A fitting rebranding of a growing indy league
The Frontier League, long-standing independent league and one of four MLB Partner Leagues, announced a rebranding for the 2027 season. The league will be renamed to the National Association of Professional Baseball.
The new league name is a nod to the now-defunct National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL), the originating and governing body of affiliated minor leagues that was summarily executed by MLB in 2021.
Read the official press release from the Frontier League here: The Longest Running MLB Partner League in North America Adopts Historic Moniker to Signal a New Era of Community Impact and Growth
Some excerpts:
“The Frontier League … announced today a comprehensive brand transformation. Beginning in the 2027 baseball season, the league will compete as the National Association of Professional Baseball (NAPB).
““With the tremendous growth over the past five years, highlighted by our expansion into Canada along with the Northeast and Southeast in the United States, our Board felt that it was the appropriate time for a detailed study of both our current role and future opportunities,” commented league commissioner Steve Tahsler.
“The transition follows a landmark 2025 season where the league set its fourth consecutive attendance record and led the four Partner Leagues in player contracts transferred to MLB organizations. The league’s 34-year history, statistics, and records, along with those of the individual teams, will still remain.”
Here’s the part followers of this site are interested in:
“The new visual identity bridges the gap between baseball’s rich 1901 heritage and a clean, modern aesthetic. The new “NA” monogram, adorned with a signature pennant flag, will be featured prominently on all team uniforms, digital platforms, and league broadcasts beginning in the 2027 season. The visual identity also includes French versions, driving the inclusion of our teams in Canada.”
“The full set of marks will be unveiled during the 2026 Home Run Derby, being held on Tuesday, July 14 at Florence’s Thomas More Stadium.
“Fans can stay up to date on the 2026 season of the Frontier League and the transition to the National Association of Professional Baseball by visiting https://www.frontierleague.com/.”
So this will mean new regular-season balls for the league! It’s unclear if those will be revealed during the Home Run Derby as well, or if any will be available to the public prior to the 2027 season. It’s been our experience that none of the teams sell official game balls, but we’ll keep checking and let you know if that changes.
Congratulations to the league for its recent expansion and success and here’s to many more seasons!
-Tony Baseballs