Northern Independent League

The Northern Independent League was an outlaw league that operated in 1906 with teams in Burlington, VT, Rutland, VT, Montpelier, VT, Plattsburgh, NY, and Ottawa, ON. The league had been known as the Northern New York League between 1900 and 1905. The Northern Independent League is not to be confused with the Northern League that operated from 1902 to 1905.

The Northern Independent League was a professional circuit that operated outside of the purview of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. The caliber of play was comparable to the highest level of the minor leagues. The league set a team salary cap of $400 per week, although the owners largely ignored the rule.

The Plattsburgh team folded on July 19. The Northern Independent League collapsed when the Rutland team ceased operations on August 18 and the Ottawa team followed suit two days later.

Further Reading

• Gary Belleville: "July 12, 1906: Frank Shaughnessy leads Ottawa to victory in outlaw Northern Independent League ," SABR Baseball Games Project.