American Baseball Association

What American Baseball Association does

The American Baseball Association (operating as the American Association of Professional Baseball, or AAPB) is an independent professional baseball league founded in 2006 and designated as an MLB Partner League. It operates twelve member clubs across nine U.S. states and one Canadian province, with a central office based in Moorhead, Minnesota under Commissioner Joshua Schaub. The league's primary product is the regular-season professional baseball competition, complemented by marquee events such as the All-Star Game, Home Run Derby, and the 2026 Baseball Champions League (won by the Kane County Cougars). Through 2025, the league has transferred 483 player contracts to MLB organizations and counts 60-62 alumni who have reached the Majors, establishing it as a credible player-development pathway.

The league's technology footprint centers on the AABaseball.tv direct-to-consumer streaming platform, available free via web and native iOS/Android apps, with statistics and scoreboards delivered through iScoreCentral. In December 2025, AAPB added AI-augmented broadcast production via Home Team Network in select ballparks. Distribution has scaled materially, with the 2026 slate adding MLB Network, NBC Regional Sports Networks, Marquee, NESN, Sportsnet Pittsburgh, Silver State Sports Network, RYZ, Bally's, Gray Media, and others — described by the league as the largest distribution footprint in its history.

AAPB's revenue model combines advertising/sponsorship (Carbliss as title sponsor plus ~12 brand partners across equipment, concessions, turf, POS, apparel, and travel; 213% YoY sponsorship growth reported for 2025), broadcast and streaming rights with regional and national networks, one-time ticket sales across twelve member stadiums, and merchandise/concessions. The consumer-facing pricing model is freemium for live streaming. Customer segments are primarily Midwest and Canadian baseball fans seeking affordable live entertainment, professional baseball players using the league as an MLB pathway, and a diversified brand partner portfolio anchored by Carbliss, Rawlings, and Champro.

Name

American Baseball Association

Legal name

American Baseball Association

Website

https://aabaseball.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Baseball Association is an MLB Partner League operating twelve professional baseball clubs across nine U.S. states and Manitoba, Canada, offering free live streaming via AABaseball.tv, broadcast distribution, and a documented player-development pipeline to Major League Baseball.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Sports League

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Sporting and Recreational Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (42391), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (71132)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Professional Live Sports Leagues & Tours (MPAGAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Programming Syndication & Highlights Distribution (MPABAMAG), Sport-Specific Amateur Leagues & Circuits (Non-Professional) (MPAKACAJ)

Keywords

• Professional baseball league
• Live sports streaming
• Minor league baseball
• Sports broadcasting
• Baseball player development

Headquarters

HQ city

Moorhead

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Broadcasting and Streaming: Revenue from streaming subscriptions on AABaseball.tv and broadcast deals with networks including MLB Network, NBC Regional Sports Networks, Marquee Sports Network, NESN, Sportsnet Pittsburgh, Silver State Sports Network, Gray Media, and others
2. Sponsorships: Significant sponsorship revenue growth (213% YOY increase reported). Title sponsorship by Carbliss, official partner categories including Rawlings equipment, and numerous brand partnerships across league
3. Ticket Sales: Direct ticket sales to fans attending games at twelve member club stadiums across the Midwest and Canada
4. Team Merchandise and Concessions: Revenue from team merchandise, stadium concessions, and unique promotions at each ballpark

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The American Baseball Association operates a twelve-team professional baseball league that delivers live baseball competition across nine U.S. states and one Canadian province. It distributes games free to fans via the AABaseball.tv streaming platform and mobile applications, monetizes through broadcast partnerships and sponsorships, and operates a documented player development pathway that has transferred 483 player contracts to MLB organizations through the 2025 season.

Product overview

The American Association of Professional Baseball operates as a 12-team MLB Partner League offering professional baseball across the Midwest and Canada. The league's primary product is the professional baseball competition itself, supplemented by the AABaseball.tv streaming platform for live game coverage and a mobile application for iOS and Android. The league utilizes third-party platforms including iScoreCentral for statistics and scoreboard services, and has partnered with various broadcast networks for expanded distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• American Association of Professional Baseball League A twelve-team MLB Partner League delivering professional baseball competition across nine U.S. states and one Canadian province, providing a player development pathway to MLB organizations.
• AABaseball.tv Streaming Platform The official streaming platform offering free live viewing of all American Association professional baseball games via web and mobile applications.
• American Association TV Mobile App Native iOS and Android mobile application enabling fans to stream all American Association professional baseball games live.

