March 1996

March 27:

March 18:

The Massachusetts Mad Dogs have a new address and fax number.
The Welland AquaDucks have hired Mike Turner as their new Director of Sales and Marketing.
The Nashua Hawks have a new fax number.
The Catskill Cougars have hired Rich Perry as their manager.

March 16:

A full league schedule is now available, as well as individual schedules for each team on their respective pages.

March 8:

League meetings were held in Ronkonkoma, NY on March 2-3.
The league will switch from National League to American League rules (i.e., using a designated hitter) for the 1996 season. League officials hope the change will provide more offense and more exciting games.
League tryout dates have been finalized.
The Altoona franchise has been named the Rail Kings. A "name the team" contest was run by the Altoona Mirror, the local newspaper. The three finalists were then voted upon by townspeople, with the following results:
1. Rail Kings: 346
2. Spikes: 307
3. Curves: 270
The playoff structure for the 1996 season has been selected. The top two teams from the regular season will meet in a best-of-three playoff. Game one will take place August 30 at the ballpark of the second place team. Games two and (if necessary) three will take place at the ballpark of the first place team on August 31 and September 1.
The Altoona Rail Kings named Mike Richmond as their GM. Mike previously played for the University of Miami and the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He previously worked in the Houston Astros organization and was GM of the Spartanburg, SC franchise of the defunct Atlantic Coast League. Mike came to the league meeting as director of player development for the Massachusetts Mad Dogs, but the two teams agreed to let him take the vacant GM position.
The Massachusetts Mad Dogs named former Boston Red Sox star George Scott as manager.