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{{Short description|Baseball league in the United States and Canada}}
{{Short description|Baseball league in the United States and Canada}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox sports league
{{Infobox sports league
| logo = Frontier League.png
| logo = Frontier League.png
Line 7: Line 7:
| current_season = 2024 Frontier League season
| current_season = 2024 Frontier League season
| sport = Baseball
| sport = Baseball
| classification = [[Independent baseball]]
| founded = 1993
| founded = 1993
| commissioner = Steve Tahsler
| commissioner = Steve Tahsler
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}}
}}


The '''Frontier League''' ('''FL'''; [[French language|French]]: ''Ligue Frontière'', ''LF'') is a professional [[baseball]] league in [[North America]] comprising 18 teams; 15 in the United States and 3 in Canada. The FL is one of the seven [[independent baseball league]]s across North America, and is one of the four leagues considered as an [[MLB Partner League]]. The league is headquartered in [[Sauget, Illinois]].
The '''Frontier League''' ('''FL'''; [[French language|French]]: ''Ligue Frontière,'' ''LF'') is a professional [[baseball]] [[Sports league|league]] in [[North America]] consisting of 18 teams – 15 in the United States and 3 in Canada. The FL is one of the four [[Independent baseball league|independent baseball leagues]] that is considered to be an [[MLB Partner League]], and the level of play is comparable to the [[High-A]] level. The league is headquartered in [[Sauget, Illinois]].

The league is contested by a total of eighteen teams, who are evenly divided into two conferences, with two divisions in each. After playing a [[Season (sports)|regular season]] of matches against intra- and inter-division opponents, the best three teams in each conference face off in a [[Playoff|postseason]] tournament that determines the champion.


25 distinct franchises had competed in the league. Its largest period of growth followed in 2020–21, when six teams from the ceased [[Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball|Can-Am]] and [[New York–Penn League|New York–Penn]] leagues joined alongside an expansion franchise. The [[Evansville Otters]], the only one of the original eight franchises still playing today, is the longest tenured team in the league, while the [[Schaumburg Boomers]] have won the most championships.
25 distinct franchises had competed in the league. Its largest period of growth followed in 2020–21, when six teams from the ceased [[Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball|Can-Am]] and [[New York–Penn League|New York–Penn]] leagues joined alongside an expansion franchise. The [[Evansville Otters]], the only one of the original eight franchises still playing today, is the longest tenured team in the league, while the [[Schaumburg Boomers]] have won the most championships.


The FL's regular season is typically held from May to September, with each team playing 96 games. Following the conclusion of the regular season, 8 teams advance to the playoffs, a three tournament that runs approximately two weeks to determine the league champion.
==Organization==
Teams in the Frontier League must recruit and sign their own players, who usually are undrafted college players or one-time prospects who have been released by their teams.

Frontier League rules limit teams to three "veterans" (Players older than 29 years as of October 1), while a minimum of ten of the 24-man roster are required to be rookies.

Typically, teams play a 96-game regular season from May to September.

The Frontier League uses a [[salary cap]]. As of the 2023 season, clubs had a maximum spend of [[United States dollar|US$]]365,000 on player compensation, with a minimum salary of $13,800 per player. Veterans could make as much as $22,800, and each team's highest paid player could earn as high as $27,300.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=J. J. |date=2023-03-29 |title=MLB, Minor League Players Reach Deal On First MiLB CBA |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-minor-league-players-reach-deal-on-first-milb-cba/ |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America |language=en-US}}</ref> There is also a separate salary cap for coaches and technical staff, but is no longer public.


==History==
==History==
Line 39: Line 31:


=== 2019–2020: Merger, MLB Partner League ===
=== 2019–2020: Merger, MLB Partner League ===
On October 16, 2019, it was announced that the Frontier League would be merging with the [[Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball]], absorbing five of its teams to form the largest independent professional baseball league. This added the [[New Jersey Jackals]], [[New York Boulders]], [[Quebec Capitales]], [[Sussex County Miners]], and [[Trois-Rivières_Aigles_(2013–)|Trois-Rivieres Aigles]] to the league; the [[Ottawa Champions]], the last remaining Can-Am League team, was not invited to participate.<ref name="frontiercanam">{{Cite web |url=http://frontierleague.com/2019/10/16/frontier-league-can-am-league-to-join-forces/ |title=Frontier League, Can-Am League to Join Forces |date=October 16, 2019 |website=FrontierLeague.com}}</ref> The divisions were renamed, with the easternmost teams playing in the Can-Am Division and the westernmost in the Midwestern Division. The league had a partnership agreement with the [[California Winter League (2010)|California Winter League]] for player development.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://californiawinterleague.com/2020/08/27/california-winter-league-and-frontier-league-extend-relationship/ |title=California Winter League and Frontier League Extend Relationship into 2021 |publisher=California Winter League |date=August 27, 2020 |access-date=January 25, 2021}}</ref>
On October 16, 2019, it was announced that the Frontier League would be merging with the [[Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball]], absorbing five of its teams to form the largest independent professional baseball league. This added the [[New Jersey Jackals]], [[New York Boulders]], [[Quebec Capitales]], [[Sussex County Miners]], and [[Trois-Rivières_Aigles_(2013–)|Trois-Rivieres Aigles]] to the league; the [[Ottawa Champions]], the last remaining Can-Am League team, was not invited to participate.<ref name="frontiercanam">{{Cite web |url=http://frontierleague.com/2019/10/16/frontier-league-can-am-league-to-join-forces/ |title=Frontier League, Can-Am League to Join Forces |date=October 16, 2019 |website=Frontier League}}</ref> The divisions were renamed, with the easternmost teams playing in the Can-Am Division and the westernmost in the Midwestern Division. The league had a partnership agreement with the [[California Winter League (2010)|California Winter League]] for player development.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://californiawinterleague.com/2020/08/27/california-winter-league-and-frontier-league-extend-relationship/ |title=California Winter League and Frontier League Extend Relationship into 2021 |publisher=California Winter League |date=August 27, 2020 |access-date=January 25, 2021}}</ref>


On September 24, 2020, [[Major League Baseball]] announced that it named the Frontier League an [[MLB Partner League]].<ref name=MLB9-24-20>{{cite web|title=PressRelease|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/american-association-frontier-league-partner-leagues-of-mlb|website=MLB|date=September 24, 2020|access-date=September 30, 2020}}</ref> This enables collaboration with MLB to jointly discuss marketing and promotional initiatives to grow, expand, and enhance the game of baseball.<ref>{{cite news |title=American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/09/24/american-association-frontier-league-now-mlb-partner-leagues/ |access-date=October 2, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publishing |date=September 24, 2020}}</ref>
On September 24, 2020, [[Major League Baseball]] announced that it named the Frontier League an [[MLB Partner League]].<ref name="MLB9-24-20">{{cite web|title=PressRelease|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/american-association-frontier-league-partner-leagues-of-mlb|website=MLB|date=September 24, 2020|access-date=September 30, 2020}}</ref> This enables collaboration with MLB to jointly discuss marketing and promotional initiatives to grow, expand, and enhance the game of baseball.<ref>{{cite news |title=American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/09/24/american-association-frontier-league-now-mlb-partner-leagues/ |access-date=October 2, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publishing |date=September 24, 2020}}</ref>


