Yuma Scorpions were one of the Golden Baseball League charter members in 2005 along with the Chico Outlaws , Fullerton Flyers , Long Beach Armada and San Diego Surf Dawgs in California; Mesa Miners and Surprise Fightin' Falcons in Arizona and the Japan Samurai Bears ,

882-515: The Desert Rats. However, before they could throw a pitch, the team folded after Ferguson and the AWBL parted ways. Golden Baseball League: North American League: Golden Baseball League The Golden Baseball League was an independent baseball league based in San Ramon, California , with teams located in the Western United States , Western Canada and northwest Mexico . The GBL

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924-553: The GBL included Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak , former National Football League players Mike Sherrard and Christian Okoye , and executives from Cisco Systems , Taleo and Draper Fisher Jurvetson . Over 100 players were sold to MLB organizations after it began play, with seven players already making it to a major league uniform – Dane De La Rosa , Adam Pettyjohn , Scott Richmond , Chris Jakubauskas , Sergio Romo , Bobby Cramer , and Daniel Nava . The Golden Baseball League combined with United League Baseball and

966-740: The GBL and the Northern League announced a two-year agreement that would pit the all-stars of the two leagues against each other in the mid-summer classic. The 2010 game wAS in Tucson on July 14 while the leagues will face off in Zion, Illinois at the newest ballpark (currently under construction) in the Northern League. The GBL, then later the North American League , featured two small instructional leagues that helped produce future independent, minor league and even Major League Baseball standouts, including two-time World Series Champion Sergio Romo of

1008-727: The North All-Stars against the South All-Stars. The GBL reached a two-year agreement with the United League to face off in two All-Star Games. The 2008 game was hosted by the ULB's San Angelo Colts , while the 2009 game was to be hosted by the Orange County Flyers . However, the United League went bankrupt in the off-season after 2008, causing the 2009 All-Star Game to be cancelled. In replacement of

1050-485: The Northern League and join the GBL for 2011 with the new format. United League teams joining the NAL include the Edinburg Roadrunners , Harlingen Whitewings and San Angelo Colts . The league was the only independent baseball association to have drug testing . The league CEO Dave Kaval explained: "I feel that there is no place for illegal drugs in our business. We run a family-friendly operation off

1092-483: The Panthers were withdrawing from the North American League and were sitting out the 2012 season along with a team they acquired, the Orange County Flyers . In 2012, Godfather Media, then owners of the Panthers, started a new league called the American West Baseball League and entered the Panthers as a member team. The team was then sold to local investor Tim Ferguson and the name changed again. This time, becoming

1134-545: The San Diego Surf Dawgs operation was discontinued as San Diego State breached the lease agreement with the league and subsequently paid a settlement. The GBL remained at six teams by adding the St. George RoadRunners . The Utah city also hosted a Western League club from 1999 to 2001, the Zion Pioneerzz , becoming the fifth former WBL city to join the league. In 2008, two former Northern League clubs,

1176-555: The Tijuana team did return for the 2010 season but came back with a new name and additional owners. The Tijuana Cimarrones were announced as a member of the GBL when the schedule was released on January 15, 2010. On May 20, 2009, the Yuma Sun reported that the team had signed an affiliation agreement with the Colombian Professional Baseball League (CPBL). Under the terms of the affiliation,

1218-534: The city of Long Beach. Dave Kaval , co-founder and C.E.O. of the GBL since its inception in 2005, resigned to take the job as team president of the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer . The United League and the Northern League agreed to join the GBL for the 2011 season in the formation of the new North American League . The Rockford RiverHawks , Schaumburg Flyers , Joliet Jackhammers , and Lake County Fielders planned on leaving

1260-997: The division was supposed to be a 3 out of 5 games for the North American Baseball League championship. The United Division refused to play a championship series. The 2012 United Division championship series saw the Edinburg Roadrunners defeating the Fort Worth Cats, three games to none. In the North Division championship series, the San Rafael Pacifics topped Na Koa Ikaika Maui, two games to one. The roster rules allowed all teams to keep their existing players from 2010. The three predecessor leagues had contracts of 35 players purchased by Major League organizations in 2010. In addition, these three leagues placed half of

1302-981: The field, and illegal drug usage by our players would undermine the trust we have established with our fans. That is exactly what has happened at the MLB level. As a steward of the great game of baseball, I am proud to say that we have the most stringent drug policy in all of professional baseball." x-Division Champion y-Wild Card (Division champions and top two wild card teams go to Championship.) Gold Glove winners: Pitcher: Adam Pettyjohn , Long Beach Catcher: Cody Clark , San Diego First base: Yuji Nerei , Samurai Bears Second base: Kenichi Miura , Samurai Bears Third base: Sean Walsh , Fullerton Shortstop: Jeremy Hernandez , Long Beach Outfielders Marcus Knight , Mesa; Billy Brown, Surprise; Travis McAndrews , Long Beach z-First-half champion and best overall record, x-second-half champion (Champions of each half face in 5-game series for championship. If one team wins both halves,

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1344-589: The league signed a letter of intent to place another expansion franchise in Tijuana , Mexico . After the addition of the expansion Tijuana Potros on January 13, the Armada were moved to the North Division. The Potros themselves would postpone the season due to the swine flu outbreak in Mexico. This made all their scheduled games days off for the other nine teams and left their GBL future in serious doubt. As planned,

1386-456: The league's first (and so far only) traveling team. The Panthers, along with the Outlaws, Armada and Flyers remain the only charter teams still active in the league. The team replaced the former Bullfrogs as the city of Yuma's professional baseball team. The Bulldogs played in the defunct Western Baseball League from 2000 to 2002, but folded after being financially unsuccessful and leaving

