In the last four months the Classic Baseball Union was not only born, it has taken the world by storm. After the complete fallout of Major League Baseball and its lack of good moral character throughout the game it has found that it is no longer a super power and is very vulnerable to take over. The Classic Baseball Union which was built on integrity, structure, and high expectations has delivered in every way. Spring training was exciting, and after one month of baseball its fair enough to say that the fans love the CBU.

The final tally for April has come in and across the 16 team league almost 7.5 million fans have attended CBU league games. Fans are excited, parents and schools are supporting, and kids are buying shirts, jersey’s, hats and posters of their favorite CBU players. The CBU marketing team has really done its leg work in securing marketing revenue from sponsorships, finding owners who funded teams and stadiums, and has already started programs in some colleges and high schools to help progress learning and baseball across the globe. Fans, players, personnel from everywhere are supporting the Classic Baseball Union.

Commissioner and Sioux Falls owner Jordan ‘JWay’ Gillis had this to say:

“We as a ownership group grew tired of Major League Baseball’s greedy money hoarding environment, our league started small with 16 ownership groups we knew we could trust. While everything hasn’t gone perfect even the popular polls in Middletown show strong support versus the MLB. We as a group are committed to putting in everything we got to create a better league, environment, and world. We are supporting more and more schools, we are using our own money for stadiums and city fees, and instead of burdening the people we are hoping that with our commitment up front that the fans will return the favor in time. So far that is working. The fans are here, the players are here, everyone is really enjoying it. Some major league baseball players have contacted about possibly getting into the league, however they have been told they have to apply and then wait 5 years before free agency will be granted. As for the naysayers who believe the talent level is several notches below the all stars of major league baseball, look at those players out there, you see 16 teams full of hard working, give it their all, talent players. These guys were not associated with the MLB however they all have a place here in our league and are showing that the world has the talent to fill those gaps. Eventually we see more players committing to our league because of the strong benefits and player compensation in the long run, beside the fact that kids that go to our sponsored schools get top notch equipment and coaching.”

And the commissioner is right, the owners who were all overly wealthy have invested into something special here. With little to no guarantee they will ever see a return, hopes have to be high for all 16 of them as the league is busting out of the gates with out looking back. The cities appreciate the teams for coming in and providing a no commitment economic boost, and the fans all have something to watch.

Anyway the first month is done and the standings are all very close. All the teams finished with 9 wins or more, with Whitehorse leading the way with a 15-7 record. In fact both Canadian teams are leading their respective divisions after one month of play as the Oshawa Generals marched their way into a one and a half game lead. Whitehorse is being lead by the hitting of 1st baseman Vince McMahon who has 32 hits in 22 games with 6 home runs. On the mound for the Blue Dogs starting pitcher Gustavo ‘Drummer’ Diaz has 5 starts under his belt with 3 wins, 0 losses, a 1.32 ERA in 34 innings pitched. He also has struck out 36 hitters while only walking 5 guys through April. Oshawa is riding their first round pick Jake Straub who has busted out of the gates hitting 6 home runs in 23 games. On top of that the center fielder has 26 hits, 18 walks, and 10 stolen bases. He really has been the complete player so far for them.

There has also been some great performances so far in the CBU. The aforementioned pitcher Gustavo Diaz (pictured left) pitched the league first complete game shut out by fooling the Akron Dandies on April 17th. Diaz pitched 9 innings allowed only 4 hits and 0 walks, while striking out 9 hitters. In Akron on August 15th Gabriel Garcia set the early record for most strike outs in a game by sitting down the Rapid City Outlaws 11 times over 8.1 innings. John Jowett of Nashville has come the closet to a no hitter and perfect game by going 8.1 innings striking out 8 with no walks before allowing 2 hits.

On the hitting side of the ball Don Barber of Whitehorse turned in the leagues first 5 for 5 day that included a home run, a walk, 2 doubles, 4 runs batted in and 4 runs scored. Emilio Lima in Peoria beat up High Point’s pitching by going 3 for 3 with 3 walks hitting 2 home runs on April 8th. Several guys have had multi home run games thus far, but nobody has hit 3 or 4 in a game yet, George Dumont of the Orlando Orcas was the first to hit 6 runs batted in.

Believe it or not this is real baseball, and for the media, fans, and the cities involved everyone is all smiles. The players are friendly, the teams are open and accessible, and its truly an experience for the whole family to enjoy. In life there are no guarantees, but for this writer writing about this league, I feel like this league has potential to knock on Major League Baseball’s door, and say good bye as they are passing them in success, enjoyment, and even revenue.