In late 2019 and after coaching the IronPigs Baseball Club since Fall of 2014, IronPigs Manager Aaron Wovkanech decided that a fresh start was needed and decided to start a new franchise. On January 14, 2020, the Grante State Baseball League officially accepted the Merrimack Valley Cardinals into the league and as part of the GSBL 28+ Division. 

With the help of Assistant Coach Chris Lavallee and Captain Erik Rozzi, Aaron began building their roster for 2020 season. Ben Quick and Siul Mejia, a couple players from the former IronPigs franchise, elected to move over to the Cardinals, while most of that team remained with the IronPigs, which has since been renamed the Granite State Grizzlies.  

Lavallee and Rozzi began adding players from the now defunct Derry Blue Jays to the Cardinals. Those players included Kevin Veilleux, Brian MacDonald, Kenny Crowningshield and Addison Hanscom with a few others invited.

A few others players were also invited to play for Cardinals: Craig Popsie and Mike Marsh, among others.