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'''United League Baseball''' was an [[Independent league baseball|independent]] baseball league that operated in [[Texas]]. It later merged with the [[Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010)|Northern League]] and the [[Golden Baseball League]] to form the [[North American League]].
'''United League Baseball''' is an [[Independent league baseball|independent]] baseball league that operates in [[Texas]]. It later merged with the [[Northern League (baseball, 1993–2010)|Northern League]] and the [[Golden Baseball League]] to form the [[North American League]].


== History ==

The league began its first season on May 16, 2006 with six teams: the [[Alexandria Aces]], [[Amarillo Dillas]], [[Edinburg Coyotes]], [[Laredo Broncos]], [[Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings]] and [[San Angelo Colts]]. The San Angelo franchise previously played in the now-defunct [[Central Baseball League]], while the Amarillo Dillas previously played in the now-defunct [[Texas-Louisiana League]]. The United League was originally owned by an investor group, United Sports Equities, which listed [[Brad Wendt]] as Managing Director, his brother Gary Wendt as a Principal, John Bryant CEO and Byron Pierce as COO. The ULB filed for Chapter 11 Reorganization in January 2009 amid financial mismanagement and defaults on stadium leases by Brad Wendt and was ultimately forced into Chapter 7 by John Bryant who along with Pierce now control the league. Since the ownership change the league has been evicted from ballparks in three of its six cities: Amarillo, Coastal Bend, and Laredo. Also, there are numerous persistent reports of employees and players throughout the league not being paid at the end of the 2010 season,<ref>[http://amarillo.com/sports/local-pro-sports/2010-12-04/gold-sox-bat-city-again Gold Sox to bat in city again]</ref> while Reunion spent $300,000 buying a horse breeding firm.<ref>[http://www.benzinga.com/news/10/09/477397/millennia-inc-completes-asset-purchase-with-reunion-sports-group Millennia, Inc. Completes Asset Purchase with Reunion Sports Group]</ref> The Amarillo lease was awarded to Southern Independent Baseball in early November, 2010. Most insiders believe that the ULB has little hope to play the 2011 season, since the Amarillo Dillas compromised most of the leagues revenue. Profits from Amarillo were used throughout the ULB's history to prop up financially unsuccessful teams. As it stands in November 2010, the ULB in 2011 will consist of Edinburg, Harlingen, and San Angelo, and has merged with a new league to be called the [[North American League]], composed of the ULB, The Golden League, and the Northern League.

As of December 2010, employees have yet to be paid for the final part of the 2010 season. Half of the 2010 rent owed to Potter County has been paid, and Reunion continues to pursue litigation against Amarillo.<ref>[http://amarillo.com/news/local-news/2010-12-23/judge-mulls-motion-keep-new-ball-team-away Baseball saga continues in court]</ref>


== Franchises ==
== Franchises ==
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==Expansion==
===Dallas===
On April 23, 2009 the league announced plans for an expansion team to begin play in [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]] in 2010. The franchise is proposed to play in a [[Three Forks Country of Texas|new 10,000 seat baseball stadium]] to be built as part of a $500 million, {{convert|60|acre|m2|adj=on}} residential, sports and retail complex along the original Trinity River. The ballpark, expected to be complete in the initial phase of the project, will be developed by a partnership including [[Reunion Sports Group|Reunion Sports Group LLC]] headed by ULB owners Bryant and Pierce. The proposed land to be used in the development was found to be in a flood plain and not suitable for the project.


==Tijuana Potros controversy==
Rumors were circulating that the [[Tijuana Potros]] would join the ULB after postponing their debut in the [[Golden Baseball League]] in 2009 due to the swine flu outbreak and scare in Mexico. On June 18, 2009, those rumors were initially confirmed as the league office formally announced that the Potros would join the league for the 2009 season,<ref>[http://www.tjsports.net/cutenews/show_news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1245537280 Potros de Tijuana en la United League Baseball], Tijuana Potros website (Spanish), June 20, 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.unitedleague.org/news/index.html?article_id=109 United League Baseball welcomes Tijuana Potros], ULB website, July 2, 2009</ref> however it turned out that those rumors were false as the Potros are still a part of the GBL.<ref>[http://www.yumasun.com/sports/league-51371-year-gbl.html United League's loss is GBL's All-Star gain], ''Yuma Sun'' Yuma Scorpions section, July 10, 2009</ref> The team and league has since taken down the story.


==Current Standings==
==Current Standings==

Revision as of 17:21, 8 November 2011

United League Baseball
United League Baseball logo
SportBaseball
Founded2006
No. of teams3
Country United States
Most recent
champion(s)		Amarillo Dillas
Most titlesAmarillo Dillas (3)
Official websitewww.unitedleague.org

United League Baseball is an independent baseball league that operates in Texas. It later merged with the Northern League and the Golden Baseball League to form the North American League.


