The GABL was formed in 1988 as the Greater Aiken Baseball League. It was a face-to-face league based in Aiken, S.C. The league's first two seasons (1988, 1989) were played using existing teams with some trading. There were nine teams the first year and eight the second year. There was no carry-over from season to season, and the league played a short season of around 48 games. The League founder was Drew Lanzetta, and the other founding managers were Wally Wilkins, Gary Zimmermann, Cliff Binion, Louis Wilson, Mark Askey, Fred Worley, and Ed Cook.

In 1990, the first draft was held to form teams from scratch, with Wally Wilkins (Cobbtown Fatal Errors), Drew Lanzetta (Carolina Barnstormers), Gary Zimmermann (Weehawkin Whatchamacallits), Cliff Binion (Aiken Rusty Mustangs), Mark Askey (Oakland Outlaws), Fred Worley (Worley Birds), Tom Harriman (Detroit Mongrels), John Kern (JoKers), and Ed Cook (Raleigh Sheas). Weehawkin had the best record and won its division with Cobbtown winning the other division. Oakland and Aiken won the Wildcard slots with Oakland defeating Weehawkin and Cobbtown defeating Aiken in the first round. Cobbtown went on to win the series.

In 1991, Keith Herrin took over the Worley Birds and they became the Parrotheads. The Fatal Errors changed names from the Fatal Errors to the Dixie Dynomite, and Gary changed his team's name to the New Ellenton Dragons. Cobbtown won its second consecutive championship.

In 1992, with five of the original managers still in the league, the GABL began a new life as the Great American Baseball League. Mark Askey, Tom Harriman, and Ed Cook dropped out, and Dennis Bronstein, Tom Simko, Mike Doran, Dave Outcalt, Dave Hoock, Jack Howard, Bob Baker, and Roger Clark entered the league. The league became a PBM, using a BBS system for communication and file transfers. Cobbtown beat Champaign in the seventh game of the World Series for its third straight title. Bob Baker didn't make it through the season.

In the 1997, the GABL moved to the Internet.