This is a video clip from the open tryout for the San Rafael Pacifics in the North American League (2012). What most of the attending players did not know at the time is that their results also were being saved for the travel team which became the Sonoma County Grapes. While playing for a travel team all season can be grueling as you never really have a “home base”, players have been signed from travel teams to:
- other teams in the same league
- other independent teams
- MiLB “affiliated” teams
You should take some time to study the history of the independent baseball industry and note that travel teams often pop up at the last minute when teams have ownership that fails right before, or early during, an independent baseball season. This is not restricted to just the lower level leagues as the Atlantic League had the Road Warriors in 2011, the Frontier League had the Road Warriors for the second half of 2012 (replacing the London Rippers), the NAL had Sonoma County and the Hawaii/Hilo Stars, the Pecos League had the Roswell Invaders (2nd half of 2012 season) and Carlsbad Bats (2011), and the North American League’s United League division had a “neutral site” team in the McAllen Thunder (2012).
The lesson is to always do well at any open independent baseball tryout and then network while still getting in even better shape. If so, you increase the chances of being signed even to a travel team should you accept the situation.