The Connecticut Shore League

[Big Six]

Hi again, everybody.

It's been almost nine years since I started my first dynasty on the OOTP boards, and I can't tell you how many enjoyable hours I've spent playing the games, writing the stories, and reading the comments readers have made in my dynasty threads. I've started a dozen or more stories, but only three of them really "caught" me to the point that I couldn't wait to see what happened next.

Two of them were the stories of fictional players set in roughly historical baseball universes.

The third was the saga of the Keystone League, a fictional league set in Pennsylvania. I began the Keystone League in April 2005, and it ran for 14 game seasons and about three years in "real time." I played most of the Keystone League's history using OOTP 6.5. I moved the league to OOTP8, but it suffered in the translation. The league's totals got all jacked up, so I shut it down.

Since then, I've tried several other fictional leagues, using successive versions of OOTP, but I've never managed to create one that kept my interest. I'd run a few seasons and tire of them, usually for one of two reasons:

1. I took advantage of the opportunity to create multiple levels of minors and complex systems of feeder leagues, and ended up with a baseball universe that was impossible to keep up with and chronicle adequately on the forum.

2. I futzed around with the game setup, trying to create a league that looked and felt the way I wanted it to, and came up with something really goofy, or simply something that wasn't what I'd aimed at. For example, I would try to create a league that looked like 1970s baseball, and ended up with offensive totals that reminded me of the early 2000s.

I'm going to give the fictional league genre one more try. Hopefully this time I'll create a league I enjoy so much that I can't wait to start up the game and find out what happens next.

And, honestly, I hope I can tell its story well enough that some of you will look forward to following along. I'll be honest; while I enjoy writing, I wouldn't put the time and energy into writing up my dynasties if nobody read what I wrote. Maybe a few of you will become fans of one of my fictional teams, or maybe you'll pick a favorite player and root for him. I love it when people post in my threads with comments about what they're enjoying.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you'll enjoy what comes next.

[Big Six]

The Connecticut Shore League is, not surprisingly, made up of teams representing eight towns along the Connecticut shore of Long Island Sound. The teams are divided into two four-team divisions:

EASTERN DIVISION
Groton Green Sox
Mystic Clippers
Stonington Brawlers
Waterford Conchs

WESTERN DIVISION
Branford Barbers
Guilford Corgis
Madison Republicans
Old Saybrook Privateers

I wanted the teams to have fun, unique nicknames and cool logos, and I found exactly what I was looking for among the "miscellaneous" logos created by justafan. They're stickied on the "OOTP Mods-Logos, Graphics, and HTML" page of this forum, and they are really great. I asked justafan for a new logo to match a nickname I wanted to use, and he created it for me within a few hours.

###

The Connecticut Shore League plays a 154-game regular season. The division winners will meet in the best-of-seven Shore Series.

Here are a few of the other rules and settings I'm using:

• There is no DH in the Shore League.
• The league will begin in 1932, but it's designed to "look" like 1980s baseball. I'll recalculate the league modifiers every spring training, so things stay pretty much the same over time.
• League evolution is off, at least for now.
• Financials are on, with Reserve Clause Era settings. I picked a financial setup from the mid-1950s, so most CSL players will make between $10,000 and $75,000 a year.
• I'm not using any minor leagues; the teams will have reserve lists instead.
• Coaching is on, scouting is off.
• I'm playing in Commissioner mode, as the Great Baseball Deity who is watching his creation unfold.
• Storylines are enabled.
• Trading and injuries are both set to "low."

I'm going to play the first ten seasons or so "behind the scenes," so the league will have some history before I begin to tell its story in the forum. That way, if things don't turn out the way I want them, I can fix them in advance.