Quantifiable outcome

• 41% year-over-year increase in viewership to 10.23 million viewers in 2025 broadcast season
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• MLB NetworkflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026MLB Network will broadcast the AAPB 2026 All-Star Game live on July 15 from Haymarket Park in Lincoln, Nebraska. This marks the first time MLB Network has aired an MLB Partner League's midseason classic. The broadcast follows the MLB Midsummer Classic.
• NBC Regional Sports Networks, Marquee Sports Network, NESN, Sportsnet Pittsburgh, Silver State Sports NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 May 2026Syndication partnership bringing weekly Game of the Week broadcasts to these regional sports networks, expanding national distribution footprint.
• Rhodes Bake-N-ServminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 April 2026Official Rolls and Bread Partner. Receives prominent brand integration across regular season television broadcasts including marquee events such as the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby.
• ForeverLawnminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 April 2026Official Artificial Turf Partner. ForeverLawn becomes preferred supplier in product categories including SportsGrass, K9Grass, LandScapes, Playground Grass, and GolfGreens.
• RYZ, Bally's Corporation, NLSE, FTF Sports, SLVR Sports and EntertainmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 March 2026Broadcast and digital distribution partnerships expanding league's national and international media footprint across digital and linear platforms for 2026 season.
• EngineminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 January 2026Modern business and group travel platform named League's Preferred Travel Booking Partner and Preferred Supplier for 2026 season.
• Gray MediacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 23 December 2025Extended broadcast television agreement includes airing the AAPB All-Star Game and additional Game of the Week broadcasts in major markets reaching more than 8 million television households.
• ChamprocoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 December 2025Expanded partnership makes Champro Official On-field/Athleisure Partner of All-Star Weekend, Official uniform supplier of the All-Star Game, and Official umpire uniform partner.
• Home Team NetworkcoreTechnology or Integration · 4 December 2025HTN provides advanced AI tools combined with traditional production practices for enhanced live sports coverage. Introduces blend of advanced artificial intelligence tools and traditional production practices in select league ballparks.
• Empire Netting & FenceminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 November 2025Preferred Supplier for Sports Fencing, Netting and Padding under multi-year agreement. Provides expert guidance and competitive pricing to member clubs.
• CarblissflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerFounding Partner and title sponsor of Carbliss Batter and Pitcher of the Week awards. Prominent brand integration across league broadcasts and official partner logo displayed on league website.
• RawlingscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the league. Rawlings Batter and Pitcher of the Month awards presented monthly to top performing players.
• MLBflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMLB Partner League status. Formed in 2006, the league operates as part of MLB's Partner League system with 483 player contracts transferred to MLB organizations through 2025.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Appalachian League: Former Rookie-level MiLB league that was restructured in 2021 into a MLB-sanctioned prospect development league using wooden bats. Comparable to AAPB as another MLB-aligned prospect-development circuit targeting a similar audience for player-development storytelling.
• Northwoods League: Premier summer collegiate baseball league with strong Midwest geographic overlap and a similar community-and-fan-engagement model. Comparable as a regional baseball property competing for summer fan attention and family entertainment dollars, though operating with amateur rather than professional players.

Direct peers

• Frontier League: Independent professional baseball league with strong Midwest geographic overlap to AAPB. Directly competes for players, fans, and regional sponsorships across several of AAPB's markets, and serves a similar small-market entertainment proposition.
• United Shore Professional Baseball League: Michigan-based independent professional baseball league operating a small number of clubs in the Detroit metro area. Comparable as another independent baseball circuit pursuing similar fan and sponsor pools in the U.S. Midwest.
• Pioneer League: Mountain West-based MLB Partner League that converted to an independent prospect-development format in 2021. Closely comparable to AAPB as a fellow MLB Partner League targeting the same player demographic with overlapping broadcast and sponsorship economics.
• Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs: The longest-running independent professional baseball league in the U.S., operating teams in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Directly comparable to AAPB as an MLB Partner League competing for players, fans, sponsorships, and broadcast inventory in the independent/partner baseball category.

Broad incumbents

• Minor League Baseball (MiLB): The umbrella for MLB's affiliated minor leagues, restructured in 2021. Comparable as the alternative development pathway AAPB competes with for fan attention, local sponsorship, and player talent at the lower professional tiers.
• Major League Baseball: The premier professional baseball organization and AAPB's partner and feeder league. Comparable as the industry incumbent whose affiliate framework, broadcast partners (MLB Network), and player-development pipeline shape AAPB's operating context.

Regional players

• St. Paul Saints: Triple-A affiliate playing in the Minneapolis–St. Paul market, geographically adjacent to AAPB's Moorhead headquarters and Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. Comparable as a professional baseball team competing for entertainment dollars and broadcast viewership in the Upper Midwest.
• Liga Mexicana de Béisbol (Mexican Baseball League): The longest-established professional baseball league outside the U.S., with whom AAPB interacts through the Baseball Champions League. Comparable as a professional baseball league with similar player-development ambitions, but operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AA_Baseball
• Facebookfacebook.com/American-Association-of-Professional-Baseball
• Instagraminstagram.com/aa_baseball

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Baseball Association