United Baseball League (proposed)

The United Baseball League was a planned third major league that was formed in 1994, but folded in 1996 without playing a game.

First announced on November 1, 1994, the UL founders were Bob Mrazek, a former five-term Congressman from Long Island; John Bryant, a Congressman from Dallas; Richard Moss, a player agent, and Andrew Zimbalist, an economist at Smith College.[1]

By August 1995, the league introduced former Texas Rangers president Mike Stone as its CEO, Curt Flood as its commissioner and eight franchises:

• Long Island (possibly named the New York Kongs and using a proposed stadium at Suffolk County Community College);
• Los Angeles (possibly named the Blaze and using the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum);
• Washington (projected to play at RFK Stadium);
• New Orleans (projected to play in the Superdome);
• Central Florida (possibly Orlando or Kissimmee);
• Puerto Rico (presumably to play at Hiram Bithorn Stadium);
• Portland, Oregon;
• Vancouver (possibly using B.C. Place as a home field)

By 1998, the UL planned to expand to the Far East, with two teams in Japan, one in South Korea and one in Taiwan.

The league also announced a twenty-year TV contract with Liberty Sports and a 154-game schedule to begin in 1996.[2]

On April 12, 1996, just before its scheduled debut, the UL ceased operations, citing stadium problems. Also, Liberty Sports had merged with the Fox Television Network, who promptly announced a deal with Major League Baseball starting in 1997.[3]