From Bangor to Fargo, N.D., to San Angelo, Texas, players are keeping their dreams alive on the lowest rung of professional baseball’s ladder – the independent league.

For some, it’s another chance to catch a scout’s eye.

For others, it’s a last grasp at keeping a career from fading into the twilight.

You need look no further than Fenway Park to find an independent league success story.

The Red Sox’s Kevin Millar wasn’t drafted out of college and kept his career going by playing for the St. Paul Saints in the Northern League in 1993.

He was signed by the Florida Marlins that September and is now in his fifth big-league season.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Rickey Henderson.

At 44, the future Hall of Famer felt he could still contribute at the major league level, but there were no takers for the aging free agent. So Henderson decided to play for the Newark Bears of the Atlantic League.

After hitting .339 and being named the Atlantic League All-Star game’s Most Valuable Player, Henderson was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers last month.

But for every Millar and Henderson, there are hundreds of players who won’t get their time in the spotlight.

That harsh reality doesn’t serve as a deterrent, however.

Serving a purpose

There are 58 teams competing in seven independent leagues across the United States and in Canada and Mexico.

Last season, just under 6.4 million fans attended independent league games.

“I think it serves a good purpose,” said Red Sox farm director Ben Cherington. “It gives guys a place to play and it’s good entertainment for the fans.”

The Red Sox don’t have scouts assigned to the independent leagues like they do with the rest of the minor leagues. But they do keep a close watch on the statistics and venture to games when a particular player peaks interest.

“It’s on a case-by-case basis, said Cherington. “But invariably most teams, including the Red Sox, will sign three, four, five guys a year and some of them have gone on to the big leagues. It’s another source of talent to draw from.”

Four members of the Portland Sea Dogs, Boston’s Double-A affiliate, have spent time on the independent circuit.

Like Millar, outfielder Justin Headley wasn’t drafted after closing out his career at the University of Kansas and went to the now defunct Western League to keep playing.

Pitchers Scott Aldred, Tim Kester and Jake Chapman all used the Atlantic League to keep their careers going after being released by major league organizations.

Chapman hooked on with the Atlantic City Surf prior to the 2002 season.

“It’s very comparative to the Eastern League,” Chapman said of the Atlantic League. “It made me a better pitcher. There are so many veteran hitters. That’s where you run into trouble.”

With no roster restrictions (most of the leagues require a certain number of first-year players and limit the number of veterans), the Atlantic League has gained a reputation as a haven for former big leaguers.

Jose Canseco, Jose Offerman, Mark Whiten and Jose Lima are part of the long list of veterans to play in the league.

The teams are also coached by a slew of former major leaguers, including former Red Sox third baseman and manager Butch Hobson, Duffy Dyer, Sparky Lyle, Bill Madlock and Mitch Williams, who managed Chapman in Atlantic City.

Trying again

Closer to home are the Bangor Lumberjacks.

The Lumberjacks are the second team in the last eight years to try and make independent league baseball work in Maine.

The Bangor Blue Ox lasted just two seasons (1996-97) before falling by the wayside.

Lumberjacks general manager Curt Jacey says that it will take time, but the franchise will eventually prosper.

“We knew we weren’t going to be an overnight success,” said Jacey. “We have to go out and cultivate fans and sponsors. A lot of people are taking a wait-and-see approach.”

The team currently plays its home games at Mahaney Diamond on the campus of the University of Maine in Orono.

Plans to move to the Winkin Sports Complex at Husson College in Bangor for next season have run into a number of snags, including the recent challenge that the Lumberjacks can’t play in a stadium that is in a government and institutional district, which Husson is.

Jacey said that getting through the red tape is vital to the franchise’s long-term viability.

“Being in Bangor is extremely important,” said Jacey. “I’ve had a number of people tell me they’ll come to games when we’re in Bangor and I’ve had a number of sponsors say to call them when we’re in Bangor.”

Regardless of the turmoil off the field, the Lumberjacks attained a milestone when one of their players, left-handed pitcher Tim Rall, was signed by the Seattle Mariners last month. Rall was the first member of the Bangor franchise to sign with an affiliated team.

“It’s always good to have a player move up,” said Jacey. “Especially a young guy like Tim.”

Bangor plays in the eight-team Northeast League, which has three teams in Massachusetts (Lynn, Brockton and Pittsfield), and one each in New Jersey (Little Falls), New York (Elmira), Pennsylvania (Allentown) and Canada (Quebec City).

While its doesn’t have the star power of some of the other leagues, the brand of baseball has surprised some, including North Shore Spirit pitching coach and former Red Sox closer Dick “The Monster” Radatz.

“I thought it would be guys at the end of their careers or who weren’t good enough,” said Radatz. “But it’s a lot better than people think.”

Gaining credibility

The resurgence of the independent leagues began in the mid-1990s.

In 1996, Darryl Strawberry played for St. Paul after one of his many drug rehab stints and hit 18 home runs in 29 games.

He was re-signed that July by the New York Yankees, who went on to win the World Series.

The exposure was good for the Northern League, which had been labeled a “beer league” by then Minnesota Twins general manager Andy MacPhail.

The leagues received perhaps their biggest boost credibility-wise when three former independent league players, pitchers Chad Zerbe, Brendan Donnelly and Ben Weber, made significant contributions in last year’s World Series.

Zerbe won Game 5 for the San Francisco Giants and Donnelly picked up the victory for eventual World Champion Anaheim in Game 6.

Donnelly was also the winning pitcher in this year’s All-Star game.

Still, there are those who, like MacPhail before them, scoff at the notion of independent ball.

Former Red Sox catcher Rich Gedman, who is the hitting coach for the North Shore team, says players should ignore the skeptics and use those who have made it to the big leagues as examples.

“People can call it what they want,” said Gedman. “But these kids are living a dream. Who knows who the next guy is going to be?”

bfoley@sunjournal.com

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