=== 2021: New teams, border issues ===
=== 2021: New teams, border issues ===
For the 2021 season, the Frontier League announced it would be adding two new teams. The first announcement came around the same time as the announcement of the partnership with Major League Baseball, as [[Ottawa]] was granted an expansion franchise in the league. The team, as chosen by fans in a contest, was named the [[Ottawa Titans (baseball)|Titans]] and will play at [[RCGT Park]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reichard |first1=Kevin |title=Frontier League returns to Ottawa in 2021 |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/09/25/frontier-league-returns-to-ottawa-in-2021/ |access-date=September 26, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=September 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Baines |first1=Tim |title=PLAY BALL! Sam Katz confident baseball will be a hit in Ottawa when it returns next year |url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/baseball/play-ball-sam-katz-confident-baseball-will-be-a-hit-in-ottawa-when-it-returns-next-year |access-date=September 26, 2020 |work=[[Ottawa Sun]] |date=September 23, 2020 |language=en-CA}}</ref> Then, on January 8, 2021, after the reorganization of Minor League Baseball, the league added the [[Tri-City ValleyCats]], which were one of several teams that were orphaned or disbanded when the [[New York-Penn League]] was folded. The Titans and ValleyCats joined the five former Can-Am League teams and Washington in the Can-Am Division; to even the divisions at seven teams, Lake Erie was moved to the Midwestern Division.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}
For the 2021 season, the Frontier League announced it would be adding two new teams. The first announcement came around the same time as the announcement of the partnership with Major League Baseball, as [[Ottawa]] was granted an expansion franchise in the league. The team, as chosen by fans in a contest, was named the [[Ottawa Titans (baseball)|Titans]] and will play at [[RCGT Park]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reichard |first1=Kevin |title=Frontier League returns to Ottawa in 2021 |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/09/25/frontier-league-returns-to-ottawa-in-2021/ |access-date=September 26, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=September 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Baines |first1=Tim |title=PLAY BALL! Sam Katz confident baseball will be a hit in Ottawa when it returns next year |url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/baseball/play-ball-sam-katz-confident-baseball-will-be-a-hit-in-ottawa-when-it-returns-next-year |access-date=September 26, 2020 |work=[[Ottawa Sun]] |date=September 23, 2020 |language=en-CA}}</ref> Then, on January 8, 2021, after the reorganization of Minor League Baseball, the league added the [[Tri-City ValleyCats]], which were one of several teams that were orphaned or disbanded when the [[New York-Penn League]] was folded. The Titans and ValleyCats joined the five former Can-Am League teams and Washington in the Can-Am Division; to even the divisions at seven teams, Lake Erie was moved to the Midwestern Division.{{Citation needed|date=April 2021}}


In April 2021, the league announced that the [[Québec Capitales]], the [[Trois-Rivières Aigles (Frontier League)|Trois-Rivières Aigles]], and the [[Ottawa Titans]] would not compete in the 2021 season due to the [[Canada–United States border#21st century|prolonged closure of the Canada–United States border]] as a result of the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The Titans, the Aigles and the Capitales later joined forces to form a new team that competed as a member of the Atlantic Division.<ref name=FL_4-27-21>{{cite press release|url=https://frontierleague.com/2021/04/27/equipe-quebec-unveils-branding/|title=ÉQUIPE QUÉBEC UNVEILS BRANDING |date=April 27, 2021 |accessdate=April 27, 2021}}</ref> Known as ''Équipe Québec'', they began the season as a [[traveling team]], and starting on July 30, 2021, started sharing home games between [[Québec City]] and [[Trois-Rivières]] following a loosening in border restrictions.<ref name=FL_4-17-21>{{cite press release|url=https://frontierleague.com/2021/04/17/frontier-league-adjusts-2021-schedule/|title=FRONTIER LEAGUE ADJUSTS 2021 SCHEDULE |date=April 17, 2021 |accessdate=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Retour du baseball professionnel au Québec |url=https://capitalesdequebec.com/fr/nouvelles-et-medias/nouvelles/retour-du-baseball-professionnel-au-quebec |access-date=July 25, 2021 |work=Québec Capitales |date=July 21, 2021 |language=fr-CA}}</ref> 10 games were played in Québec City and 11 in Trois-Rivières. They did not play in Ottawa due to COVID-19 restrictions in [[Ontario]].
In April 2021, the league announced that the [[Québec Capitales]], the [[Trois-Rivières Aigles (Frontier League)|Trois-Rivières Aigles]], and the [[Ottawa Titans]] would not compete in the 2021 season due to the [[Canada–United States border#21st century|prolonged closure of the Canada–United States border]] as a result of the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The Titans, the Aigles and the Capitales later joined forces to form a new team that competed as a member of the Atlantic Division.<ref name="FL_4-27-21">{{cite press release |url=https://frontierleague.com/2021/04/27/equipe-quebec-unveils-branding/ |title=ÉQUIPE QUÉBEC UNVEILS BRANDING |website=Frontier League |date=April 27, 2021 |access-date=April 27, 2021}}</ref> Known as ''Équipe Québec'', they began the season as a [[traveling team]], and starting on July 30, 2021, started sharing home games between [[Québec City]] and [[Trois-Rivières]] following a loosening in border restrictions.<ref name="FL_4-17-21">{{cite press release |url=https://frontierleague.com/2021/04/17/frontier-league-adjusts-2021-schedule/ |title=FRONTIER LEAGUE ADJUSTS 2021 SCHEDULE |website=Frontier League |date=April 17, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Retour du baseball professionnel au Québec |url=https://capitalesdequebec.com/fr/nouvelles-et-medias/nouvelles/retour-du-baseball-professionnel-au-quebec |access-date=July 25, 2021 |work=Québec Capitales |date=July 21, 2021 |language=fr-CA}}</ref> 10 games were played in Québec City and 11 in Trois-Rivières. They did not play in Ottawa due to COVID-19 restrictions in [[Ontario]].


On October 6, 2021, the owners of the [[Southern Illinois Miners]], Jayne and John Simmons, announced they would be retiring from professional baseball to spend more time with family and the Miners would be ceasing operations and dropping out of the Frontier League.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Jayne and John Simmons Announce Retirement from Professional Baseball in Marion, Illinois |url=https://southernillinoisminers.prestosports.com/sports/bsb/2020-21/releases/20211006leprkm |publisher=Southern Illinois Miners |access-date=October 8, 2021 |language=en |date=October 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Reichard |first1=Kevin |title=Southern Illinois Miners ceasing operations |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/10/07/southern-illinois-miners-ceasing-operations/ |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publishing |access-date=October 8, 2021 |date=October 7, 2021}}</ref> As a result, the league formed the [[Empire State Greys]], to compete as a [[traveling team]] with a roster of players from the [[Empire Professional Baseball League]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2022/02/12/new-for-2022-empire-state-greys/ |title=New for 2022: Empire State Greys |website=Ballpark Digest |first=Kevin |last=Reichard |date=February 12, 2022 |accessdate=March 3, 2022}}</ref>
On October 6, 2021, the owners of the [[Southern Illinois Miners]], Jayne and John Simmons, announced they would be retiring from professional baseball to spend more time with family and the Miners would be ceasing operations and dropping out of the Frontier League.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Jayne and John Simmons Announce Retirement from Professional Baseball in Marion, Illinois |url=https://southernillinoisminers.prestosports.com/sports/bsb/2020-21/releases/20211006leprkm |publisher=Southern Illinois Miners |access-date=October 8, 2021 |language=en |date=October 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Reichard |first1=Kevin |title=Southern Illinois Miners ceasing operations |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/10/07/southern-illinois-miners-ceasing-operations/ |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publishing |access-date=October 8, 2021 |date=October 7, 2021}}</ref> As a result, the league formed the [[Empire State Greys]], to compete as a [[traveling team]] with a roster of players from the [[Empire Professional Baseball League]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2022/02/12/new-for-2022-empire-state-greys/ |title=New for 2022: Empire State Greys |website=Ballpark Digest |first=Kevin |last=Reichard |date=February 12, 2022 |accessdate=March 3, 2022}}</ref>


