Editing Frontier League (section)

==History==
The Frontier League was founded in 1993. It initially struggled to retain franchises, with four of its eight founding teams folding within three seasons, though steadily grew to twelve teams within a decade. The first league champions were the [[Zanesville Greys]]. Eight teams have won more than one championship: Springfield in 1996 and 1998; Johnstown in 1995 (as the [[Johnstown Johnnies|Steal]]) and in 2000 (as the [[Johnstown Johnnies|Johnnies]]), [[Richmond Roosters]] in 2001 and 2002, Windy City in 2007 and 2008, the Joliet Slammers in 2011 and 2018, and the [[Evansville Otters]] in 2006 and 2016. With four titles, the [[Schaumburg Boomers]] have won the most league championships.

On June 20, 2000, [[Brian Tollberg]] debuted with the [[San Diego Padres]], becoming the first player from the Frontier League to make it to the Majors. A week later, [[Morgan Burkhart]] made his debut with the [[Boston Red Sox]].

Although the league does not have any teams located in the same city as Major League teams, it does nonetheless have teams located within the markets of Major League teams. The [[Chicago]] area has three teams ([[Joliet Slammers]], [[Schaumburg Boomers]] and [[Windy City ThunderBolts]]), as does the [[New York City|New York]] area ([[New Jersey Jackals]], [[Sussex County Miners]], and [[New York Boulders]]), and [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]] ([[Gateway Grizzlies]]), [[Cleveland]] ([[Lake Erie Crushers]]), [[Cincinnati]] ([[Florence Y'alls]]) and [[Pittsburgh]] ([[Washington Wild Things]]) each have one. The Wild Things, in particular, have been able to market themselves as a successful alternative to the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] due to the latter franchise's long stretch of losing seasons, which lasted from the Frontier League's founding in 1993 until 2013 when the Pirates finished with a record of 94–68.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://flhistory.gofreeserve.com/WashingtonWildThings.htm |title=Team History |website=Washington Wild Things |access-date=January 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711104555/http://flhistory.gofreeserve.com/WashingtonWildThings.htm |archive-date=July 11, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On October 16, 2019, it was announced that the Frontier League would be merging with the [[Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball]], absorbing five of its teams to form the largest independent professional baseball league. This added the [[New Jersey Jackals]], [[New York Boulders]], [[Québec Capitales]], [[Sussex County Miners]], and [[Trois-Rivières_Aigles_(2013–)|Trois-Rivieres Aigles]] to the league; the [[Ottawa Champions]], the last remaining Can-Am League team, was not invited to participate.<ref name="frontiercanam">{{Cite web |url=http://frontierleague.com/2019/10/16/frontier-league-can-am-league-to-join-forces/ |title=Frontier League, Can-Am League to Join Forces |date=October 16, 2019 |website=Frontier League}}</ref> The divisions were renamed, with the easternmost teams playing in the Can-Am Division and the westernmost in the Midwestern Division. The league had a partnership agreement with the [[California Winter League (2010)|California Winter League]] for player development.<ref>{{Cite press release |url=https://californiawinterleague.com/2020/08/27/california-winter-league-and-frontier-league-extend-relationship/ |title=California Winter League and Frontier League Extend Relationship into 2021 |publisher=California Winter League |date=August 27, 2020 |access-date=January 25, 2021}}</ref>

On September 24, 2020, [[Major League Baseball]] announced that it named the Frontier League an [[MLB Partner League]].<ref name="MLB9-24-20">{{cite web|title=PressRelease|url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/american-association-frontier-league-partner-leagues-of-mlb|website=MLB|date=September 24, 2020|access-date=September 30, 2020}}</ref> This enables collaboration with MLB to jointly discuss marketing and promotional initiatives to grow, expand, and enhance the game of baseball.<ref>{{cite news |title=American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/09/24/american-association-frontier-league-now-mlb-partner-leagues/ |access-date=October 2, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publishing |date=September 24, 2020}}</ref>

For the 2021 season, the Frontier League announced it would be adding two new teams. The first announcement came around the same time as the announcement of the partnership with Major League Baseball, as [[Ottawa]] was granted an expansion franchise in the league. The team, as chosen by fans in a contest, was named the [[Ottawa Titans (baseball)|Titans]] and started playing at [[Ottawa Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reichard |first1=Kevin |title=Frontier League returns to Ottawa in 2021 |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2020/09/25/frontier-league-returns-to-ottawa-in-2021/ |access-date=September 26, 2020 |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publications |date=September 25, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Baines |first1=Tim |title=PLAY BALL! Sam Katz confident baseball will be a hit in Ottawa when it returns next year |url=https://ottawasun.com/sports/baseball/play-ball-sam-katz-confident-baseball-will-be-a-hit-in-ottawa-when-it-returns-next-year |access-date=September 26, 2020 |work=[[Ottawa Sun]] |date=September 23, 2020 |language=en-CA}}</ref> Then, on January 8, 2021, after the reorganization of Minor League Baseball, the league added the [[Tri-City ValleyCats]], which were one of several teams that were orphaned or disbanded when the [[New York-Penn League]] was folded. The Titans and ValleyCats joined the five former Can-Am League teams and Washington in the Can-Am Conference; to even the divisions at three to four teams, Lake Erie was moved to the Midwest Conference.

