The Frontier League is an Independent Baseball League in the West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, and southeast Ohio areas.  When the league was in danger of folding, the visionaries who helped build it brought in Bill Lee to serve as the leagues first-ever commissioner.  That was in 1994, and Lee has been the Commissioner since, helping build the Frontier League to one of the strongest in the nation.

PRE: Bill, tell me how the teams in your league have had a positive impact on their communities.

BL: Well, it’s like any other pro sports team.  There are three key points – three main ways that the league has an impact on their communities.  The first is that it generates economic development, and there’s no question about that, it does.  There is a seven to ten million-dollar economic impact, and I can only speak for the Frontier League, but you get the idea.  The second is that is raises the quality of life.  Teams have become a part of their communities and not just from an economic standpoint, but an entertainment standpoint as well.  And the third goes hand-in-hand with that; it brings the community a sense of pride.  There is a difference between a hometown team that is literally in your hometown versus something bigger.

PRE: So do you think people in this area would take more pride in their local Plymouth River Eels than the Boston Red Sox?

BL: Speaking for the Frontier League, I can tell you that the communities absolutely love their Independent League teams.  The teams in this league draw four, five, six thousand a night to their stadium.  Everyone takes an huge…enormous amount of pride in their local team, so yes, I think there could be a stronger sense of pride in the community for the local club.

PRE: What are the most important factors to building a successful pro baseball team?

BL: The market is most important.  Being in an area that attracts the most marketing and press is very important.  We have a team in Gateway, total population two hundred and forty nine, but it attracts large crowds because it is just three miles from the St. Louis Arch.  The second most important factor is the facility; it’s location, it’s accessibility, it’s promotions, and it’s fan friendliness.  Basically, we are not just in the entertainment industry, more specifically, we are in the dinner theatre industry.  We feed people then entertain them for three hours.  It just so happens the show on the field in a baseball game.  If a team is successful at selling this product, their fans will leave saying, “It’s a shame we lost, but damn we had a good time!”

PRE: Can you give me an example of some promotions or events that your league runs that might be unique from other Independent clubs?

BL: All the teams do the same thing everywhere.  Everyone shares one another’s good ideas – things that make the environment a fun family place.

PRE: Have any of your players gone pro?

BL: An Independent League player would kick your [butt] if he heard you ask that.  This is professional baseball!  These guys can play.  I assume by “pro” you meant to ask if any have they gone on to Major League ball clubs…sure they have.  We’ve sold nearly five hundred players to the MLB in fourteen seasons.  This is serious baseball.

PRE: I better keep my batting helmet on!  So, what is your favorite part about Independent League baseball as opposed to Major League baseball?

BL: Besides the fact that there is generally a stronger sense of community pride around the teams, it would have to be the players.  You can control an entire roster; sign local players, you can bring in some great athletes and marketable guys that can play - we get some talented guys.

PRE: Who is the most marketable player you’ve had?

BL:  Well, we were all over ESPN and different national media outlets when one of our clubs signed Danny Almonte (the Little League World Series hero who turned out to have false birth documents).  He wasn’t really the cheater.  It was an adult who made him play.  The kid barely speaks English; he’s a very very nice kid and he’s got some upside.  This type of signing helps the kid and the community.  It’s a win-win.

PRE: Sounds like you’ve got a good grasp on how it all works.  Thanks for taking the time and showing our fans a different perspective on Independent League baseball.

BL: Thank you.  Good luck and have fun!

By Mike Raciti

For more on the Frontier League or Bill Lee, visit www.frontierleague.com