=== 2023: New England expansion ===
=== 2023: New England expansion ===
In September 2023, the league announced a new team, the [[New England Knockouts]], were to play at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Massachusetts in the Eastern Division of the Frontier League beginning with the 2024 season. This brought the total number of permanent members of the league to sixteen teams.<ref name="New England">{{cite press release |title=Frontier League Awards Membership to New England |url=https://www.frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2022-23/releases/20230921gltdyb |website=FrontierLeague.com |publisher=Frontier League |access-date=October 11, 2023 |language=en |date=September 21, 2023}}</ref>
In September 2023, the league announced a new team, the [[New England Knockouts]], were to play at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Massachusetts, beginning with the 2024 season. This brought the total number of permanent members of the league to sixteen teams.<ref name="New England">{{cite press release |title=Frontier League Awards Membership to New England |url=https://www.frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2022-23/releases/20230921gltdyb |website=Frontier League |access-date=October 11, 2023 |language=en |date=September 21, 2023}}</ref>


=== 2024: Mississippi & North Carolina expansion ===
=== 2024: Mississippi and North Carolina expansion ===
In September 2024, the league announced an expansion to Mississippi and North Carolina.<ref name="wapt" /><ref name="wnct" /> An as yet unnamed expansion franchise was awarded to [[Pearl, Mississippi]], following the departure of the Atlanta Braves Double-A affiliate the [[Mississippi Braves]].<ref name="wapt">{{Cite news |url=https://www.wapt.com/article/mississippi-braves-play-final-game-at-trustmark/62106153 |title=New baseball team coming to Trustmark Park as M-Braves leave |date=2024-09-09 |last=Simmons |first=Scott |language=en |access-date=2024-09-09 |work=[[WAPT]]}}</ref> The Down East Bird Dawgs, a new team in [[Kinston, North Carolina]] will play in [[Grainger Stadium]], being vacated by the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] affiliated [[Down East Wood Ducks]].<ref>{{Cite press release |date=2024-09-17 |title=Frontier League Adds Down East Bird Dawgs In Latest Expansion |url=https://www.frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/releases/20240917gjimcy |website=Frontier League |language=en}}</ref><ref name="wnct">{{cite news |last1=Sartori |first1=Gabby |last2=Layton |first2=Courtney |title=Down East Wood Ducks reveal new team name and logo at Grainger Stadium |url=https://www.wnct.com/down-east-wood-ducks/down-east-wood-ducks-reveal-new-team-name-and-logo-at-grainger-stadium/ |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=[[WNCT-TV]] |date=September 17, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Down East Bird Dawgs coming to Kinston's Grainger Stadium |url=https://www.witn.com/2024/09/17/down-east-bird-dawgs-coming-kinstons-grainger-stadium/ |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=WITN |date=September 17, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>
In September 2024, the league announced an expansion to Mississippi and North Carolina.<ref name="wapt" /><ref name="wnct" /> An as yet unnamed expansion franchise was awarded to [[Pearl, Mississippi]], following the departure of the Atlanta Braves Double-A affiliate the [[Mississippi Braves]].<ref name="wapt">{{Cite news |url=https://www.wapt.com/article/mississippi-braves-play-final-game-at-trustmark/62106153 |title=New baseball team coming to Trustmark Park as M-Braves leave |date=September 9, 2024 |last=Simmons |first=Scott |language=en |access-date=September 9, 2024 |work=[[WAPT]]}}</ref> The Down East Bird Dawgs, a new team in [[Kinston, North Carolina]], will play in [[Grainger Stadium]], which was formerly home of the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] affiliated [[Down East Wood Ducks]].<ref>{{Cite press release |date=September 17, 2024 |title=Frontier League Adds Down East Bird Dawgs In Latest Expansion |url=https://www.frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/releases/20240917gjimcy |website=Frontier League |language=en}}</ref><ref name="wnct">{{cite news |last1=Sartori |first1=Gabby |last2=Layton |first2=Courtney |title=Down East Wood Ducks reveal new team name and logo at Grainger Stadium |url=https://www.wnct.com/down-east-wood-ducks/down-east-wood-ducks-reveal-new-team-name-and-logo-at-grainger-stadium/ |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=[[WNCT-TV]] |date=September 17, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Down East Bird Dawgs coming to Kinston's Grainger Stadium |url=https://www.witn.com/2024/09/17/down-east-bird-dawgs-coming-kinstons-grainger-stadium/ |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=WITN |date=September 17, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>


The two new franchises bring the league to 18 teams, the largest total in its history. The expansion also marks the league's first expansion into the deep south, with the previous southernmost team being the [[Evansville Otters]].<ref>{{Cite press release |date=2024-09-09 |title=The Frontier League Announces Newest Expansion Team In Mississippi |url=https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/releases/20240909gh3jqt |website=Frontier League |language=en}}</ref> Commissioner Steven Tahsler announced a new scheduling format for the 2025 season. Instead of a two division model, the league will revert to the 2021 setup; 2 conferences with 4 divisions. Mississippi will be playing in the Western Division while Down East will be in the Eastern Division.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reily |first=Ross |title=What to know about new minor league team at Trustmark Park in Pearl? What is team name? |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2024/09/09/new-baseball-team-ready-to-play-at-trustmark-park-in-pearl-ms-in-2025/75142160007/ |access-date=2024-09-10 |date=2024-09-09 |website=[[The Clarion-Ledger]] |language=en-US}}</ref>
The two new franchises bring the league to 18 teams, the largest total in its history. The expansion also marks the league's first expansion into the deep south, with the previous southernmost team being the [[Evansville Otters]].<ref>{{Cite press release |date=September 9, 2024 |title=The Frontier League Announces Newest Expansion Team In Mississippi |url=https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/releases/20240909gh3jqt |website=Frontier League |language=en}}</ref> Commissioner Steven Tahsler announced a new scheduling format for the 2025 season. Instead of a two division model, the league will revert to the 2021 setup; 2 conferences with 4 divisions.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reily |first=Ross |title=What to know about new minor league team at Trustmark Park in Pearl? What is team name? |url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2024/09/09/new-baseball-team-ready-to-play-at-trustmark-park-in-pearl-ms-in-2025/75142160007/ |access-date=September 10, 2024 |date=September 9, 2024 |website=[[The Clarion-Ledger]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Mississippi will be playing in the West Division of the Midwest Conference while Down East will be in the East Division of the Atlantic Conference.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-27 |title=Frontier League Announces 2025 Season Schedule|url=https://frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/releases/20241027m93ojl |website=Frontier League |language=en}}</ref>

==Organization==
Teams in the Frontier League must recruit and sign their own players, who usually are undrafted college players or one-time prospects who have been released by their teams.

