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October 14, 2006. More details of the Greenland WIBL were revealed in a press release today.
The final two franchise nicknames were revealed. They'll be the Tasiilaq Superheroes and the Nord Jawbreakers. Along with the names, the divisional alignment was also laid out:
Division 1
Alert Desolation
Nord Jawbreakers
Nuuk Franchise
Division 2
Qaanaaq Tusk
Tasiilaq Superheroes
Paamiut Legionaries
Each team will play a 34-game schedule between November 14th, 2006 and January 1, 2007. The final games of the inaugural season will be played at midnight on the 1st, spectacularly kicking off the new year under the aurora.
The league also announced several player signings of note.
Marcel Zambaco is a 36-year-old Italian starting pitcher. The 6' right-hander spent the summer of '06 in the German Bundesliga for Saarlouis, where he went 0-0 with a 6.75 ERA in 8.00 innings. He'll be called on to anchor the Qaanaaq rotation.
Dave Bradshaw is a former Colorado Rockies' prospect who spent the summer of 2006 split between Casper in the Pioneer League and Tri-Cities in the Northwest League. After a bit of arm troubles the Rockies released him, but he quickly caught on Nord on a $250 deal.
Six-foot, 20-year-old Gordon Kraul had a winning record split between the Mets' affiliates in the NY-Penn League and the Gulf Coast League, but was released in August after an undisclosed off-field incident. The same day he was granted his release he put pen to paper on a $250 deal to start for the Alert Desolation. His contract includes room and board, and stipulates that he'll do meterological research at the Alert Station on his off days.
Mandel Kammerling might be 42, but he threw four perfect innings in the Bundesliga before leaving the Paderborn Untouchables in April. He'll be a key arm on the Paamiut staff this winter. He has four quality pitches, and has been known to touch 94 mph in more temperate climates.
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