The Atlantic League is the premiere independent league in the U.S. Founded in 1998, the level of play is judged to be at least Triple-A quality. Many former Major League players can be found on team rosters.
The ball is also unique. It didn’t start that way; between 1998 and 2006 it looked much the same as any other minor league ball. But in 2007, coinciding with the league’s 10th anniversary, official league balls had two signatures on them: CEO and Founder Frank Boulton, and Executive Director Joe Klein.
But they weren’t done! Red and blue stitching was first used for the Memorial Day 2015 game. For that year’s All-Star Game on July 8th, the ball again featured red and blue stitching, and the league logo was added to the south panel. For the rest of the 2015 season the league’s baseballs became truly unique: not only were the regular season laces now red and blue, but each team used its own balls, stamped with President Rick White’s named and the name of each team’s Executive Director.
| Bill Shipley, Director (York) | Rick White, Pres. |
| Bob Zlotnik, Director (Sugar Land) | Rick White, Pres. |
| Rob Liss, Director (Lancaster) | Rick White, Pres. |
| Joe Klein, President (Bridgeport, Long Island) | Rick White, Pres. |
| Charles County Commisioners (Southern Maryland) | Rick White, Pres. |
| Steven Kalafer, Director (Somerset) | Rick White, Pres. |
For the 2016 season the league logo was added to the south panel.
No rest for we collectors in 2017 either. Not only was the league’s 20th Anniversary logo added but the front stamp was changed yet again for four teams. Here’s the breakdown:
| Bill Shipley, Director (York) | Rick White, Pres. |
| Bob Zlotnik, Director (Sugar Land) | Rick White, Pres. |
| Rob Liss, Director (Lancaster) | Rick White, Pres. |
| Frank Boulton, Founder (Bridgeport, Long Island, New Britain, Southern Maryland) | Rick White, Pres. |
| Steven Kalafer, Director (Somerset) | Rick White, Pres. |
2018 saw new ownership for the New Britain Bees. Anthony Iacovone replaced Frank Boulton on that team’s ball.
For the 2019 season, all teams again used one baseball, adorned with League President Rick White’s signature on the front panel.
For the 2021 season, the league was named an MLB Partner League, which modified its “independent” status. The league is not directly affiliated with MLB but has agreed to act as a testing ground for rules changes under consideration by the Major Leagues.
In 2022 the Atlantic League began producing its own baseball, called “The Drake”.
In 2025 unique teams balls were back, along with another unique innovation: the addition of QR codes to the front panel.
A huge tip of the cap to atlanticleagueautographs for most of this information!
Bud Harrelson, 1998-1999
Joe Klein, 2000-2006
10th Anniversary 2007
Frank Boulton/Joe Klein, 2008-2011, 2013-first half of 2015
15th Anniversary 2012
Memorial Day 2015
The debut of red-and-blue laces.
All-Star Game 2015
Rick White, Executive Directors, 2nd half of 2015 season
Each team began using a ball individualized with its team Director’s stamp alongside the President’s stamp.
Rick White, Executive Directors, 2016
The league logo was added to the South panel.
20th Anniversary 2017
2018
The New Britain Bees hired a new Executive Director, Anthony Iacovone.
2019
Each team was back to using the same ball, now with only league President Rick White’s stamp.
2020
With the Atlantic League season cancelled, the Somerset Patriots hosted a brief 12-game schedule versus the New Jersey Blasters called the Somerset Professional Baseball Series.
2022 “The Drake”
To reduce costs the league decided to break away from Rawlings and manufacture its own baseball.
2025 – CEO/General Partner/Owner, President Rick White
Unique balls for each team returned in 2025, with a new twist: a QR code added to the front panel. Initially the code linked to the team’s website but it could also link to game-day promotions or team sponsors.
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