1428-670: The major leagues. The 2009 Arizona Winter League began play on January 31, 2009 and has expanded to 8 teams and almost 200 players. On April 3, 2009, the Golden Baseball League announced its second instructional league known as the Arizona Summer League , which is patterned after the AWL. This league consists of three teams, the Canada Miners , El Centro Imperials and San Luis Atleticos and began play in late June 2009. The ASL had 12 players signed to pro contracts during

1470-462: The season opener. The agreement with the VBF was agreed to three months prior to the start of the 2010 season. The Scorpions' Manager for 2010, Darryl Brinkley , had experience playing in Venezuela. The Scorpions were one of six former GBL teams to join the newly formed North American League in 2010 and began play in 2011. On April 11, 2011, Jose Canseco and his twin brother, Ozzie , were added to

1512-464: The team had signed an affiliation agreement with the Colombian Professional Baseball League (CPBL), a league owned by Edgar and Edinson Rentería . Edgar played for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball at the time of the signing. Under the terms of the affiliation, the CPBL handled all on-field personnel and player issues while the team retained control of promotions, concessions, and other front-office business. The Scorpions acted as

1554-2320: The team with next best overall record receives championship bid.) All-League Team: Catcher: Marcus Jensen , Reno First base: Desi Wilson , Chico Second base: Adam Mandel , San Diego Third base: Henry Calderon , Yuma Shortstop: Bret LeVier , Fullerton Utility: Craig Kuzmic , Chico Outfielders: Seth Pietsch , San Diego; Jason Van Meetren , Chico; Jeff LaRue , Long Beach; Scott Goodman , San Diego Designated hitter: Peanut Williams , Fullerton Starting Pitchers: Chris Jakubauskas , Fullerton; Andre Simpson , Long Beach; Ben Thurmond , Reno; Phil Springman , Chico; Brian Kroll , Chico; Nate Sevier , Reno Relief Pitchers: Josh Rummonds , San Diego; Scott Schneider , Reno; E.J. Shanks , San Diego; Mike Peck , Long Beach; Wes Faust , Fullerton Gold Glove Winners: Pitcher: James Johnson, Reno Catcher: Marcus Jensen , Reno First base: Desi Wilson , Chico Second base: Rob Gandolfo , Chico Third base: Henry Calderon , Yuma Shortstop: Hector Tena , Yuma Outfielders Chris Klemm , Long Beach; Lino Garcia , Chico; Ryan Webb , Long Beach x-1st half champion, z-2nd half champion and best overall record All-League Team: Catcher: Buddy Morales , Orange County First base: Jaime Martinez , Long Beach Second base: David Bacani , Orange County Third base: Henry Calderon , Yuma Shortstop: Jesse Kovacs , Chico Utility: Ryan Stevenson , St. George Outfielders: Daniel Nava, Chico; Kane Simmons , Reno; Johnny Kaplan , Long Beach Yosvanny Almario , Yuma Designated hitter: Peanut Williams , Orange County Starting Pitchers: Ben Fox , Orange County; Derek Loop , Chico; Ryan Claypool , Long Beach; Roger Luque , Yuma; Dusty Bergman , Reno Relief Pitchers: Todd Gelatka , Chico; Dane De La Rosa , Long Beach; Anthony Pluta , St. George; Neil Hayes , Yuma x-1st half division champion, y-2nd half division champion All-League Team: Catcher: TBA First base: TBA Second base: TBA Third base: TBA Shortstop: TBA Utility: TBA Outfielders: TBA Designated hitter: TBA Starting Pitchers: TBA Relief Pitchers: TBA x-1st half division champion, y-2nd half division champion, z-wild card The GBL played their very first All-Star Game on July 18, 2006 at Chico's Nettleton Stadium pitting

1596-399: The teams' roster, with Jose being a manager. In August of that year, 52-year-old former Major League player and then-Scorpions infielder Tony Phillips was involved in an altercation with former Scorpions manager Mike Marshall , then with the Chico Outlaws . Phillips punched Marshall in the face during the incident, causing the latter to press battery charges against the infielder. The team

1638-407: Was not affiliated with Major League Baseball or the organized Minor League Baseball system, but has featured players with MLB experience ( Rickey Henderson , Jose Canseco , Alex Arias , Bud Smith , Desi Wilson , José Lima , Hideki Irabu , Junior Spivey , Mark Prior ). It was formed in 2004 and began play on May 26, 2005. The GBL's presenting partner was Safeway Inc. Other investors in

1680-531: Was sold to Godfather Media, Inc on January 31, 2012. The new owners announced they would be changing the team name to Yuma Panthers shortly thereafter on February 8, in time for the 2012 season. Additionally they announced that former Major League shortstop Garry Templeton would be replacing Canseco as field manager. The Arizona Winter League team is still known as the Scorpions . On April 27, 2012, Godfather Media, LLC C.E.O. Michael Cummings announced that

1722-526: Was the president, and Bill Weiss was the league's secretary and historian. Many former MLB coaches and players coached or managed in the GBL, including Kip Gross , Les Lancaster , Mike Marshall , Ozzie Virgil, Jr. , Darrell Evans , Garry Templeton , Cory Snyder , Jeffrey Leonard , Gary Carter , Mike Busch , Steve Yeager , Phil Nevin , Charlie Hough , Mark Parent , Tim Johnson , Terry Kennedy , Paul Abbott , Brett Boone , Alex Arias , Rusty Meacham , and Warren Cromartie . The league began with

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1764-571: Was traded to the Armada after only one game. He said that the move was to be closer to his daughter. Before the 2006 season, Surprise was discontinued, while Mesa moved to Reno, another former Western League city, and became the Reno Silver Sox , the first GBL club in Nevada. The league moved to a six-team format and did not have the traveling Samurai Bears return. Prior to the 2007 season,

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