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Dagrims · 02-21-2003, 08:41 PM

At the conclusion of World War II, as the veterans slowly returned back to the States as fatigued victors, thoughts in the Sunshine State turned to baseball, spurred by the dreams of millionaire businessman Frederick Van Billingsworth. Van Billingsworth had moved to a small town in central Florida called Oviedo in 1944, to grab land by the hundreds of acres and expand his citrus and celery empire.

Born in a suburb of Philadelphia, PA, Van Billingsworth grew up watching the Phillies and Athletics (although, truth be told, he was a closet Yankees fan). He always had loved the sport of baseball, believing it to be the purest of American pastimes and something that united people from all walks of life. After he made his first million, he began to contemplate the possibility of someday owning a baseball franchise. After moving to Florida, his ideas grew larger as did the amount of land he owned. He decided to use his business contacts, both in and out of Florida, to form his own baseball league. It would be comprised solely of teams in Floridian cities, and would be named the Florida Baseball Association (FBA).

His dream quickly bore fruit, and now, on March 31, 1946, Opening Day for the inaugural season of the FBA was here. Sixteen teams, two leagues, four divisions, made up of career MLB minor leaguers as well as players from Legion ball and various other corners of the United States and the globe. Van Billingsworth stated from the beginning that this would be a league with open arms to players of all races, and from any country. He was present for the ceremonies in Tampa, Florida, as the curtain rose on the FBA.

Quick League Notes

Teams
Northern League, Palmetto Division
Daytona Beach Wave Riders
Oviedo Planters
Sanford Historians
St. Augustine Fountain of Youth

Northern League, Citrus Division
Destin Horseshoe Crabs
Gainesville Geckos
Jacksonville Traders
Tallahassee Confederates

Southern League, Seminole Division
Fort Myers Tree Frogs
Melbourne Sharks
Miami Sailors
Vero Beach Sting Rays

Southern League, Manatee Division
Lakeland Architects
Orlando Oranges
Palm Beach Barracuda
Tampa Tarpon

League Setup Information
Financials enabled
Coaches/scouts disabled
Injury setting normal
Computer trades setting normal
Ratings system talent only
Era - Golden Years, 1946-1960
Cash maximum - $20 million
Salary cap - $75 million (obviously these figures don't correspond to that time, but I plan to use my imagination - it is a fictional league, after all)
Amateur draft seven rounds
50 round initial draft

I will let the computer manage all teams for awhile - I'd like to have the league develop a bit of a personality before I choose a team to manage.

I plan to provide monthly updates in the beginning. This will be my first effort at narrating a league history, so any suggestive comments or outright flames are welcomed.

Chris

02-21-2003, 08:41 PM	#1
Dagrims Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 3,827	Florida Baseball Association At the conclusion of World War II, as the veterans slowly returned back to the States as fatigued victors, thoughts in the Sunshine State turned to baseball, spurred by the dreams of millionaire businessman Frederick Van Billingsworth. Van Billingsworth had moved to a small town in central Florida called Oviedo in 1944, to grab land by the hundreds of acres and expand his citrus and celery empire. Born in a suburb of Philadelphia, PA, Van Billingsworth grew up watching the Phillies and Athletics (although, truth be told, he was a closet Yankees fan). He always had loved the sport of baseball, believing it to be the purest of American pastimes and something that united people from all walks of life. After he made his first million, he began to contemplate the possibility of someday owning a baseball franchise. After moving to Florida, his ideas grew larger as did the amount of land he owned. He decided to use his business contacts, both in and out of Florida, to form his own baseball league. It would be comprised solely of teams in Floridian cities, and would be named the Florida Baseball Association (FBA). His dream quickly bore fruit, and now, on March 31, 1946, Opening Day for the inaugural season of the FBA was here. Sixteen teams, two leagues, four divisions, made up of career MLB minor leaguers as well as players from Legion ball and various other corners of the United States and the globe. Van Billingsworth stated from the beginning that this would be a league with open arms to players of all races, and from any country. He was present for the ceremonies in Tampa, Florida, as the curtain rose on the FBA. Quick League Notes Teams Northern League, Palmetto Division Daytona Beach Wave Riders Oviedo Planters Sanford Historians St. Augustine Fountain of Youth Northern League, Citrus Division Destin Horseshoe Crabs Gainesville Geckos Jacksonville Traders Tallahassee Confederates Southern League, Seminole Division Fort Myers Tree Frogs Melbourne Sharks Miami Sailors Vero Beach Sting Rays Southern League, Manatee Division Lakeland Architects Orlando Oranges Palm Beach Barracuda Tampa Tarpon League Setup Information Financials enabled Coaches/scouts disabled Injury setting normal Computer trades setting normal Ratings system talent only Era - Golden Years, 1946-1960 Cash maximum - $20 million Salary cap - $75 million (obviously these figures don't correspond to that time, but I plan to use my imagination - it is a fictional league, after all) Amateur draft seven rounds 50 round initial draft I will let the computer manage all teams for awhile - I'd like to have the league develop a bit of a personality before I choose a team to manage. I plan to provide monthly updates in the beginning. This will be my first effort at narrating a league history, so any suggestive comments or outright flames are welcomed. Chris