Major League Baseball announced in November of 2019 a change in the minor league system that eliminated 40 minor league teams. This ended the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes 23 year connection with the San Francisco Giants. This presented a challenge for Volcanoes CEO Jerry Walker, and he went to work creating something better, the Mavericks Independent Baseball League.

The Mavericks League will feature the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, Portland Mavericks, Salem Senators and Campesinos de Salem-Keizer, and all four teams will play under the Volcanoes umbrella. Players will be recruited from top-level undrafted and released players, as well as high-level collegiate players and former Volcanoes players. Each team will play 48 games for a total of 96 games at the Volcanoes Stadium. For us baseball enthusiasts that’s a lot to look forward to this summer.

We’ve all watched national sports deteriorate over a political protest when San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during “The Star-Spangled Banner,” sparking the question of patriotism versus racism. But the baseball diamond has remained largely free of this type of political protest but not immune from the taint on all sports. When Northwest Observer asked Jerry Walker about his vision to help restore the “hero” image to baseball, he responded:

Since 1997, the Volcanoes have spent every season honoring our Veterans, First Responders, Cancer Survivors and the many different cultures that make our country great. We fully believe baseball is the living example of the American Dream. The Maverick League will be a shining example of that commitment.

The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes and the Maverick League are fully invested in baseball bringing the Pacific Northwest together through integrity, tradition, honor and the entrepreneurial spirit.

Walker told the Keizer Times what he is the most excited for the future is the amount of community involvement the league plans to do with their players. With no travel and just three games per week, Walker wants players to take opportunities to visit local schools, hospitals and senior care facilities. “We are going to have our players entrenched in the community in a way we have never been able to do before, and I think it's going to allow for a much more personal connection with the fans. They will be more than just players on a field.”

The Maverick League has opportunities for host homes for players that will give families an opportunity to get involved. The new website is mavericksindependentleague.com where season tickets and ticket packages are currently on sale. You can also email mavericksleague2021@gmail.com or call 503-390-2225 to purchase seats.




--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2021-01-28 15:50:13

Last Update: 2021-01-28 16:04:55