[Elendil]

Some of the teams joining the new league had started organizing themselves on a professional basis even before the league itself came into being. In so doing, they had gained an advantage over some of the other teams by snapping up some of the best players, but they also ran the risk of committing to contracts they would not be able to afford later. In the first season, though, teams were required to put a bond worth 20% of their total payroll (due on April 18, the start of the exhibition season), so that if the team went under, the league could pay some of their salaries.

One example of an early signer-on was Ron Bishop, who had played shortstop in the MLB system for years. Now 39 years old, he was one of the investors in the Anchorage Bucs, having also played for the team when it was an amateur summer club. His contract of $153,993 in fact prompted whispers about "self-dealing." Nevertheless, he could still hit better than 99% of the other Alaskan men and teenagers showing up at tryouts and was an early favorite for Batter of the Year. However, his team had some serious weaknesses in the rest of the lineup by the time exhibition season started.

Team Breakdowns

(Notes: As of 4/18/2007. Star ratings based on potential and are league- and position-relative.)

Anchorage Glacier Pilots (AGP)

Payroll: $881,911 (1st)
Key Pitchers:

Bryan Kendall, SP ****1/2

Salary: $106,406
Age: 28

Gary Tufts, SP ****1/2

Salary: $105,560
Age: 32

Eric Liger, SP ***1/2

Salary: $29,386
Age: 27

John Adams, CL ***

Salary: $54,499
Age: 27

Key Hitters:

Tom Robbins, RF *****

Salary: $186,470
Age: 33

Dave Chipman, SS ****1/2

Salary: $100,760
Age: 33

Dave Bonnar, LF ****1/2

Salary: $136,150
Age: 29

Jim Greene, CF ***1/2

Salary: $2000 (league minimum)
Age: 24

Anchorage Bucs (ANC)

Payroll: $688,944 (3rd)
Key Pitchers:

Jack Hatt, SP *****

Salary: $134,793
Age: 30

John Dewitt, SP ****

Salary: $40,352
Age: 23

Bill Colwill, CL ****1/2

Salary: $13,200
Age: 24

Key Hitters:

Ron Bishop, SS ****1/2

Salary: $153,993
Age: 39

Bob Horton, RF ****1/2

Salary: $153,480
Age: 33

Eagle River-Chugiak Jets (ERC)

Payroll: $620,955 (5th)
Key Pitchers:

Newt Langille, SP ****1/2

Salary: $43,819
Age: 25

Jeremie Dessureault, SP ***1/2

Salary: $37,895
Age: 29

Loren Coleman, CL ****

Salary: $40,933
Age: 31

Key Hitters:

Adam Joly, 1B *****

Salary: $81,580
Age: 26

Frank Watt, 2B ****1/2

Salary: $48,511
Age: 27

Bill Duval, SS ****

Salary: $24,154
Age: 26

Fairbanks Goldpanners (FAI)

Payroll: $764,700 (2nd)
Key Pitchers:

Chip Becker, SP *****

Salary: $120,666
Age: 26

John Robertson, SP ****

Salary: $69,510
Age: 37

John Lynn, SP ****

Salary: $44,462
Age: 27

Quinn Spence, SP ****

Salary: $32,823
Age: 25

Key Hitters:

Gary Johnson, 1B *****

Salary: $105,294
Age: 29

Sloan Starr, SS *****

Salary: $144,175
Age: 28

Bill Rogers, 2B ****

Salary: $47,640
Age: 25

Bob Juhan, 3B ****

Salary: $70,510
Age: 33

Juneau Senators (JUN)

Payroll: $389,514 (11th)
Key Pitchers:

Scott Northeast, SP ***** (a member of the Tlingit tribe)

Salary: $11,340
Age: 20

Duncan Lacey, CL ***1/2

Salary: $53,865
Age: 27

Key Hitters:

Ralph Collette, 2B ****1/2

Salary: $86,914
Age: 26

Lorne Stannard, C ***1/2

Salary: $39,273
Age: 32

Ketchikan King Salmon (KET)

Payroll: $421,765 (10th)
Key Pitchers:

John Mack, SP ****1/2

Salary: $67,300
Age: 25

Ed Staitie, CL ***

Salary: $19,730
Age: 28

Key Hitters:

Xander Eggert, 3B ****

Salary: $49,660
Age: 28

Jimmy Williams, CF ***1/2

Salary: $45,875
Age: 27