Franchises

United League Baseball
Team Founded Location Homefield Capacity
Edinburg Roadrunners 2006 Edinburg, Texas Edinburg Stadium 4,000
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings 1994 Harlingen, Texas Harlingen Field 4,500
San Angelo Colts 2000 San Angelo, Texas Foster Field 4,200


Current Standings

Final 2010 Regular Season Standings

Team W L Win % GB
Amarillo Dillas*^ 52 39 .571 ---
Edinburg Roadrunners** 50 39 .561 1
Laredo Broncos*** 47 45 .511 5.5
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings**** 47 45 .511 5.5
San Angelo Colts 46 45 .505 6
Coastal Bend Thunder 31 60 .342 21

* Clinched 1st Playoff Seed
** Clinched 2nd Playoff Seed
*** Clinched 3rd Playoff Seed
**** Clinched 4th Playoff Seed
^ Clinched Regular Season Championship

For the regular season standings throughout United League Baseball history, see United League Baseball Regular Season Standings.

Playoffs

2010 Playoff Results

Format: for the 2010 season the United League playoffs consisted of 4 teams competing in 2 rounds, with the top 4 regular season teams making the playoffs. In the first round the regular season champion faced the 4th seed while seed 2 faced seed 3 in the best of 3 series. The winners then advanced to the championship best-of-five series.

1st Round ULB Championship
      
1 Amarillo Dillas 2
4 Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings 0
1 Amarillo Dillas 3
2 Edinburg Roadrunners 1
2 Edinburg Roadrunners 2
3 Laredo Broncos 1

2009 Playoff Results

Format: for the 2009 season the United League playoffs consisted of 4 teams competing in 2 rounds, with the top 4 regular season teams making the playoffs. In the first round the regular season champion faced the 4th seed while seed 2 faced seed 3 in the best of 3 series. The winners then advanced to the championship best-of-five series.

1st Round ULB Championship
      
1 San Angelo Colts 2
4 Coastal Bend Thunder 0
1 San Angelo Colts 2
3 Amarillo Dillas 3
2 Edinburg Roadrunners 1
3 Amarillo Dillas 2

2008 Playoff Results

Format: for the 2008 season the United League playoffs will consist of 4 teams competing in 2 rounds. In the first round the top two teams at the end of the first half of the season will host the two remaining teams with the best overall winning percentage throughout the season in a best-of-three series. The winners then advance to the championship which will be played at both parks, with the lower seed hosting game one and the higher seed hosting games two and three of the best-of-three series.

1st Round ULB Championship
      
1 Amarillo Dillas 2
4 Edinburg Coyotes 0
1 Amarillo Dillas 2
3 Alexandria Aces 1
2 San Angelo Colts 1
3 Alexandria Aces 2

2007 Playoff Results

Format: for the 2007 season the United League played in a split season format, crowning a first half champion and a second half champion. The champions then played for the ULB Championship. If one team was to win both halves, the team with the second-best overall season record would have qualified for the playoffs as a wild card. The championship series was the best 4 out of 7 games, to be played home and away in a 2-3-2 site format, with home field advantage awarded to the first half champion.

ULB Championship
Alexandria Aces 4
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings 0

2006 Playoff Results

Format: for the 2006 season the top four teams in the regular season standings made the playoffs, including the regular season champion and 3 wild card teams. The playoffs then commenced with two rounds of games to determine the United League champion:

  • 1st Round - Best 2 out of 3 games
  • Championship - Best 3 out of 5 games
1st Round ULB Championship
      
1 Edinburg Coyotes 2
4 Laredo Broncos 1
1 Edinburg Coyotes 1
3 Alexandria Aces 3
2 San Angelo Colts 1
3 Alexandria Aces 2

ULB Champions

Most Valuable Players

All-star game

United League Baseball hosted an annual All-Star Game which rotated host cities throughout the league. Its format in 2008 featured the United League all-stars versus the Golden League all-stars. In 2006 the first All-Star Game pitted the best team against the all-stars from the rest of the United League. In 2007 the second All-Star Game pitted Team North (All-Stars from Alexandria, Amarillo and San Angelo) against Team Rio Grande (All-Stars from Edinburg, Laredo and Rio Grande Valley).

The ULB's all-star festivities are a two-day event, the first day featuring various celebrations and recognitions, followed on the second day by the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game.

Game Results

Most Valuable Players

Home Run Derby Winners

League Awards

Most Valuable Player

Manager of the Year

Pitcher of the Year

Rookie of the Year

Playing Surface of the Year

References

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