The Appalachian League of Professional Baseball is a Rookie-class minor league baseball league that began play in 1911. It operated as a Class D league (1911-1914), (1921-1925), (1937-1955) and (1957-1962) before becoming a Rookie league in 1963. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee. The league's season starts in June, after major league teams have signed players that they selected in the annual amateur draft, and ends in September.