Baseball in the 'burbs? Idea tossed around in Va.

DULLES, Va. - Two Hall of Fame baseball players are part of a group trying to bring an independent league baseball team to the Dulles Town Center area.

Brooks Robinson and Harmon Killebrew envision a new 5,500 seat stadium on more than 400 acres of mixed used development, parks and trails -- with no public financing. The site is close to the Dulles Town Center, near the intersection of Route 7 and Route 28.

Bob Farren, one of the principals in the investment group, says they hope to have it up and running by 2011.

"The demographics of Loudoun County are so strong and the facility is the demographic center of Loudoun County."

Farren says there will be some small residential and retail included in the development.

The keystone would be an independent team in the expanding Atlantic League, similar to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs that Robinson helped create in Waldorf.

Teams in the Atlantic League often feature former Major Leaguers trying to make comebacks or players seeking a second chance at the dream. The Loudoun Board of Supervisors has a public hearing on the plans next Monday night.

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