Baseball fans in the Midwest probably think nostalgically when they hear “Northern League” baseball. The modern day NL was an independent league formed in 1993 by six franchises (Duluth-Superior Dukes, Rochester Aces, St. Paul Saints, Sioux City Explorers, Sioux Falls Canaries, Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks) who saw moderate success in cities without MiLB franchises.

In 2005 the Northern League took a hit when four teams, led by the 4-time NL champion Saints, made the move to form the modern day American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. Other teams soon joined the American Association leading to the folding of NL after the 2010 season.

In January of 2013 a “new” Northern League was founded when DC Sports & Entertainment, LLC purchased rights to the name. Former LA Dodgers GM Dan Evans was named league commissioner and the first franchise, Elkhart Miracle, was announced. Originally scheduled to begin in Summer of 2014, nothing was heard from DC Sports until a social media post in May of 2014 said the opening day would be pushed back to 2015.

Working on the final details for a MAJOR announcement regarding the Northern League's latest addition… — Northern League (@gonorthleague) August 2, 2013

Flash forward to today, April 1, 2015. The Northern League website (www.gonorthernleague.com) which stood idle for over two years is dead. DC Sports website (www.dcsportsnent.com) is a blank page and there is no sign of baseball.

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In addition to the Northern League, DC Sports own and operate the United States Lacrosse League. The USLL was launched in July of 2013 with plans to begin play beginning in the Fall of 2014. Since its online inception, USLL has made personnel announcements, sponsorships and one team (Maine Moose Trax). Their last press release was on March 25, 2014.