Frontier League rules limit teams to three "veterans" (Players older than 29 years as of October 1), while a minimum of ten of the 24-man roster are required to be rookies.

Typically, teams play a 96-game regular season from May to September.

The Frontier League uses a [[salary cap]]. As of the 2023 season, clubs had a maximum spend of [[United States dollar|US$]]365,000 on player compensation, with a minimum salary of $13,800 per player. Veterans could earn up to $22,800, and each team's highest-paid player could make as much as $27,300.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=J. J. |date=March 29, 2023 |title=MLB, Minor League Players Reach Deal On First MiLB CBA |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mlb-minor-league-players-reach-deal-on-first-milb-cba/ |access-date=July 5, 2024 |website=College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America |language=en-US}}</ref> For players aged 23 and younger on standard contracts, only 50% of their salary counts towards the cap. There is also a separate salary cap for coaches and technical staff.


==Teams==
==Teams==
{{OSM Location map
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| coord = {{coord|40.280|-80.310}}
| zoom = 5
| width = 600
| height = 500
| float = center
| caption = {{hlist
| [[File:Red pog.svg|11px]] East Division
| [[File:Gold pog.svg|11px]] North Division
| [[File:Green pog.svg|11px]] Central Division
| [[File:Blue pog.svg|11px]] West Division
}}
| mark1 = gold pog.svg|shape-color1 = red| label1 = Knockouts| mark-title1=[[New England Knockouts]]| mark-coord1 = {{coord|42.083|-71.020}}| label-pos1 = right| label-color1 = black
| mark2 = red pog.svg|shape-color2 = red| label2 = Jackals| mark-title2=[[New Jersey Jackals]]| mark-coord2 = {{coord|40.917|-74.172}}| label-pos2 = right| label-color2 = black
| mark3 = red pog.svg|shape-color3 = red| label3 = Boulders| mark-title3=[[New York Boulders]]| mark-coord3 = {{coord|41.173|-74.058}}| label-pos3 = top| label-color3 = black
| mark4 = gold pog.svg|shape-color4 = red| label4 = Titans| mark-title4=[[Ottawa Titans]]| mark-coord4 = {{coord|45.423|-75.697}}| label-pos4 = top| label-color4 = black
| mark5 = gold pog.svg|shape-color5 = red| label5 = Capitales| mark-title5=[[Quebec Capitales]]| mark-coord5 = {{coord|46.813|-71.208}}| label-pos5 = right| label-color5 = black
| mark6 = red pog.svg|shape-color6 = red| label6 = Miners| mark-title6=[[Sussex County Miners]]| mark-coord6 = {{coord|41.139|-74.700}}| label-pos6 = left| label-color6 = black
| mark7 = gold pog.svg|shape-color7 = red| label7 = ValleyCats| mark-title7=[[Tri City ValleyCats]]| mark-coord7 = {{coord|42.728|-73.691}}| label-pos7 = left| label-color7 = black
| mark8 = gold pog.svg|shape-color8 = red| label8 = Aigles| mark-title8=[[Trois-Rivières Aigles (2013)|Trois-Rivieres Aigles]]| mark-coord8 = {{coord|46.343|-72.544}}| label-pos8 = bottom| label-color8 = black
| mark9 = green pog.svg|shape-color9 = blue| label9 = Otters| mark-title9=[[Evansville Otters]]| mark-coord9 = {{coord|37.972|-87.571}}| label-pos9 = right| label-color9 = black
| mark10 = green pog.svg|shape-color10 = blue| label10 = Y'alls| mark-title10=[[Florence Y'alls]]| mark-coord10 = {{coord|38.999|-84.627}}| label-pos10 = bottom| label-color10 = black
| mark11 = blue pog.svg|shape-color11 = blue| label11 = Grizzlies| mark-title11=[[Gateway Grizzlies]]| mark-coord11 = {{coord|38.589|-90.169}}| label-pos11 = bottom| label-color11 = black
| mark12 = blue pog.svg|shape-color12 = blue| label12 = Slammers| mark-title12=[[Joliet Slammers]]| mark-coord12 = {{coord|41.525|-88.082}}| label-pos12 = bottom| label-color12 = black
| mark13 = green pog.svg|shape-color13 = blue| label13 = Crushers| mark-title13=[[Lake Erie Crushers]]| mark-coord13 = {{coord|41.452|-82.035}}| label-pos13 = bottom| label-color13 = black
| mark14 = blue pog.svg|shape-color14 = blue| label14 = Boomers| mark-title14=[[Schaumburg Boomers]]| mark-coord14 = {{coord|42.033|-88.083}}| label-pos14 = left| label-color14 = black
| mark15 = green pog.svg|shape-color15 = blue| label15 = Wild Things| mark-title15=[[Washington Wild Things]]| mark-coord15 = {{coord|40.171|-80.245}}| label-pos15 = right| label-color15 = black
| mark16 = blue pog.svg|shape-color16 = blue| label16 = ThunderBolts| mark-title16=[[Windy City ThunderBolts]]| mark-coord16 = {{coord|41.992|-87.863}}| label-pos16 = right| label-color16 = black
| mark17 = blue pog.svg|shape-color17 = blue| label17 = Mud Monsters| mark-title17=[[Mississippi Mud Monsters]]| mark-coord17 = {{coord|32.275|-90.132}}| label-pos17 = right| label-color17 = black
| mark18 = red pog.svg|shape-color18 = red| label18 = Bird Dawgs| mark-title18=[[Down East Bird Dawgs]]| mark-coord18 = {{coord|35.262|-77.581}}| label-pos18 = left| label-color18 = black
}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|-
! style="background-color:#00183f" colspan="8" | <span style="color:white; font-size:125%;">Frontier League</span>
! style="background-color:#00183f" colspan="8" | <span style="color:white; font-size:125%;">Frontier League</span>
|-
|-
! Conference
! Division
! Division
! Team
! Team
Line 71: Line 105:
! Capacity
! Capacity
|-
|-
! rowspan="9" style="background-color:#bd001b" | <span style="color: white">East</span>
! rowspan="9" style="background-color:#bd001b" | <span style="color: white">Atlantic</span>
! rowspan="4" |East
|'''[[Down East Bird Dawgs]]'''
|'''[[Down East Bird Dawgs]]'''
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2025
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2025
|[[Kinston, North Carolina]]
|[[Kinston, North Carolina]]
|[[Grainger Stadium]]
|[[Grainger Stadium]]
