British Commonwealth Baseball League
 

Baseball in England?

Soccer, Soccer, Soccer!!! No, No, No!!! What we hope to do here is supplant the overwhelming importance of Soccer on the national landscape of England, installing a fresh vibrant baseball league in it's place.

Initially, Ireland wanted nothing to do with this kick start league in the British Commonwealth, but businessman Stoke Connelly was able to negotiate with Scotland to place a team in Glasgow.

On the outset of the league, 8 charter members were compiled in the most populated areas of the Commonwealth. Along with Glasgow, the Northern Division would consist of teams in Leeds, Manchester, and Liverpool.

The Southern Division would include a team in Wales, specifically Cardiff, as well as London, Birmingham, and Bristol.

The league will be set to start in the year 1970. A Single A league and rookie league will also be established to start.

Up Next...the Teams.

Manchester Red Storm

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...pshlgkmlrd.png

History
-Established as one of the original 8 charter teams.

1970:

Managers
1970: Gavin Morris

Minor League Teams
Single A: Manchester Silverbacks
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...?1426183570125

Rookie: Norwich Jets
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...?1426183570124

Glasgow Highlanders

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212997

History
-Established as one of the original 8 charter teams.

1970:

Managers
1970: Ross Taylor

Minor League Teams
Single A: Kirknewton Scots
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426183078622

Rookie: Glasgow Rapids
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426183078621

Leeds Northerns

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177213007

History
-Established as one of the original 8 charter teams.

1970:

Managers
1970: Connor Lyle

Minor League Teams
Single A: Leeds Juggernauts
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426181864906

Rookie: Leeds Express
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...?1426182054364

Liverpool Dragons

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177213000

History
-Established as one of the original 8 charter teams.

1970:

Managers
1970: Bart Slocock

Minor League Teams
Single A: Grimsby Vulcans
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...?1426181452219

Rookie: Liverpool Roughnecks
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...?1426181452212

Cardiff Corsairs

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212998

History
-Established as one of the original 8 charter teams.

1970:

Managers
1970: Dominic Wintour

Minor League Teams
Single A: Cardiff Aviators
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426181222827

Rookie: Cardiff Bulls
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426181222820

London Monarchs

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212999

History
-Established as one of the original 8 charter teams.

1970:

Managers
1970: Riley Thistleton

Minor League Teams
Single A: Hemel Hempstead Kings
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426180629915

Rookie: London Bisons
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426180629913

Birmingham Knights

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212996

History
-Established as one of the original 8 charter teams.

1970:

Managers
1970: Nicholas Tonkin

Minor League Teams
Single A: Coventry Cobras
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426180246466

Rookie: Bradford Lions
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426180246462

Bristol Sunbirds

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212995

History
-Established as one of the original 8 charter teams.

1970:

Managers
1970: Aaron Esam

Minor League Teams
Single A: Southhampton Grizzles
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426179733021

Rookie: Bristol Neptunes
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426179901226

Reserved

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League History

BCBL Champions
1970:

BCBL Hitter of the Year Award
1970:

BCBL Pitcher of the Year Award
1970:

BCBL Rookie of the Year Award
1970:

BCBL Gold Glove Winners
1970:

Inaugural Draft

January 1, 1970

The First step to any great league is to attract the kind of talent that will take the league to the next level. The BCBL Inaugural Draft is the beginning of the process to make this league great.

The Leeds Northerns will make the first pick in the inaugural draft.

With the first pick,

1. http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177213007 select OF Sean Ockey, 26, Batley, England.
-Contact and speed are his calling cards. Prototypical leadoff guy.

2. http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212997 select SS Nick Batkin, 29, Cardiff, Wales.
-Another prototype leadoff guy. Great contact, obp, and speed.

3. http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177213000 select SP Noah Payton, 25, Darwen, England.
-Average stuff, Plus movement and control, above average stamina

4. http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...pshlgkmlrd.png select 3B Jon Lammas, 26, Watford, England.
-Very versatile defensively, can play anywhere except catcher. Great all around talent.

5. http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212999 select 1B Craig Durtnell, 28, London, England.
-Monarchs select a home grown player. OBP and plate discipline are his best attributes. Average defender. Above average power.

6. http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212998 select 2B Howard Patten, 31, Wales.
-The only Welsh team takes a homegrown Welsh talent. Patten is another leadoff type, but older than the rest.

7. http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212995 select SS Finlay Chave, 30, Bournemouth, England.
-All around above average hitter. Average defensively. Below average speed and arm.

8. http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212996 select OF Fergus Roadley, 28, London, England
-The second London native off the board. Defense and speed, below average hitter.

Round 2
9. Birmingham Knights - SP Robin Wendon, 22, Aldershot, England
10. Bristol Sunbirds - SP Euan Nicholson, 24, Kingston upon Hull, England
11. Cardiff Corsairs - OF Bryan Crocombe, 31, Rotherham, England
12. London Monarchs - SP Alex Hawking, 28, London, England
13. Manchester Red Storm - SP Aaron MacKinley, 24, Scotland
14. Liverpool Dragons - SS Kyle Killeen, 28, Scotland
15. Glasgow Highlanders - SP Sean Fenwick, 27, Grantham, England
16. Leeds Northerns - SP Conor Gale, 28, London, England

Pre-Season

Top Prospect List
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212998
- Corsairs dominate Top 10

1. SP Kane Nairn, 21 (ML) - Cardiff Corsairs
2. SP Wade King, 21 (ML) - Bristol Sunbirds
3. SP Hayden Lovering, 24 (A) - Bristol Sunbirds
4. OF Clyde Joule, 21 (ML) - Leeds Northerns
5. C Griff Narborough, 20 (R) - Cardiff Corsairs
6. OF Harley Stamfordham, 18 (R) - Cardiff Corsairs
7. SP Andrew Filbee, 21 (A) - Manchester Red Storm
8. OF Ronald Paulet, 21 (ML) - Cardiff Corsairs
9. 3B Nicky Myers, 23 (R) - Birmingham Knights
10. SP George Pagnam, 18 (R) - Glasgow Highlanders

Trades
April 13, 1970
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212995 get:

-31 year old 1B Bradley Kempson

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212996 get:

-33 year old OF Bradley Brimble
-18 year old C prospect Clyde Knapp

April 15, 1970
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212999 get:

- 29 year old RP Michael Bretton
- 18 year old OF prospect (#16 prospect) Ian Foley

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177213000 get:

-25 year old OF Hayden Hickson

April 18, 1970
http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177213007 get:

- 30 year old RP Sebastian Woodger
- 23 year old prospect (#9 prospect) 3B Nicky Myers

http://i1065.photobucket.com/albums/...&1426177212996 get:

- 28 year old OF Steve Harwood