Indy Baseball Chatter: NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUE CEO SAYS VARIOUS OPTIONS BEING CONSIDERED AFTER EDMONTON PULLOUT

Thursday, February 23, 2012

NORTH AMERICAN LEAGUE CEO SAYS VARIOUS OPTIONS BEING CONSIDERED AFTER EDMONTON PULLOUT

"We are working on a lot of different angles", North American League CEO Kevin Outcalt told us last night of the dilemma the Northern Division of the second-year league faces because of the sudden pullout of Edmonton, which has had Independent teams for several years.

One of those angles, Outcalt explained, is to double back with everyone considering the league for 2013 to see if anyone can step up sooner since only Maui, Yuma and newcomer San Rafael remain. We know this includes Prescott, AZ and Fullerton, CA, with the latter "a real possibility", according to Outcalt.

Longtime Golden League and NAL member Chico, CA is only a "small chance", the CEO admitted, with the sticking point being that the league wants a three-year commitment from Chico State and the university is only offering a one year agreement to use its stadium.

"Everyone is really disappointed in the way they (Edmonton) did it", added Outcalt. He explained that the Capitals had been very involved in developing a schedule, which was finalized last Friday "and we were to announce it on Monday." He went on to say "I do think there is a relief throughout the league that there will be no teams in Canada", which in the past increased issues in scheduling, travel and moving players across the border from the United States.

The NAL's Southern Division has six teams in Texas, and has its own independent schedule.

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Bob Wirz

Former chief spokesman for Major League Baseball Commissioners Bowie Kuhn and Peter Ueberroth. Six years as publicity director for the Kansas City Royals, and a background in newspaper, radio and television. Started Wirz & Associates, a sports PR and consulting firm, in 1985. Has written extensively on Independent Baseball since 2003.

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About 'My Nebraska'

It seems almost universally accepted that Nebraskans are friendly, hard-working people.

A native son, who eventually transitioned to the East Coast because it was the best avenue to follow his passion of continuing to work in major league baseball, has published a book to share a lifetime of memories of growing up in the Cornhusker state.

You may have guessed it when you saw the title: My Nebraska. Yes, Bob Wirz, now a youthful 85, is sharing his "rich memories of growing up in rural Nebraska" in the 1940s and 1950s in a delightful 136 pages in the book produced by Dorrance Publishing in Pittsburgh, PA.

Wirz, who got to live his passion of working at the highest levels of baseball and later developing his own sports public relations and marketing company, lovingly empties out his memories of everything from counting millions of tiny trees to playing grass-roots baseball where the age of teammates might run from the early teens to the 50s.

The colorful cover of My Nebraska, which features two paintings from Dunning, NE rancher/artist Laron McGinn that depict the beautiful landscape of rural Nebraska and the ranching lifestyle, sets the tone for the 5 x 8 book also filled with meaningful pictures.

It is "a wistful and endearing love letter to Nebraska filled with memories shared by generations raised in small towns throughout the Midwest", praises Shari Veil, who heads up the journalism and mass communications department at the University of Nebraska.

My Nebraska, a 5x8 paperback, is priced at $19.95 plus $4.00 for handling and shipping. Autographed copies may be ordered at www.WirzandAssociates.com