|4,100<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grainger Stadium in Kinston, NC |url=https://www.milb.com/down-east/ballpark/grainger-stadium |access-date=2024-09-17 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}</ref>
|4,100<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grainger Stadium in Kinston, NC |url=https://www.milb.com/down-east/ballpark/grainger-stadium |access-date=September 17, 2024 |website=MiLB.com |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240917160824/https://www.milb.com/down-east/ballpark/grainger-stadium |archive-date=September 17, 2024}}</ref>
|-
|'''[[New England Knockouts]]'''<ref name="New England" />
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2024
|[[Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton]], [[Massachusetts]]
|[[Campanelli Stadium]]
|4,750
|-
|-
|'''[[New Jersey Jackals]]'''
|'''[[New Jersey Jackals]]'''
Line 97: Line 126:
|[[Clover Stadium]]
|[[Clover Stadium]]
|6,362
|6,362
|-
|'''[[Sussex County Miners]]'''
| style="text-align:center;" |2015
| style="text-align:center;" |2020
|[[Augusta, New Jersey|Augusta]], [[New Jersey]]
|[[Skylands Stadium]]
|4,500
|-
! rowspan="5" |North
|'''[[New England Knockouts]]'''
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| 2024
|[[Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton]], [[Massachusetts]]
|[[Campanelli Stadium]]
|4,750
|-
|-
|'''[[Ottawa Titans]]'''
|'''[[Ottawa Titans]]'''
Line 109: Line 152:
|[[Quebec City, Quebec|Quebec City]], [[Quebec]]
|[[Quebec City, Quebec|Quebec City]], [[Quebec]]
|[[Stade Canac]]
|[[Stade Canac]]
|4,297<ref>{{Cite web |last=ICI.Radio-Canada.ca |first=Zone Sports- |date=2023-09-10 |title=Les Capitales l'emportent et forcent la tenue d'un match ultime |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2009244/victoire-capitales-series-jackals-ligue-frontiere |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=Radio-Canada |language=fr-ca}}</ref>
|4,297<ref>{{Cite news |last=Martin |first=Jean-Philippe |date=September 10, 2023 |title=Les Capitales l'emportent et forcent la tenue d'un match ultime |trans-title=The Capitals win and force a final match |url=https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2009244/victoire-capitales-series-jackals-ligue-frontiere |access-date=July 5, 2024 |website=Radio-Canada |language=fr-ca}}</ref>
|-
|'''[[Sussex County Miners]]'''
|style="text-align:center;"|2015
|style="text-align:center;"|2020
|[[Augusta, New Jersey|Augusta]], [[New Jersey]]
|[[Skylands Stadium]]
|4,500
|-
|-
|'''[[Tri-City ValleyCats]]'''
|'''[[Tri-City ValleyCats]]'''
Line 130: Line 166:
|[[Trois-Rivières]], [[Quebec]]
|[[Trois-Rivières]], [[Quebec]]
|[[Stade Quillorama]]
|[[Stade Quillorama]]
|4,000<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trois-Rivières |first=Tourisme |title=Stade Quillorama |url=https://www.tourismetroisrivieres.com/en/sports/facilities-and-equipment/stade-quillorama |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=www.tourismetroisrivieres.com}}</ref>
|4,000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stade Quillorama |url=https://www.tourismetroisrivieres.com/en/sports/facilities-and-equipment/stade-quillorama |access-date=July 5, 2024 |website=Tourisme Trois-Rivières}}</ref>
|-
|-
! rowspan="9" style="background-color:#00183f" | <span style="color: white">West</span>
! rowspan="9" style="background-color:#00183f" | <span style="color: white">Midwest</span>
! rowspan="4" |Central
|'''[[Evansville Otters]]'''
|'''[[Evansville Otters]]'''
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |1995
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |1995
Line 145: Line 182:
|4,500
|4,500
|-
|-
|'''[[Lake Erie Crushers]]'''
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2009
|[[Avon, Ohio|Avon]], [[Ohio]]
|[[Crushers Stadium]]
|5,000
|-
|'''[[Washington Wild Things]]'''
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2002
|[[Washington, Pennsylvania|Washington]], [[Pennsylvania]]
|[[Wild Things Park]]
|3,200
|-
! rowspan="5" |West
|'''[[Gateway Grizzlies]]'''
|'''[[Gateway Grizzlies]]'''
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2001
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2001
|[[Sauget, Illinois|Sauget]], [[Illinois]]
|[[Sauget, Illinois|Sauget]], [[Illinois]]
|[[Grizzlies Ballpark]]
|[[Grizzlies Ballpark]]
Line 152: Line 202:
|-
|-
|'''[[Joliet Slammers]]'''
|'''[[Joliet Slammers]]'''
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2011
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |2011
|[[Joliet, Illinois|Joliet]], [[Illinois]]
|[[Joliet, Illinois|Joliet]], [[Illinois]]
|[[Duly Health and Care Field]]
|[[Duly Health and Care Field]]
|6,016
|6,016
|-
|-
|'''[[Lake Erie Crushers]]'''
|'''[[Mississippi Mud Monsters]]'''
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2009
|[[Avon, Ohio|Avon]], [[Ohio]]
|[[Mercy Health Stadium]]
|5,000
|-
|[[Frontier League Mississippi|'''Mississippi''']]
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2025
| colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2025
|[[Pearl, Mississippi]]
|[[Pearl, Mississippi]]
Line 174: Line 218:
|[[Wintrust Field]]
|[[Wintrust Field]]
|7,365
|7,365
|-
|'''[[Washington Wild Things]]'''
|colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|2002
|[[Washington, Pennsylvania|Washington]], [[Pennsylvania]]
|[[Wild Things Park]]
|3,200
|-
|-
|'''[[Windy City ThunderBolts]]'''
|'''[[Windy City ThunderBolts]]'''
Line 187: Line 225:
|[[Ozinga Field]]
|[[Ozinga Field]]
|3,200
|3,200
|}
|}<!--Temporarily commenting out map based on "Module:Location map/data/USA Midwest". Seems there's something wrong here. Evansville is appearing in Illinois instead of Indiana, Florence in Indiana instead of Kentucky, and other cities are just a bit off, even though the coordinates are correct according to the individual city articles.-->

