 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
| Edmonton Joins GBL |
| |
10/24/2007
Golden Baseball League Expands to Edmonton
Former Northern League Club, the Edmonton Cracker Cats, Join Golden Baseball League
(Edmonton, Alberta. October 24, 2007) The Golden Baseball League (GBL) announced today that an agreement has been reached with the Edmonton Cracker Cats to admit that team as an expansion member of the Golden Baseball League effective immediately. Currently the Edmonton club is not affiliated with any professional league after being forced to depart the Northern League earlier this month.
Edmonton's addition to the GBL brings to eight the number of teams currently set to play in the western-based professional independent baseball league for the 2008 season. This is the second western Canada team to join the GBL in the last two days as the Calgary Vipers, approximately 200 miles to the south of Edmonton, were added yesterday.
"Edmonton is a tremendous baseball market with a first class Triple-A ballpark," said David Kaval, CEO of the Golden Baseball League.”With a tradition of championship ballclubs and strong fan and business partner support, Edmonton is a very impressive addition to the GBL."
Playing at 13-year-old Telus Field with a capacity of 10,500, the Cracker Cats are the most recent entry in a string of Edmonton professional baseball clubs that extends back more than 100 years.
The Cracker Cats will be part of an at least 8-team Golden Baseball League 2008 that will include an 88 game schedule running from late May to early September. Edmonton will host 44 home games at Telus Field.
The Edmonton home schedule will include teams from Reno, Nevada; Los Angeles, California; Orange County, California; Chico, California; Yuma, Arizona; St. George, Utah; and Calgary.
The 2008 GBL will be comprised of a North and South Division with four teams qualifying for the playoffs.
GBL rosters have high-caliber players. Many of whom are very recognizable. Over 40 ex-major league players have played in the GBL in the past three seasons (including Rickey Henderson and Jose Canseco).
Edmonton fans will also enjoy the presence of the GBL managers and coaching staffs of which many had impressive major league careers. Los Angeles Armada Manager Darrell Evans is a two-time National League All-Star and 1984 World Series Champion and 1985 American League Home Run Champion, Orange County Flyers Manager Garry Templeton is a three-time National League All-Star and former Edmonton Trappers Triple-A Manager, Yuma Scorpions Manager Mike Marshall is a National League All-Star and 1988 World Series Champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Reno Silver Sox Manager Les Lancaster had a nine-year major league career mostly with the Chicago Cubs and was a 1989 post-season All-Star selection as a relief pitcher, and St. George Roadrunners Manager Cory Snyder was a star of the 1984 U.S. Olympic team and slugging sensation in the American League.
About the Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, presented by Safeway, is the premier professional independent baseball league in western North America. With teams in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and western Canada. The league focuses on bringing high quality professional baseball to communities and opportunities for career development for professional ballplayers.
Over 50 players from the GBL have had their contracts purchased by major league organizations over the last three years. In addition, in 2007 the GBL had three of Baseball America’s Top Ten Indy Prospects (#1, #3, & #6) and two of the nine All-Independent First Team position players.
The GBL plans to expand throughout the western states and provinces over the next few years in addition to increasing partnership developments with Pacific Rim and Latin American leagues.
About Safeway
Safeway Inc. is a Fortune 50 company and one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America based on sales. The company operates more than 1,800 stores in the United States and Canada and had annual sales of $35.6 billion in 2003. The company’s common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SWY.
|
|
 |
 |
| |
|
|