The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either. The Atlantic League requires cities to have the market for a 4,000 to 7,500-seat ballpark and for the facility to be maintained at or above AAA standards.[1] When Atlantic League professionals are signed by MLB clubs, they usually start in their Double-A or Triple-A affiliates.[2]
History
In 1998, the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball played its inaugural season, with teams in Somerset, Newark, and Atlantic City (NJ), Nashua (NH), Newburgh (NY), and Bridgeport (CT). The creation of the league was the result of the New York Mets' objection to Frank Boulton's proposal to move the former Albany-Colonie Yankees because of its territorial rights to the region. Boulton, a Long Island native, decided to create a new league that would have a higher salary cap for its players and a longer season than most of the other independent baseball organizations. He modeled the Atlantic League after the older Pacific Coast League, with facilities that exceed AAA-level standards. Boulton also emphasized signing players of Major League Baseball experience for all Atlantic League teams, raising the level of play above other independent leagues.
The Long Island Ducks, founded in 2000, continue to be a strong draw in the region, averaging 400,000 fans a season, and have seen the likes of such Major League alumni as Edgardo Alfonzo, Pedro Borbón, Jr., José Offerman, Donovan Osborne, Bill Pulsipher, Armando Ríos, John Rocker, and Mark Whiten. In 2007, Frank Boulton expressed his contentment with the Atlantic League and the Ducks to Baseball America saying, "The Long Island Ducks are the best thing I've ever done in baseball."[3]
Current franchises
League timeline
League members Moved to another league Team announced to join league
Former teams
| Team |
City |
Stadium |
Capacity |
Seasons |
History |
|---|
| Aberdeen Arsenal |
Bel Air, Maryland |
Thomas Run Park |
1,000 |
2000 |
Replaced by the Aberdeen IronBirds (Orioles Class-A affiliate). |
| Atlantic City Surf |
Atlantic City, New Jersey |
The Sandcastle |
5,500 |
1998–2006 |
Moved to Can-Am League, folded prior to the 2009 season. |
| Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds |
Quakertown, Pennsylvania |
Memorial Park |
800 |
1999–2001 |
Formerly the Newburgh Black Diamonds (1998). Became the first Pennsylvania Road Warriors. |
| Nashua Pride |
Nashua, New Hampshire |
Holman Stadium |
4,375 |
1998–2005 |
Moved to Can-Am League, later relocated to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, folded at the end of the 2011 season. |
| Newark Bears |
Newark, New Jersey |
Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium |
6,200 |
1998–2010 |
Moved to Can-Am League, folded prior to the 2014 season. |
| Newburgh Black Diamonds |
Newburgh, New York |
Delano-Hitch Stadium |
3,100 |
1998 |
Became the Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds (1999–2002), which became the first Pennsylvania Road Warriors (2002–2004). |
| Pennsylvania Road Warriors |
Pennsylvania |
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2002–2004 |
Formerly the Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds (1999–2002), which had been the Newburgh Black Diamonds (1998). Dissolved by league to make way for the Lancaster Barnstormers. |
| Road Warriors |
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2006–2007, 2011 |
Dissolved by league to make way for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, reformed in 2011 after the loss of Newark Bears, dissolved again to make way for the Sugar Land Skeeters. |
Atlantic League team map
Atlantic League Championship Series
All-star games
| Year |
Location |
Stadium |
Winner |
Score |
| 1998 | Atlantic City, New Jersey | The Sandcastle | Atlantic City | 6–4 |
| 1999 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | The Ballpark at Harbor Yard | South | 8–3 |
| 2000 | Bridgewater, New Jersey | Commerce Bank Ballpark | North | 2–0 |
| 2001 | Newark, New Jersey | Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium | North | 10–0 |
| 2002 | Central Islip, New York | Citibank Park | South | 4–1 |
| 2003 | Nashua, New Hampshire | Holman Stadium | South | 2–1 |
| 2004 | Camden, New Jersey | Campbell's Field | North | 10–8 |
| 2005 | Atlantic City, New Jersey | The Sandcastle | North | 9–6 |
| 2006 | Bridgeport, Connecticut | The Ballpark at Harbor Yard | North | 4–1 |
| 2007 | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Clipper Magazine Stadium | North | 8–6 |
| 2008 | Bridgewater, New Jersey | Commerce Bank Ballpark | Freedom | 8–6 |
| 2009 | Newark, New Jersey | Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium | Liberty | 7–5 |
| 2010 | Central Islip, New York | Suffolk County Sports Park | Liberty | 7–1 |
| 2011 | York, Pennsylvania | Sovereign Bank Stadium | Freedom | 7–0 |
| 2012 | Camden, New Jersey | Campbell's Field | Freedom | 9–5 |
| 2013 | Waldorf, Maryland | Regency Furniture Stadium | Freedom | 2–1 |
| 2014 | Sugar Land, Texas | Constellation Field | Sugar Land | 5–3 |
League records
See also
References
External links
Team websites
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