=== Map of teams ===
{{OSM Location map
| nolabels = 1
| coord = {{coord|40.280|-80.310}}
| zoom = 5
| width = 600
| height = 500| caption = {{hlist
| [[File:Blue pog.svg|11px]] West Division
| [[File:Red pog.svg|11px]] East Division
| [[File:Gray pog.svg|11px]] Future Team
}}
| mark1 = red pog.svg|shape-color1 = red| label1 = Knockouts| mark-title1=[[New England Knockouts]]| mark-coord1 = {{coord|42.083|-71.020}}| label-pos1 = right| label-color1 = black
| mark2 = red pog.svg|shape-color2 = red| label2 = Jackals| mark-title2=[[New Jersey Jackals]]| mark-coord2 = {{coord|40.917|-74.172}}| label-pos2 = right| label-color2 = black
| mark3 = red pog.svg|shape-color3 = red| label3 = Boulders| mark-title3=[[New York Boulders]]| mark-coord3 = {{coord|41.173|-74.058}}| label-pos3 = top| label-color3 = black
| mark4 = red pog.svg|shape-color4 = red| label4 = Titans| mark-title4=[[Ottawa Titans]]| mark-coord4 = {{coord|45.423|-75.697}}| label-pos4 = top| label-color4 = black
| mark5 = red pog.svg|shape-color5 = red| label5 = Capitales| mark-title5=[[Quebec Capitales]]| mark-coord5 = {{coord|46.813|-71.208}}| label-pos5 = right| label-color5 = black
| mark6 = red pog.svg|shape-color6 = red| label6 = Miners| mark-title6=[[Sussex County Miners]]| mark-coord6 = {{coord|41.139|-74.700}}| label-pos6 = left| label-color6 = black
| mark7 = red pog.svg|shape-color7 = red| label7 = ValleyCats| mark-title7=[[Tri City ValleyCats]]| mark-coord7 = {{coord|42.728|-73.691}}| label-pos7 = left| label-color7 = black
| mark8 = red pog.svg|shape-color8 = red| label8 = Aigles| mark-title8=[[Trois-Rivieres Aigles]]| mark-coord8 = {{coord|46.343|-72.544}}| label-pos8 = bottom| label-color8 = black
| mark9 = blue pog.svg|shape-color9 = blue| label9 = Otters| mark-title9=[[Evansville Otters]]| mark-coord9 = {{coord|37.972|-87.571}}| label-pos9 = right| label-color9 = black
| mark10 = blue pog.svg|shape-color10 = blue| label10 = Y'alls| mark-title10=[[Florence Y'alls]]| mark-coord10 = {{coord|38.999|-84.627}}| label-pos10 = bottom| label-color10 = black
| mark11 = blue pog.svg|shape-color11 = blue| label11 = Grizzlies| mark-title11=[[Gateway Grizzlies]]| mark-coord11 = {{coord|38.589|-90.169}}| label-pos11 = bottom| label-color11 = black
| mark12 = blue pog.svg|shape-color12 = blue| label12 = Slammers| mark-title12=[[Joliet Slammers]]| mark-coord12 = {{coord|41.525|-88.082}}| label-pos12 = bottom| label-color12 = black
| mark13 = blue pog.svg|shape-color13 = blue| label13 = Crushers| mark-title13=[[Lake Erie Crushers]]| mark-coord13 = {{coord|41.452|-82.035}}| label-pos13 = bottom| label-color13 = black
| mark14 = blue pog.svg|shape-color14 = blue| label14 = Boomers| mark-title14=[[Schaumburg Boomers]]| mark-coord14 = {{coord|42.033|-88.083}}| label-pos14 = left| label-color14 = black
| mark15 = blue pog.svg|shape-color15 = blue| label15 = Wild Things| mark-title15=[[Washington Wild Things]]| mark-coord15 = {{coord|40.171|-80.245}}| label-pos15 = right| label-color15 = black
| mark16 = blue pog.svg|shape-color16 = blue| label16 = ThunderBolts| mark-title16=[[Windy City ThunderBolts]]| mark-coord16 = {{coord|41.992|-87.863}}| label-pos16 = right| label-color16 = black
| mark17 = blue pog.svg|shape-color17 = blue| label17 = Mississippi| mark-title17=[[Frontier League Mississippi]]| mark-coord17 = {{coord|32.275|-90.132}}| label-pos17 = right| label-color17 = black
| mark18 = red pog.svg|shape-color18 = red| label18 = Bird Dawgs| mark-title18=[[Down East Bird Dawgs]]| mark-coord18 = {{coord|35.262|-77.581}}| label-pos18 = left| label-color18 = black
}}
{{clear}}
===Former teams===
===Former teams===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
Line 253: Line 259:
*[[Southern Illinois Miners]] (2007–2021, folded)
*[[Southern Illinois Miners]] (2007–2021, folded)
*[[Springfield Capitals]] (1996–2001, became the Rockford Riverhawks)
*[[Springfield Capitals]] (1996–2001, became the Rockford Riverhawks)
*[[Springfield-Ozark Ducks]] (2004, became the Ohio Valley Redcoats)
*[[Springfield-Ozark Mountain Ducks | Springfield-Ozark Ducks]] (2004, became the Ohio Valley Redcoats)
*[[Traverse City Beach Bums]] (2006–2018, folded)
*[[Traverse City Beach Bums]] (2006–2018, folded)
*[[Tri-State Tomahawks]] (1993, folded)
*[[Tri-State Tomahawks]] (1993, folded)
Line 323: Line 329:
==Champions==
==Champions==
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
*1993 [[River City Rascals|Zanesville Greys]]
*1993 [[River City Rascals|Zanesville Greys]]
*1994 [[Erie Sailors]]
*1994 [[Erie Sailors]]
*1995 [[Florence Y'alls|Johnstown Steal]]
*1995 [[Florence Y'alls|Johnstown Steal]]
*1996 [[Springfield Capitals]]
*1996 [[Springfield Capitals]]
*1997 [[Washington Wild Things|Canton Crocodiles]]
*1997 [[Washington Wild Things|Canton Crocodiles]]
*1998 [[Springfield Capitals]]
*1998 [[Springfield Capitals]]
*1999 [[London Werewolves]]
*1999 [[London Werewolves]]
*2000 [[Florence Y'alls|Johnstown Johnnies]]
*2000 [[Florence Y'alls|Johnstown Johnnies]]
*2001 [[Traverse City Beach Bums|Richmond Roosters]]
*2001 [[Traverse City Beach Bums|Richmond Roosters]]
*2002 [[Traverse City Beach Bums|Richmond Roosters]]
*2002 [[Traverse City Beach Bums|Richmond Roosters]]
*2003 [[Gateway Grizzlies]]
*2003 [[Gateway Grizzlies]]
*2004 [[Rockford Riverhawks]]
*2004 [[Rockford Riverhawks]]
*2005 [[Kalamazoo Kings]]
*2005 [[Kalamazoo Kings]]
*2006 [[Evansville Otters]]
*2006 [[Evansville Otters]]
*2007 [[Windy City ThunderBolts]]
*2007 [[Windy City ThunderBolts]]
*2008 [[Windy City ThunderBolts]]
*2008 [[Windy City ThunderBolts]]
*2009 [[Lake Erie Crushers]]
*2009 [[Lake Erie Crushers]]
*2010 [[River City Rascals]]
*2010 [[River City Rascals]]
*2011 [[Joliet Slammers]]
*2011 [[Joliet Slammers]]
*2012 [[Southern Illinois Miners]]
*2012 [[Southern Illinois Miners]]
*2013 [[Schaumburg Boomers]]
*2013 [[Schaumburg Boomers]]
*2014 [[Schaumburg Boomers]]
*2014 [[Schaumburg Boomers]]
*2015 [[Traverse City Beach Bums]]
*2015 [[Traverse City Beach Bums]]
*2016 [[Evansville Otters]]
*2016 [[Evansville Otters]]
*2017 [[Schaumburg Boomers]]
*2017 [[Schaumburg Boomers]]
*2018 [[Joliet Slammers]]
*2018 [[Joliet Slammers]]
*2019 [[River City Rascals]]
*2019 [[River City Rascals]]
*2020 Season cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]]<ref>{{Cite news|first=Chris|last=Dugan|title=Frontier League season canceled|language=en|work=Observer-Reporter|url=https://observer-reporter.com/sports/pro_sports/wild_things/frontier-league-season-canceled/article_2359472e-b657-11ea-bb30-075f5e0ead0c.html|access-date=June 25, 2020}}</ref>
*2020 Season cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]]<ref>{{Cite news|first=Chris|last=Dugan|title=Frontier League season canceled|language=en|work=Observer-Reporter|url=https://observer-reporter.com/sports/pro_sports/wild_things/frontier-league-season-canceled/article_2359472e-b657-11ea-bb30-075f5e0ead0c.html|access-date=June 25, 2020}}</ref>
*2021 [[Schaumburg Boomers]]
*2021 [[Schaumburg Boomers]]

