| If you have heard about the professional | | | | are beginning careers, families, have legal |
| independent minor league baseball teams and | | | | concerns, nagging injuries, or simply didn't have |
| leagues, sometimes called the "indy leagues", then | | | | the funds to travel to several tryouts, they are |
| you may have wondered why you should pay | | | | not in uniform for one reason or another. Many |
| attention to them. Since the leagues are not | | | | times, however, a player will not play because he |
| affiliated with the Minor League Baseball teams, | | | | believes - oftentimes incorrectly - that he is |
| many people dismiss these leagues and teams | | | | "worth more money" than what an independent |
| without much thought. | | | | team is paying. |
| Here are four reasons why you should pay | | | | This means that fans get to see players who |
| attention to independent baseball: | | | | genuinely care about playing baseball regardless of |
| First, independent baseball virtually guarantees that | | | | the financial situation. The other benefit is that |
| fans get something which they claim to want for | | | | many independent leagues, depending on your |
| a long time: seeing professional athletes who | | | | geography, often offer a caliber of play which is |
| make less than the fans do! The players rarely | | | | superior to a lower-level affiliated team. This |
| receive any money during the off-season, and | | | | claim is justified by looking at the rosters of |
| most have to work jobs from September | | | | several independent baseball teams which have |
| through April in order to have the ability to play | | | | lots of former Major Leaguers and Triple-A |
| during the summer. Many people do not know | | | | players. Odds are that they would beat many |
| this, but a Major League superstar making $20 | | | | "rookie" teams and other lower-level teams simply |
| million a year oftentimes makes more per game | | | | due to their physical maturity and level of |
| than the entire season's player payroll of an | | | | professional playing experience. Again, this |
| independent baseball team! | | | | means that fans get terrific baseball at a great |
| Since many players in independent baseball get | | | | price. |
| signed to contracts with affiliated Minor League | | | | Finally, consider following independent baseball |
| teams, the perceived discrepancy in talent is not | | | | because you get to see former Major Leaguers |
| as wide as many may think. This means that | | | | who are managing these teams. During the |
| fans get to see quality professional baseball at a | | | | 2009 season there were at least 20 independent |
| great price and have the opportunity to cheer for | | | | baseball team managers and coaches with Major |
| the underdog player who may have been | | | | League playing experience. Many of these |
| overlooked. Over 30 players who have MLB | | | | managers sign autographs, share stories with fans |
| experience started their pro careers in the | | | | at games, and pass along some tremendous |
| independent leagues, having never been signed to | | | | knowledge to their players. Their experience |
| a Minor League contract before throwing their | | | | lends credibility to the independent baseball |
| first professional pitch or at bat. Kevin Millar and | | | | industry and gives the fans reassurance that they |
| Chris Coste are just two examples of players | | | | are watching quality baseball. |
| whose careers started in the independent leagues. | | | | The next time you read a story about an |
| Second, you may want to consider following | | | | independent baseball team hopefully you will have |
| independent baseball because you get to see | | | | a greater appreciation for the players and |
| players who truly play for the love of the game. | | | | managers. Should you have the opportunity to |
| An "insider's secret" about professional baseball is | | | | attend an independent league game then be sure |
| that there are many guys sitting at home who, | | | | to enjoy your time at the game and remember |
| after a few weeks of getting in shape, could play | | | | that you will be seeing some terrific baseball. |
| in the independent leagues. Whether the guys | | | | |