The Kansas City T-Bones are excited to host the league’s top officials next week at the 2011 American Association League Meetings at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

The league meetings offer an opportunity for team owners, general managers, managers and league officials to meet in one central location and share various ideas and opinions on how to grow and strengthen the American Association and its teams.

Commissioner Miles Wolff will lead the meetings, and brings his 40-plus years in baseball to the discussion. Wolff began his baseball career as general manager of the Atlanta Braves’ Double-A affiliate in 1971 where he was named The Sporting News Class AA Executive of the Year. In 1980, Wolff purchased a Carolina League franchise and restarted the Durham Bulls. He has owned other organizations since, and currently operates the Kansas City Royals’ Appalachian League affiliate in Burlington, NC. For 18 years, Wolff was also the president and publisher of Baseball America. He has written two books and is the co-editor of the Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, and was recently selected as one of the 10 best owners in sports by ESPN 25, a history of the network.

"The American Association is very pleased to be holding its spring meeting in Kansas City,” Wolff said. “The league is excited to be adding the T-Bones to its membership, and league officials and managers are looking forward to being in Kansas City, seeing the great CommunityAmerica Ballpark, and enjoying the hospitality of the area."

The American Association is a 14-team league featuring a number of the premier organizations in minor league baseball. It was first formed in 1902 as an independent minor league for the Midwestern area of the United States, and saw time as an affiliated entity at various points throughout the 20th century. After a hiatus from 1997-2005, it was reformed in its current capacity as a 10-team league for the 2006 season. The league remained as such until the addition of Kansas City, the Winnipeg (MB) Goldeyes, the Fargo-Moorhead (ND) RedHawks and the Gary SouthShore (IN) RailCats this offseason.

Kansas City’s move to the American Association rekindles old rivalries with the St. Paul (MN) Saints and Lincoln (NE) Saltdogs, and forms an exciting new rivalry with the Wichita (KS) Wingnuts. New opponents from Texas such as the Grand Prairie AirHogs, El Paso Diablos, Ft. Worth Cats and expansion Amarillo Sox will spice up the schedule as well.

“We’re thrilled for the opportunity to host our partners around the league,” T-Bones President Adam Ehlert added. “The time spent is valuable for the sake of on-field competition, and equally for the strengths of our individual businesses. On the eve of the T-Bones’ first season in the American Association, we’re looking forward to introducing Kansas City, KS to our new partners.”

The T-Bones begin their 2011 campaign against the Diablos in El Paso, TX on May 12 and will host the Gary SouthShore RailCats in their home opener on May 17. Season ticket packages and mini-plans are available now by calling 913-328-5618. For information on group outings, call 913-328-5623. Single-game tickets for the exhibition and regular season are currently on sale for Wyandotte County residents, and will be available for sale to the general public on March 24. Visit www.tbonesbaseball.com or follow us on Facebook to stay up-to-date throughout the year.