 | |
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2016; 9 years ago (2016) |
| First season | 2016; 9 years ago (2016) |
| Owner | Andy Appleby |
| CEO | Andy Appleby |
| President | Dana Schmitt |
| No. of teams | 4 |
| Country | United States |
| Venues | Jimmy John's Field Utica, Michigan |
| Continent | North America |
| Most recent champion | Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers |
| Most titles | Utica Unicorns (5) |
| Official website | USPBL.com |
TheUnited Shore Professional Baseball League (USPBL) is anindependent baseball league in suburbanMetro Detroit, Michigan, United States, started in May 2016.[1] Each team in the USPBL plays a 45-game regular season schedule from May through September, with a mid-season all-star game and a championship game at the conclusion of the regular season.[2] The games are played atJimmy John's Field inUtica, Michigan.[3] Most of the games are broadcast live on the USPBL's YouTube channel, with select games airing onESPN3.
The United Shore Professional Baseball League was founded by Andy Appleby, a former senior vice president of theDetroit Pistons andPalace Sports and Entertainment.Justin Orenduff, a former first round pick of theLos Angeles Dodgers, is the former Director of Baseball Operations.
The league has four teams based inMetro Detroit, with all games being played at Jimmy John's Field inUtica, Michigan.[4] The $12 million ballpark has seating for 2,000 and a total capacity of 4,000. It was built on capped brownfield that previously served as an unlicensed dump for household waste.[5]
The league is aimed at 18- to 25-year-olds who either went undrafted out of college, or who have been released from priorminor league contracts. It is meant to give players recently graduated from college or with limited minor league experience a chance to stay in baseball shape, and give them an opportunity to be signed to contracts withMLB affiliated minor league teams. League revenue comes primarily from sponsorship partners and other advertisements, ticket sales and ballpark concessions. Current managers in the league include formerMajor League Baseball playersJim Essian,Paul Noce, andVon Joshua.
Fifty-two players from the USPBL have signed contracts with Major League Baseball organizations. During the 2019 season, pitcherRandy Dobnak became the first alum to advance all the way to the Major Leagues when he was called up to theMinnesota Twins on August 8, 2019. A second USPBL alum,Logan Gillaspie, was called up to theBaltimore Orioles on May 17, 2022. A third USPBL player,Jared Koenig, made his MLB debut with theOakland Athletics during the 2022 season.
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Utica Unicorns | Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers | 5–0[6] |
| 2017 | Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers | Westside Woolly Mammoths | 5–2 |
| 2018 | Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers | Eastside Diamond Hoppers | 9–3 |
| 2019 | Utica Unicorns | Westside Woolly Mammoths | 6–5 |
| 2020 | Utica Unicorns | Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers | 11–9 |
| 2021 | Utica Unicorns | Eastside Diamond Hoppers | 6–5 |
| 2022 | Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers | Utica Unicorns | 8–6 |
| 2023 | Utica Unicorns | Westside Woolly Mammoths | 3–1 |
| 2024 | Birmingham-Bloomfield Beavers | Utica Unicorns | 3–2[7] |