OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

Orcin · 01-22-2012, 02:42 PM

January 1, 1981

Rumors of labor problems and the potential of a disrupted MLB season provided the perfect opportunity for an international group of investors to launch their new venture. The Continental Baseball Association would begin play in April of 1981. The association would field fledgling teams in 30 U.S. cities, organized into two leagues. Rosters were assembled, stadium leases were procured, and the league rolled into its first spring training to a mix of curious onlookers and scoffing detractors.

The league started slowly but quickly gained attention when MLB play was interrupted by a work stoppage in late May. School was out, and CBA tickets were cheap. The league gained young fans by the droves. The CBA stadiums became the chic place to be in a similar fashion to the more recent rise of Facebook over older social networks that were plagued by parents. The first season was not a great financial success, but the groundwork was laid for future seasons. The league was certain to survive, despite MLB’s attempts to crush it in the courts and in Congress.

**********

One of the new CBA franchises began play in Louisville, Kentucky. The Colonels had a young roster and finished in fourth place in 1981, but there was promise for the future. The Louisville team would go on to finish either first or second for the rest of the decade, winning their division four times with one World Series appearance (a loss).

Otto Orcin was 6 years old in April of 1981 and, like many young boys, was fascinated with sports. The new baseball team in town captured his imagination, and he knew as much about it as any fan – unlike MLB whose history belonged to the adults. Young Otto became an avid Colonels fan and attended as many games as his parents would allow. Otto’s father had given him a copy of the Bill James Baseball Abstract last Christmas, and now he had a place to apply this knowledge where even Bill James himself had yet to tread. He studied the Louisville players and applied the new science of sabermetrics to his team, boring his schoolmates to death with his conclusions.

The Colonels were competitive, and it was a great time to be a young baseball fan in Louisville. The scenario played out in a similar fashion all over the United States in the summer of 1981.

01-22-2012, 02:42 PM	#1
Orcin Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Indiana Posts: 9,850	Orcin's Story January 1, 1981 Rumors of labor problems and the potential of a disrupted MLB season provided the perfect opportunity for an international group of investors to launch their new venture. The Continental Baseball Association would begin play in April of 1981. The association would field fledgling teams in 30 U.S. cities, organized into two leagues. Rosters were assembled, stadium leases were procured, and the league rolled into its first spring training to a mix of curious onlookers and scoffing detractors. The league started slowly but quickly gained attention when MLB play was interrupted by a work stoppage in late May. School was out, and CBA tickets were cheap. The league gained young fans by the droves. The CBA stadiums became the chic place to be in a similar fashion to the more recent rise of Facebook over older social networks that were plagued by parents. The first season was not a great financial success, but the groundwork was laid for future seasons. The league was certain to survive, despite MLB’s attempts to crush it in the courts and in Congress. ********** One of the new CBA franchises began play in Louisville, Kentucky. The Colonels had a young roster and finished in fourth place in 1981, but there was promise for the future. The Louisville team would go on to finish either first or second for the rest of the decade, winning their division four times with one World Series appearance (a loss). Otto Orcin was 6 years old in April of 1981 and, like many young boys, was fascinated with sports. The new baseball team in town captured his imagination, and he knew as much about it as any fan – unlike MLB whose history belonged to the adults. Young Otto became an avid Colonels fan and attended as many games as his parents would allow. Otto’s father had given him a copy of the Bill James Baseball Abstract last Christmas, and now he had a place to apply this knowledge where even Bill James himself had yet to tread. He studied the Louisville players and applied the new science of sabermetrics to his team, boring his schoolmates to death with his conclusions. The Colonels were competitive, and it was a great time to be a young baseball fan in Louisville. The scenario played out in a similar fashion all over the United States in the summer of 1981.