The Rangers Revisionist League (Solo play, semi-historical)
The Rangers Revisionist League:
It's April 1972. Yours truly is about to be born in Houston, TX and the Texas Rangers (formerly the Washington Senators) are starting their inaugural season in Arlington, TX.
Backtrack to late 1971. Bob Short, the same man who had moved the Lakers from Minneapolis to Los Angeles with great success, was moving a baseball team from Washington to Texas amid much turmoil this time. Rumor has it that was Short was also involved in some shady business deals during the time of the move also involving some U.S. congressmen. According to unnamed sources, Senators scouting assistant and Texas native Riley Payton happened upon compelling evidence of these activities.
As the story goes, Payton talked to Short about his knowledge of the owner's illegal dealings and the stress he was dealing with. Payton offered to resign from the team, not wanting to work for the organization knowing the secrets that he possessed. But Short, very fearful of serious punishment and losing his fortune, wanted to assure that his secrets never got out.
At this same time, Short had also grown tired of current manager Ted Williams, who was a vocal critic of the owner's forthcoming move to Texas. Short thus opted to fire Williams and promoted Payton to manager and general manager, with full control over the Rangers ballclub. In a press conference a few days after Williams had been dismissed, Short shared with the media his excitement in making Riley Payton an executive manager of the newly minted Rangers, with full control over the baseball operations, expenditures and decision making. He cited Payton's Texas roots and his eye for talent. Payton was quite unqualified as a manager, but popular within the organization, and had strong business skills as well, so the move went over okay with the players and the other members of the organization that wished to remain for the move to Texas.
Thus, Payton moved back home to Texas and took control of the Rangers organization. He was able to find qualified replacements for the remaining members of the staff in the offseason of 1972. He also executed a few trades and signings to try to shore up the questionable defense, pitching and overall roster depth for the new Rangers.
He also negotiated extensions with several key players, hoping to build around a core of promising youngsters.
Thus, in April 1972, the Rangers came into existence. It could've happenned. :-)
It's April 1972. Yours truly is about to be born in Houston, TX and the Texas Rangers (formerly the Washington Senators) are starting their inaugural season in Arlington, TX.
Backtrack to late 1971. Bob Short, the same man who had moved the Lakers from Minneapolis to Los Angeles with great success, was moving a baseball team from Washington to Texas amid much turmoil this time. Rumor has it that was Short was also involved in some shady business deals during the time of the move also involving some U.S. congressmen. According to unnamed sources, Senators scouting assistant and Texas native Riley Payton happened upon compelling evidence of these activities.
As the story goes, Payton talked to Short about his knowledge of the owner's illegal dealings and the stress he was dealing with. Payton offered to resign from the team, not wanting to work for the organization knowing the secrets that he possessed. But Short, very fearful of serious punishment and losing his fortune, wanted to assure that his secrets never got out.
At this same time, Short had also grown tired of current manager Ted Williams, who was a vocal critic of the owner's forthcoming move to Texas. Short thus opted to fire Williams and promoted Payton to manager and general manager, with full control over the Rangers ballclub. In a press conference a few days after Williams had been dismissed, Short shared with the media his excitement in making Riley Payton an executive manager of the newly minted Rangers, with full control over the baseball operations, expenditures and decision making. He cited Payton's Texas roots and his eye for talent. Payton was quite unqualified as a manager, but popular within the organization, and had strong business skills as well, so the move went over okay with the players and the other members of the organization that wished to remain for the move to Texas.
Thus, Payton moved back home to Texas and took control of the Rangers organization. He was able to find qualified replacements for the remaining members of the staff in the offseason of 1972. He also executed a few trades and signings to try to shore up the questionable defense, pitching and overall roster depth for the new Rangers.
He also negotiated extensions with several key players, hoping to build around a core of promising youngsters.
Thus, in April 1972, the Rangers came into existence. It could've happenned. :-)
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