Latest revision as of 02:54, 31 December 2024

Frontier League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024 Frontier League season
ClassificationIndependent baseball
SportBaseball
Founded1993
CommissionerSteve Tahsler
No. of teams18
Country
  • United States (15 teams)
  • Canada (3 teams)
Most recent
champion(s)		Québec Capitales (2024)
Most titlesSchaumburg Boomers (4)
Official websitehttps://www.frontierleague.com/

The Frontier League (FL; French: Ligue Frontière, LF) is a professional baseball league in North America consisting of 18 teams – 15 in the United States and 3 in Canada. The FL is one of the four independent baseball leagues that is considered to be an MLB Partner League, and the level of play is comparable to the High-A level. The league is headquartered in Sauget, Illinois.

25 distinct franchises had competed in the league. Its largest period of growth followed in 2020–21, when six teams from the ceased Can-Am and New York–Penn leagues joined alongside an expansion franchise. The Evansville Otters, the only one of the original eight franchises still playing today, is the longest tenured team in the league, while the Schaumburg Boomers have won the most championships.

The FL's regular season is typically held from May to September, with each team playing 96 games. Following the conclusion of the regular season, 8 teams advance to the playoffs, a three tournament that runs approximately two weeks to determine the league champion.

History

[edit]

The Frontier League was founded in 1993. It initially struggled to retain franchises, with four of its eight founding teams folding within three seasons, though steadily grew to twelve teams within a decade. The first league champions were the Zanesville Greys. Eight teams have won more than one championship: Springfield in 1996 and 1998; Johnstown in 1995 (as the Steal) and in 2000 (as the Johnnies), Richmond Roosters in 2001 and 2002, Windy City in 2007 and 2008, the Joliet Slammers in 2011 and 2018, and the Evansville Otters in 2006 and 2016. With four titles, the Schaumburg Boomers have won the most league championships.

On June 20, 2000, Brian Tollberg debuted with the San Diego Padres, becoming the first player from the Frontier League to make it to the Majors. A week later, Morgan Burkhart made his debut with the Boston Red Sox.

Although the league does not have any teams located in the same city as Major League teams, it does nonetheless have teams located within the markets of Major League teams. The Chicago area has three teams (Joliet Slammers, Schaumburg Boomers and Windy City ThunderBolts), as does the New York area (New Jersey Jackals, Sussex County Miners, and New York Boulders), and St. Louis (Gateway Grizzlies), Cleveland (Lake Erie Crushers), Cincinnati (Florence Y'alls) and Pittsburgh (Washington Wild Things) each have one. The Wild Things, in particular, have been able to market themselves as a successful alternative to the Pittsburgh Pirates due to the latter franchise's long stretch of losing seasons, which lasted from the Frontier League's founding in 1993 until 2013 when the Pirates finished with a record of 94–68.[1]

2019–2020: Merger, MLB Partner League

[edit]

On October 16, 2019, it was announced that the Frontier League would be merging with the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, absorbing five of its teams to form the largest independent professional baseball league. This added the New Jersey Jackals, New York Boulders, Quebec Capitales, Sussex County Miners, and Trois-Rivieres Aigles to the league; the Ottawa Champions, the last remaining Can-Am League team, was not invited to participate.[2] The divisions were renamed, with the easternmost teams playing in the Can-Am Division and the westernmost in the Midwestern Division. The league had a partnership agreement with the California Winter League for player development.[3]

On September 24, 2020, Major League Baseball announced that it named the Frontier League an MLB Partner League.[4] This enables collaboration with MLB to jointly discuss marketing and promotional initiatives to grow, expand, and enhance the game of baseball.[5]

2021: New teams, border issues

[edit]

For the 2021 season, the Frontier League announced it would be adding two new teams. The first announcement came around the same time as the announcement of the partnership with Major League Baseball, as Ottawa was granted an expansion franchise in the league. The team, as chosen by fans in a contest, was named the Titans and will play at RCGT Park.[6][7] Then, on January 8, 2021, after the reorganization of Minor League Baseball, the league added the Tri-City ValleyCats, which were one of several teams that were orphaned or disbanded when the New York-Penn League was folded. The Titans and ValleyCats joined the five former Can-Am League teams and Washington in the Can-Am Division; to even the divisions at seven teams, Lake Erie was moved to the Midwestern Division.[citation needed]

In April 2021, the league announced that the Québec Capitales, the Trois-Rivières Aigles, and the Ottawa Titans would not compete in the 2021 season due to the prolonged closure of the Canada–United States border as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Titans, the Aigles and the Capitales later joined forces to form a new team that competed as a member of the Atlantic Division.[8] Known as Équipe Québec, they began the season as a traveling team, and starting on July 30, 2021, started sharing home games between Québec City and Trois-Rivières following a loosening in border restrictions.[9][10] 10 games were played in Québec City and 11 in Trois-Rivières. They did not play in Ottawa due to COVID-19 restrictions in Ontario.

On October 6, 2021, the owners of the Southern Illinois Miners, Jayne and John Simmons, announced they would be retiring from professional baseball to spend more time with family and the Miners would be ceasing operations and dropping out of the Frontier League.[11][12] As a result, the league formed the Empire State Greys, to compete as a traveling team with a roster of players from the Empire Professional Baseball League.[13]

2023: New England expansion

[edit]

In September 2023, the league announced a new team, the New England Knockouts, were to play at Campanelli Stadium in Brockton, Massachusetts, beginning with the 2024 season. This brought the total number of permanent members of the league to sixteen teams.[14]

2024: Mississippi and North Carolina expansion

[edit]

In September 2024, the league announced an expansion to Mississippi and North Carolina.[15][16] An as yet unnamed expansion franchise was awarded to Pearl, Mississippi, following the departure of the Atlanta Braves Double-A affiliate the Mississippi Braves.[15] The Down East Bird Dawgs, a new team in Kinston, North Carolina, will play in Grainger Stadium, which was formerly home of the Texas Rangers affiliated Down East Wood Ducks.[17][16][18]

The two new franchises bring the league to 18 teams, the largest total in its history. The expansion also marks the league's first expansion into the deep south, with the previous southernmost team being the Evansville Otters.[19] Commissioner Steven Tahsler announced a new scheduling format for the 2025 season. Instead of a two division model, the league will revert to the 2021 setup; 2 conferences with 4 divisions.[20] Mississippi will be playing in the West Division of the Midwest Conference while Down East will be in the East Division of the Atlantic Conference.[21]

Organization

[edit]

Teams in the Frontier League must recruit and sign their own players, who usually are undrafted college players or one-time prospects who have been released by their teams.

Frontier League rules limit teams to three "veterans" (Players older than 29 years as of October 1), while a minimum of ten of the 24-man roster are required to be rookies.

Typically, teams play a 96-game regular season from May to September.

The Frontier League uses a salary cap. As of the 2023 season, clubs had a maximum spend of US$365,000 on player compensation, with a minimum salary of $13,800 per player. Veterans could earn up to $22,800, and each team's highest-paid player could make as much as $27,300.[22] For players aged 23 and younger on standard contracts, only 50% of their salary counts towards the cap. There is also a separate salary cap for coaches and technical staff.

