[Hendu Style]

With casualties mounting, SBL players continued to enlist in the SimNation military. In an effort to encourage volunteerism, the league granted enlistees "free agency" once they returned home from World War II. They could sign with a team of their choosing, though there would be no bidding wars. A player's destination would not be determined by money. Baseball made this very clear, and protected the "reserve clause" fiercely. Team owners did not want players jumping from team to team. Players' rights were permanently linked to the teams that drafted and signed them.

Tom "Cookie" Coker - C, Northgate
"Cookie," as they called him, was the top catcher in baseball. He had already played in 4 All-Star Games by the age of 27 and had racked up 1,005 hits in six seasons in the bigs. But the 1955 Pioneer League MVP had grown tired of Northgate and wanted to play for a different team. Knowing the Knights would never trade him, he opted to enlist. He had a career's worth of incredible performances before enlisting, including hitting for the cycle with a five-hit day in a 28-0 (!) win over Lunar Lake, and tying a SBL record with 3 homeruns (all solo shots) against Rocklyn.

Melvin Barnes - SP, Northgate
A 29 year-old pitcher with a world of potential, Barnes went 17-10 with a 2.96 ERA in 1956 and was an All-Star the following season for Westwood. Barnes was then traded to the Knights from the Stars, and struggled to a 4-6 season. He wanted out of Northgate in the worst way and saw the War as his way out.

Greg Blair - 1B, Santo Cielo
Blair had been an All-Star first baseman for Santo Cielo and Sim City after being drafted with the #1 overall pick in 1946. Though many believed he enlisted so he could become a free agent, he insisted he felt compelled to serve his country at age 34.

Tex Sandstrom - P, Dixie
Tex was one of the most dynamic pitchers in baseball, yet he was woefully misused by the Dukes. A workhorse pitcher, Sandstrom was relegated to bullpen duty in Dixie. He went 17-4 with 235 strikeouts in 1955, but made just six starts. He was an ace pitcher in waiting. He would wait no more by serving in the War. He could choose his own team afterward and find a spot in a rotation.

Jackie Spears - 1B, Maxis City
The 1950 Pioneer League MVP was none-too-happy after being dealt by Granite Falls to Maxis City late in the 1958 season. He still managed to hit 30 homeruns that season, bringing his career total to 298. But he also knew at the age of 34 that he would soon need to play for a team in the Pioneer League so he could DH.

Eric Webb - 3B, Ft. Dodge
Webb was one of the top defensive players in the game, winning three Tiberium Gloves at third base with the Federals. His decision to enlist was purely for love of country and he immediately re-signed with Fort Dodge upon his return in 1960.


Nick Alexander - RF, Atlantis
Lincoln Bruno - P, Santo Cielo
Mark Crouse - RF, Dixie
Gustavo Cruz - P, Atlantis
Jim Dougan - P, Motor City
*Ernesto Felix - CF, Dixie
Leonard Ford - SS, Ft. Dodge
Matt Green - P, Atlantis
Jonathan Hansen - 2B, Ft. Dodge
Nick Heater - CF, Rocklyn
Joe Hudder - C, Northgate
Craig Kennedy - 3B, Dullsville
Carl Lowry - 1B, Westwood
Ken McFadyen - SS, Granite Falls
Wade McGee - LF, Atlantis
Pepe Munoz - P, Arcopolis
Jeff Pearce - P, Northgate
Terry Richmond - OF, Westwood
Larry Townend - P, Irontown
Rod Wood - 3B, Sim City