In April 2021, the league announced that the [[Québec Capitales]], the [[Trois-Rivières Aigles (Frontier League)|Trois-Rivières Aigles]], and the [[Ottawa Titans]] would not compete in the 2021 season due to the [[Canada–United States border#21st century|prolonged closure of the Canada–United States border]] as a result of the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The Titans, Aigles and Capitales later joined forces to form a new team that competed as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Can-Am Conference.<ref name="FL_4-27-21">{{cite press release |url=https://frontierleague.com/2021/04/27/equipe-quebec-unveils-branding/ |title=ÉQUIPE QUÉBEC UNVEILS BRANDING |website=Frontier League |date=April 27, 2021 |access-date=April 27, 2021}}</ref> Known as ''Équipe Québec'', they began the season as a [[traveling team]], and starting on July 30, 2021, started sharing home games between [[Québec City]] and [[Trois-Rivières]] following a loosening in border restrictions.<ref name="FL_4-17-21">{{cite press release |url=https://frontierleague.com/2021/04/17/frontier-league-adjusts-2021-schedule/ |title=FRONTIER LEAGUE ADJUSTS 2021 SCHEDULE |website=Frontier League |date=April 17, 2021 |access-date=April 18, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Retour du baseball professionnel au Québec |url=https://capitalesdequebec.com/fr/nouvelles-et-medias/nouvelles/retour-du-baseball-professionnel-au-quebec |access-date=July 25, 2021 |work=Québec Capitales |date=July 21, 2021 |language=fr-CA}}</ref> 10 games were played in Québec City and 11 in Trois-Rivières. They did not play in Ottawa due to COVID-19 restrictions in [[Ontario]].

On October 6, 2021, the owners of the [[Southern Illinois Miners]], Jayne and John Simmons, announced they would be retiring from professional baseball to spend more time with family and the Miners would be ceasing operations and dropping out of the Frontier League.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Jayne and John Simmons Announce Retirement from Professional Baseball in Marion, Illinois |url=https://southernillinoisminers.prestosports.com/sports/bsb/2020-21/releases/20211006leprkm |publisher=Southern Illinois Miners |access-date=October 8, 2021 |language=en |date=October 6, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Reichard |first1=Kevin |title=Southern Illinois Miners ceasing operations |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2021/10/07/southern-illinois-miners-ceasing-operations/ |work=Ballpark Digest |publisher=August Publishing |access-date=October 8, 2021 |date=October 7, 2021}}</ref> As a result, the league formed the [[Empire State Greys]], to compete as a [[traveling team]] with a roster of players from the [[Empire Professional Baseball League]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2022/02/12/new-for-2022-empire-state-greys/ |title=New for 2022: Empire State Greys |website=Ballpark Digest |first=Kevin |last=Reichard |date=February 12, 2022 |accessdate=March 3, 2022}}</ref>

In September 2023, the league announced a new team, the [[New England Knockouts]], who were planned to play at Campanelli Stadium in [[Brockton, Massachusetts]], beginning with the 2024 season. This brought the total number of permanent members of the league to sixteen teams.<ref name="New England">{{cite press release |title=Frontier League Awards Membership to New England |url=https://www.frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2022-23/releases/20230921gltdyb |website=Frontier League |access-date=October 11, 2023 |language=en |date=September 21, 2023}}</ref> After playing one season as the Knockouts, the team was renamed as the [[Brockton Rox (Frontier League)|Brockton Rox]] in January 2025.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/01/29/sports/brockton-rox-2025/ |title=Brockton Rox returning to professional baseball with Red Sox Hall of Famer Jim Rice as co-owner |first=Amin |last=Touri |website=[[The Boston Globe]] |url-access=limited |date=January 29, 2025 |accessdate=January 30, 2025}}</ref>

In September 2024, the league announced an expansion to Mississippi and North Carolina.<ref name="wapt" /><ref name="wnct" /> A franchise was awarded to [[Pearl, Mississippi]], called the Mississippi Mud Monsters,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2024/09/28/mississippi-mud-monsters-the-new-name-for-frontier-league-team/75427078007/ | title=New name for a new baseball team in Pearl, Mississippi | date=September 28, 2024 | access-date=January 14, 2025 | last=Reily | first=Ross|work=Clarion Ledger}}</ref> following the departure of the Atlanta Braves Double-A affiliate the [[Mississippi Braves]].<ref name="wapt">{{Cite news |url=https://www.wapt.com/article/mississippi-braves-play-final-game-at-trustmark/62106153 |title=New baseball team coming to Trustmark Park as M-Braves leave |date=September 9, 2024 |last=Simmons |first=Scott |language=en |access-date=September 9, 2024 |work=[[WAPT]]}}</ref> The Down East Bird Dawgs, a new team in [[Kinston, North Carolina]], will play in [[Grainger Stadium]], which was formerly home of the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]-affiliated [[Down East Wood Ducks]].<ref>{{Cite press release |date=September 17, 2024 |title=Frontier League Adds Down East Bird Dawgs In Latest Expansion |url=https://www.frontierleague.com/sports/bsb/2023-24/releases/20240917gjimcy |website=Frontier League |language=en}}</ref><ref name="wnct">{{cite news |last1=Sartori |first1=Gabby |last2=Layton |first2=Courtney |title=Down East Wood Ducks reveal new team name and logo at Grainger Stadium |url=https://www.wnct.com/down-east-wood-ducks/down-east-wood-ducks-reveal-new-team-name-and-logo-at-grainger-stadium/ |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=[[WNCT-TV]] |date=September 17, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Down East Bird Dawgs coming to Kinston's Grainger Stadium |url=https://www.witn.com/2024/09/17/down-east-bird-dawgs-coming-kinstons-grainger-stadium/ |access-date=September 17, 2024 |work=WITN |date=September 17, 2024 |language=en}}</ref>