The Joplin Blasters were an American professional
baseball team based in
Joplin, Missouri. The Blasters were members of the South Division of the
American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.[1] The team's home games were played at a reconstructed
Joe Becker Stadium.[2][3][4] The team was managed by former
Chicago Cubs player and minor league managing veteran
Carlos Lezcano.[5] A home game on May 21, 2015, against the
Wichita Wingnuts inaugurated the franchise and its 100-game regular season.[6] The Blasters organization failed to pay the stadium lease during its final season.[7] During the 2016 fall league meetings, it was confirmed by league commissioner Miles Wolff that the Blasters would not be returning for 2017.[8]