Will Birmingham join the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball?

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Will Birmingham join the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball?

February 1, 2012
The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball is looking into the possibility of fielding a team in Hoover's Regions Park.

The stadium is currently home to the Southern League's Birmingham Barons, but the Barons have plans to move into a new $64 million ballpark being built in downtown Birmingham in time for the 2013 season.

The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball is based in Durham, NC and was formed in 2005 and has roots that date back to the original American Association, which was formed in 1902. Currently, the AAIPB is made up of 13 teams in the Midwestern U.S. and Canada and none are affiliated with Major League Baseball.

Miles Wolff, the commissioner of the American Association, said their questioning is extremely preliminary. "Hoover has a great stadium. We would like to explore it."

However, Wolff believes there could be enough interest in the metro area to support two baseball teams. "We think it could work. It would appeal to a different audience." The AAIPB has teams in St. Paul and Kansas City, who have stadiums close to Major League teams. Wolff said the AAIPB's appeal is that the teams are there to play baseball, not to develop players for the Major Leagues.

Officials with the city of Hoover claim the AAIPB is just one of many inquiries they have fielded about the availability of Regions Park. "Hoover is still in the exploratory phase with what's best to do with Regions Park for the city and the citizens. We will continue to explore other requests for the use of the stadium," Hoover's Mayor Gary Ivey said.

Ivey went on to say that Regions Park will remain very active after it loses its main tenant. Recently, the NCAA awarded Hoover another year of its men's soccer championship in December of this year. And just last year the city agreed to a deal to keep the Southeastern Conference baseball tournament at Regions Park through 2016.

If they move in 2013, the Birmingham Barons will have played in three ballparks. Originally, they played in Birmingham at historic Rickwood Field before moving to Hoover in 1988.

May 2013

			2013 American Association of Independent Professional Baseball
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx

	Amarillo Sox		El Paso Diablos		Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks		Gary SouthShore RailCats		Grand Prairie AirHogs


	Kansas City T-Bones		Laredo Lemurs		Lincoln Saltdogs		Sioux City Explorers		Sioux Falls Canaries


	St. Paul Saints		Wichita Wingnuts		Winnipeg Goldeyes

Epilogue
The American Association of Independent Professional Baseball did not expand into the Birmingham market.

However, in 2013 the Birmingham Barons moved into their new downtown ballpark, Regions Field.

In December 2020, the AAIPB rebranded by dropping the word "Independent" and will use new primary and secondary logos.

			Teams of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx

	Amarillo Sox 2011 to 2014		Amarillo Thunderheads 2015		Chicago Dogs 2018 to 2022		Cleburne Railroaders 2017 to 2022		Coastal Bend Aviators 2006 to 2007


	El Paso Diablos 2006 to 2013		Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 2011 to 2022		Fort Worth Cats 2006 to 2011		Gary SouthShore RailCats 2011 to 2022		Grand Prairie AirHogs 2008 to 2015


	Houston Apollos 2021		Joplin Blasters 2015 to 2016		Kane County Cougars 2021 to 2022		Kansas City Monarchs 2021 to 2022		Kansas City T-Bones 2011 to 2019


	Lake Country DockHounds 2022		Laredo Lemurs 2012 to 2016		Lincoln Saltdogs 2006 to 2022		Milwaukee Milkmen 2019 to 2022		Pensacola Pelicans 2006 to 2010


	Salina Stockade 2017		Shreveport Sports 2006 to 2008		Shreveport-Bossier Captains 2009 to 2011		Sioux City Explorers 2006 to 2022		Sioux Falls Canaries 2006 to 2009; 2013 to 2022


	Sioux Falls Pheasants 2010 to 2012		St. Joseph Blacksnakes 2006 to 2007		St. Paul Saints 2006 to 2020		Texas AirHogs 2016 to 2019		Wichita Wingnuts 2008 to 2018


	Winnipeg Goldeyes 2011 to 2022