WATERLOO — They've got a name, a ballpark, and a cool logo.

But with no players, schedule, general manager or coaching staff, the Waterloo Whiskey Jacks are still a long way from bringing an upstart professional baseball league to Waterloo Region next spring.

Mississauga's Colin Cummins isn't deterred, however, and hopes his independent East Coast Baseball League can be up and running by May, playing out of Bechtel Park.

If he's successful, the Whiskey Jacks would be the first paid baseball team in the region since the 1950s.

Drawing heavily on former college players and castoffs from other independent leagues south of the border, the league hopes to begin with a four-team circuit that includes clubs in Welland, Ont., Newburgh, N.Y. and Watertown, N.Y. Cummins, who is the league's owner, said players would earn between $500 and $850 per month.

While other independent, professional baseball leagues have tried and failed before in Ontario, Cummins said he can break even in Waterloo if the team can draw at least 300 fans per game. He'd like to add another 500 seats to the Bechtel Park stadium, and charge between $7 and $15 a ticket.

The City of Waterloo is negotiating a one-year rental agreement with the league for the municipally-owned field in 2015, said Megan Harris, director of communications for the city. But it's not an exclusive deal and would have to work with Waterloo Minor Baseball's needs for the field, too.

Cummins hopes to get some key details ironed out in the next few weeks, with league tryouts in Myrtle Beach next month. He'd like to have a general manager and coaches hired for the Whiskey Jacks soon.

As an independent league, the East Coast Baseball League would be unaffiliated with Major League Baseball and its minor league system and would rely on unsigned players.

Cummins is confident he'll have everything in place by May to kick off a 48 to 60 game schedule. Players, who will pay for the chance to audition for the league, will probably be the last piece to be finalized.

"We're tinkering with a draft schedule right now," he said. "Getting a roster isn't one of our biggest worries. There's a ton of players to choose from."

The potential arrival of a pro ball team in Waterloo Region isn't concerning the local semi-pro Intercounty Baseball League club, who've played here since 1919. They said the economics of running a successful, independent professional baseball club are challenging.

"We're not worried," said Bill Pegg, president of the Kitchener Panthers. "I don't know where they're going to find the money. But if they can do it, more power to them."

Players on the Panthers aren't paid, but have their mileage costs covered and a handful are given living accommodations. Cummins, meanwhile, thinks there's enough room in the region for two top-level baseball teams charging admission for games — and says he'll rely on a strong marketing push to draw new fans out to games.

"I know we'll go up against the Panthers, but I think we'll start a new buzz," he said. "We're going to give fans something new to cheer for."

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Scott Ballantyne, the Panthers' general manager, said his only concern is the Whiskey Jacks could lure a few of his players away with paycheques. But he's skeptical the league will be able to get off the ground, or do much damage to the Panthers fan base.

"It's really hard to pull off," he said. "It's been tried and failed a number of times before. Our brand has been around for almost 100 years, and it's pretty strong."