January 1996

January 5:

• All four teams in the NABL's inaugural season (Nashua Hawks, Newark (NY) Barge Bandits, Niagara Falls Mallards, Welland AquaDucks) will return in 1996. League officials plans to add two or four new teams for 1996, and hope to have an 18-team, three-division league "within the next few years."
• One expansion team, to be located in New England, is looking for a general manager and front office staff as well as a field manager and coaches. Interested experienced people should contact the league office.
• According to the league office, approximately 25 players from the 1995 season have been "looked at" outside the season by major league scouts. A number of invitations to spring training camps have been given to players.
• The NABL plans to announce a new League Commissioner sometime in January. No details on who the commissioner would be were available.
• The league will finalize its 1996 schedule by February 1. Current plans call for an 80-game season.
• The Newark Barge Bandits named Kenneth Gardner as the new manager of the team. The Canandiagua resident took over the reins on January 1. The team is also looking for one or more assistant coaches.
• The Nashua Hawks are looking for a new logo design for either the 1996 or 1997 season. This would include a new team logo, hat logo, color scheme, uniform design, and mascot ideas. Graphic designers interested in working on this project (or logo designs for the expansion teams) are encouraged to contact the NABL office for more information.