Teams

[edit]
Map
About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
200km
125miles
Down East Bird Dawgs
Bird Dawgs
Down East Bird Dawgs
Mississippi Mud Monsters
Mud Monsters
Mississippi Mud Monsters
Windy City ThunderBolts
ThunderBolts
Windy City ThunderBolts
Washington Wild Things
Wild Things
Washington Wild Things
Schaumburg Boomers
Boomers
Schaumburg Boomers
Lake Erie Crushers
Crushers
Lake Erie Crushers
Joliet Slammers
Slammers
Joliet Slammers
Gateway Grizzlies
Grizzlies
Gateway Grizzlies
Florence Y'alls
Y'alls
Florence Y'alls
Evansville Otters
Otters
Evansville Otters
Trois-Rivieres Aigles
Aigles
Trois-Rivieres Aigles
Tri City ValleyCats
ValleyCats
Tri City ValleyCats
Sussex County Miners
Miners
Sussex County Miners
Quebec Capitales
Capitales
Quebec Capitales
Ottawa Titans
Titans
Ottawa Titans
New York Boulders
Boulders
New York Boulders
New Jersey Jackals
Jackals
New Jersey Jackals
New England Knockouts
Knockouts
New England Knockouts
  • East Division
  • North Division
  • Central Division
  • West Division
Frontier League
Conference Division Team Founded Joined City Stadium Capacity
Atlantic East Down East Bird Dawgs 2025 Kinston, North Carolina Grainger Stadium 4,100[23]
New Jersey Jackals 1998 2020 Paterson, New Jersey Hinchliffe Stadium 7,500
New York Boulders 2011 2020 Pomona, New York Clover Stadium 6,362
Sussex County Miners 2015 2020 Augusta, New Jersey Skylands Stadium 4,500
North New England Knockouts 2024 Brockton, Massachusetts Campanelli Stadium 4,750
Ottawa Titans 2020 Ottawa, Ontario Ottawa Stadium 10,332
Québec Capitales 1999 2020 Quebec City, Quebec Stade Canac 4,297[24]
Tri-City ValleyCats 2002 2021 Troy, New York Joseph L. Bruno Stadium 4,500
Trois-Rivières Aigles 2012 2020 Trois-Rivières, Quebec Stade Quillorama 4,000[25]
Midwest Central Evansville Otters 1995 Evansville, Indiana Bosse Field 5,181
Florence Y'alls 2003 Florence, Kentucky Thomas More Stadium 4,500
Lake Erie Crushers 2009 Avon, Ohio Crushers Stadium 5,000
Washington Wild Things 2002 Washington, Pennsylvania Wild Things Park 3,200
West Gateway Grizzlies 2001 Sauget, Illinois Grizzlies Ballpark 6,000
Joliet Slammers 2011 Joliet, Illinois Duly Health and Care Field 6,016
Mississippi Mud Monsters 2025 Pearl, Mississippi Trustmark Park 8,480
Schaumburg Boomers 2012 Schaumburg, Illinois Wintrust Field 7,365
Windy City ThunderBolts 1995 1999 Crestwood, Illinois Ozinga Field 3,200

Former teams

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Franchise timeline

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Frontier League MississippiDown East Bird DawgsNew England KnockoutsTri-City Valley CatsOttawa TitansTrois-Rivières Aigles (Frontier League)Sussex County MinersQuébec CapitalesNew York BouldersNew Jersey JackalsFrontier GreysPennsylvania Road WarriorsSchaumburg BoomersJoliet SlammersNormal CornBeltersLake Erie CrushersSouthern Illinois MinersSlippery Rock SlidersKalamazoo KingsGateway GrizzliesCook County CheetahsCanton CrocodilesRichmond RoostersNewark BuffaloesErie SailorsRiver City RascalsZanesville GreysWest Virginia Coal SoxTri-State TomahawksPortsmouth ExplorersOhio Valley RedcoatsLancaster ScoutsKentucky RiflesChillicothe Paints

Champions

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Records

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Individual career records

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Batting

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Statistic Record Player
Games Played 588 Chris Sidick
At Bats 2,225
Runs 434
Hits 725 Santiago Chirino
Home Runs 127 Charlie Lisk
Runs Batted In 442

Pitching

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Statistic Record Player
Games 255 Nick Kennedy
Games started 98 Aaron Ledbetter
Innings Pitched 671.2
Wins 51
Strikeouts 522
Complete Games 18
Saves 74 Zach Strecker

Broadcasting

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On February 24, 2022, the Frontier League announced that all games for the 2022 season would be available through the streaming platform FloSports.[27]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Team History". Washington Wild Things. Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  2. ^ "Frontier League, Can-Am League to Join Forces". Frontier League. October 16, 2019.
  3. ^ "California Winter League and Frontier League Extend Relationship into 2021" (Press release). California Winter League. August 27, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  4. ^ "PressRelease". MLB. September 24, 2020. Retrieved September 30, 2020.
  5. ^ "American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues". Ballpark Digest. August Publishing. September 24, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  6. ^ Reichard, Kevin (September 25, 2020). "Frontier League returns to Ottawa in 2021". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  7. ^ Baines, Tim (September 23, 2020). "PLAY BALL! Sam Katz confident baseball will be a hit in Ottawa when it returns next year". Ottawa Sun. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  8. ^ "ÉQUIPE QUÉBEC UNVEILS BRANDING". Frontier League (Press release). April 27, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  9. ^ "FRONTIER LEAGUE ADJUSTS 2021 SCHEDULE". Frontier League (Press release). April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  10. ^ "Retour du baseball professionnel au Québec". Québec Capitales (in Canadian French). July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 25, 2021.
  11. ^ "Jayne and John Simmons Announce Retirement from Professional Baseball in Marion, Illinois" (Press release). Southern Illinois Miners. October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  12. ^ Reichard, Kevin (October 7, 2021). "Southern Illinois Miners ceasing operations". Ballpark Digest. August Publishing. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  13. ^ Reichard, Kevin (February 12, 2022). "New for 2022: Empire State Greys". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  14. ^ "Frontier League Awards Membership to New England". Frontier League (Press release). September 21, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  15. ^ a b Simmons, Scott (September 9, 2024). "New baseball team coming to Trustmark Park as M-Braves leave". WAPT. Retrieved September 9, 2024.
  16. ^ a b Sartori, Gabby; Layton, Courtney (September 17, 2024). "Down East Wood Ducks reveal new team name and logo at Grainger Stadium". WNCT-TV. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  17. ^ "Frontier League Adds Down East Bird Dawgs In Latest Expansion". Frontier League (Press release). September 17, 2024.
  18. ^ "Down East Bird Dawgs coming to Kinston's Grainger Stadium". WITN. September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  19. ^ "The Frontier League Announces Newest Expansion Team In Mississippi". Frontier League (Press release). September 9, 2024.
  20. ^ Reily, Ross (September 9, 2024). "What to know about new minor league team at Trustmark Park in Pearl? What is team name?". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
  21. ^ "Frontier League Announces 2025 Season Schedule". Frontier League. October 27, 2024.
  22. ^ Cooper, J. J. (March 29, 2023). "MLB, Minor League Players Reach Deal On First MiLB CBA". College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects - Baseball America. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  23. ^ "Grainger Stadium in Kinston, NC". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2024. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  24. ^ Martin, Jean-Philippe (September 10, 2023). "Les Capitales l'emportent et forcent la tenue d'un match ultime" [The Capitals win and force a final match]. Radio-Canada (in Canadian French). Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  25. ^ "Stade Quillorama". Tourisme Trois-Rivières. Retrieved July 5, 2024.
  26. ^ Dugan, Chris. "Frontier League season canceled". Observer-Reporter. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
  27. ^ "Frontier League and FloSports Announce Landmark Streaming Rights Agreement". OurSports Central (Press release). Frontier League. February 24, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
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