Pittsburgh Pirates

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