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2009 Letter from the Commissioner
5/1/2009
Dear Fans,
Welcome to the fifth season of the Golden Baseball League! The league continues to grow and evolve as the premier independent minor league in western North America with the most significant changes for this season being an expanded slate of teams with the additions of the Victoria Seals in Canada,, the Tijuana Potros in Mexico, and the Tucson Toros in Arizona bringing us to ten teams..
Other changes include a new ownership group in Edmonton as the National Hockey League Edmonton Oilers have purchased the Cracker-Cats and renamed them the Edmonton Capitals and a discontinuation of the Reno Silver Sox due to a market swap that saw the AAA Pacific Coast League move to the smaller Reno market and opening up Tucson for the GBL. In addition, Major Leauge All-Stars Phil Nevin, Garry Templeton, and Darrell Evans, along with former Major League Manager Tim Johnson and Mexican League Hall of Famer Mario Mendoza join the manager ranks in the GBL this season heading the Orange County Flyers, Long Beach Armada, Victoria Seals, Tucson Toros and Tijuana Potros respectively.
You’ll see great baseball played at all of our stadiums this year as we have an exceptional group of players that come from at least 9 countries and 43 states in the U.S. with more major league and AAA experienced players than ever. Exciting marquee players such as Jose Lima and Japanese superstar Hideki Irabu head our longest list ever of major league players as teams will begin the season with over 30 ex-big leaguers in uniform of the 220 opening day players. Most are hoping to join the parade of GBL players that now total over 90 that have been acquired by major league organizations over the last four years, which trails just the veteran-laden Atlantic League for number of player sales. It addition, the GBL is looking to continue to recruit, develop and market our players that resulted in six of the top Baseball America Indy Prospects last season and four of the players on the 2008 Baseball America All-Independent First Team.
The list of Golden Baseball League alumni playing with major league clubs continues to grow as 24 GBL players opened the season this year with big league organizagtions, including Scott Richmond and Chris Jakubauskas in major league uniforms as members of the pitching staffs in Toronto and Seattle.
But much more than just the game on the field, fans will be treated to superb affordable family entertainment featuring fun and wacky acts, mid-inning promotions, tons of giveaways, fireworks, kids entertainers, and the festival atmosphere that Golden Baseball League fans know so well. Thanks for taking part with us in another season of the greatest game ever invented.
Play Ball!
Kevin Outcalt
Commissioner
Golden Baseball League
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