Pelicans Join American Association of Professional Baseball

Published on October 24, 2005 under American Association (AA)
Pensacola Pelicans News Release


The Pensacola Pelicans officially announce today their membership in a ten team league, the American Association of Professional Baseball (AAPB).

Pensacola, along with El Paso, Fort Worth, Coastal Bend and Shreveport, has joined the most exciting teams in baseball history in the St. Paul Saints, Sioux Falls Canaries, Sioux City Explorers and Lincoln Salt Dogs to make up the most premier league in minor league baseball. The 10th team will be announced later this month.

The league will be composed of a five-team North and five team-South division and play a 96-game schedule beginning in May 2006.

Miles Wolff will be the Commissioner of the AAPB. Wolff has been credited by many as the "father" of the professional independent baseball industry and was named eighth in the Top 10 Sports Owners by ESPN and selected as the 79th most important person in baseball history in the eighth edition of "Total Baseball: the Ultimate Baseball Encyclopedia."

"These clubs are a great addition to the American Association," said Wolff, speaking in regard to Pensacola, Fort Worth, El Paso, Coastal Bend and Shreveport becoming the latest additions of the AAPB. "It's an exciting day for the league and an exciting day for independent baseball."

"This provides Pensacola with access to the very best minor league franchises in the country," said Pelicans owner and President Quint Studer.

This new league brings together the masterminds of some of the most successful baseball franchises in the country including Wolff, Mike Veeck and Marv Goldklang to name a few.

Mike Veeck is a name synonymous with fun at the ballpark. Veeck's philosophy "Fun is Good" has given him much success both in and out of the sports industry. He is part owner of five baseball teams and consults one other. Included in Veeck's franchises are the famous Saint Paul Saints of the AAPB, which is also owned in part by comedian and actor Bill Murray.

Marv Goldklang serves as the Chairman of the Goldklang Group that owns and consults six professional teams including the Saints, Sioux Falls Canaries, Charleston River Dogs of the single A South Atlantic League and the Brockton Rox of the Can-Am League.

With the new league comes the expectation of a high caliber of baseball on the field, enthusiastic baseball markets and larger facilities. The average seating capacity for the league will be 5,126. Coastal Bend has a seating capacity of 4,000, El Paso 10,000, Fort Worth 5,100, Lincoln 4,500, Pensacola 2,000, Shreveport 6,200, Sioux City 3,800, Sioux Falls 4,462 and St. Paul 6,069.

In 2005, St. Paul averaged 6,171 fans per game and has sold out every game since 1997.

"These franchises play in wonderful cities in great parks and use the facility for multiple purposes," added Studer. "For example last year, the Lincoln Saltdogs' park was used over 250 times for a variety of functions."

The AAPB will be a talent pool from which Major League organizations will scout and sign players. Combining the nine teams history, more than 120 players have moved on to a Major League organization, 70 of which played for the St. Paul Saints. Some of the more notable players are J.D. Drew, Rey Ordonez, Kevin Millar, Darryl Stawberry, Eddie Oropesa and Jason Varitek.

The Pelicans have had six players move on to a Major League organization, the latest being Edwar Ramirez who signed a two year contract to play for the Salt Lake City Stingers, the triple A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

"This move will provide us a great opportunity to sign the very best players available," said Pelicans General Manager George Stavrenos. "Players already enjoy Pensacola and want to play here and now with greater exposure and some of the best facilities in baseball, playing in Pensacola will mean stepping onto an even larger stage."

"Pensacola has the potential to be a world class city, and this is another step in that direction," adds Studer.

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