[Big Six]

Preseason, 1942

Ten seasons are in the books, and here are some results from the first decade of the Connecticut Shore League:

YEAR  EASTERN DIVISION WINNER   WESTERN DIVISION WINNER   SHORE SERIES RESULT
1932  Mystic Clippers           Madison Republicans       Madison 4-0 Mystic
1933  Mystic Clippers           Guilford Corgis           Mystic 4-3 Guilford
1934  Mystic Clippers           Guilford Corgis           Mystic 4-3 Guilford
1935  Mystic Clippers           Madison Republicans       Madison 4-1 Mystic
1936  Mystic Clippers           Madison Republicans       Mystic 4-1 Madison
1937  Mystic Clippers           Madison Republicans       Mystic 4-2 Madison
1938  Stonington Brawlers       Madison Republicans       Madison 4-1 Stonington
1939  Groton Green Sox          Guilford Corgis           Guilford 4-0 Groton
1940  Stonington Brawlers       Old Saybrook Privateers   Stonington 4-2 Old Saybrook
1941  Groton Green Sox          Branford Barbers          Groton 4-3 Branford

As you can see, two clubs dominated the earliest years of the league. Recently, there has been more parity, especially in the Western Division, where all four clubs have won pennants in the last four years.

Here are the winners of the league's two major awards:

YEAR  OUTSTANDING BATTER                   OUTSTANDING PITCHER
1932  Donnie Brown, MYST (.354-21-93)      Gabriel Benavides, MAD (25-6, 2.02)
1933  Brian Olson, MYST (301-34-123)       Darrell Miller, GUIL (19-7, 2.00)
1934  Davey Marshall, MYST (.298-41-121)   Darrell Miller, GUIL (20-7, 1.82)
1935  Brian Olson, MYST (.305-35-108)      Angel Silva, GUIL (18-9, 2.92)
1936  David von Hof, STO (.304-48-99)      Nolan Hopkins, BRAN (20-10, 2.32)
1937  Spike Butler, WAT (.335-30-94)       Jose Solis, MYST (21-7, 2.53)
1938  David O'Herlihy, MAD (.320-40-104)   Dave Frazier, STO (18-12, 1.94)
1939  David von Hof, STO (.345-37-91)      John Ellender, GROT (21-11, 2.50)
1940  Paul Clayton, GROT (.314-28-93)      Gerald Spradlin, WAT (16-11, 1.67)
1941  Adam Watkins, OS (.318-36-140)       Justin Fruge, GROT (23-11, 2.51)

You'll get to know some of these stars better very soon.

[bwburke94]

Glad to see another Big Six dynasty.

[No Pepper]

I shall sign my loyalty to the mighty gastropods, the Conchs of Waterford! Incidently the only team in the League not to have won a championship. We may be a snail but we shall prevail!

[fhomess]

Good stuff. I think you need to spawn a competing league west of the Connecticut River, too!

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by bwburke94

Glad to see another Big Six dynasty.

Thanks, bwburke. I hope I'll enjoy this dynasty for a good, long time.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by No Pepper

I shall sign my loyalty to the mighty gastropods, the Conchs of Waterford! Incidently the only team in the League not to have won a championship. We may be a snail but we shall prevail!

The Conchs have some talented young players whom you'll meet very soon. I wouldn't be too surprised to see their postseason drought end soon.

They have a very cool logo, too.

Thanks for the post, No Pepper.

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by fhomess

Good stuff. I think you need to spawn a competing league west of the Connecticut River, too!

Thanks for the suggestion, fhomess. I started east of the river because I know those towns better. A buddy of mine married a Guilford girl, in fact.

I might create an association of leagues from around the state with OOTP13.

[CatKnight]

I was born and raised in Connecticut (inland however), so I'll follow along with interest.

I think I'll be rooting for the Clippers. As I recall my childholld was full of ads for the Mystic Aquarium, and i prefer ships to gastropods.

Gut instinct - why would you say the Clippers' dominance ended: Did they come back down to earth, or did the other teams 'catch up'?

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by CatKnight

Gut instinct - why would you say the Clippers' dominance ended: Did they come back down to earth, or did the other teams 'catch up'?

Without looking back too closely, I'd say it's more of a case of the Clippers moving back toward the pack, combined with the rise of the Groton Green Sox. Mystic had a Murderer's Row for the first few seasons, led by players like Brian Olson, Davey Marshall, and Donnie Brown--all of whom won Outstanding Hitter Awards.

However, Olson and Marshall were already veteran players when the league began; both were born before 1900, and as they aged, the Clippers failed to replace them with new stars. They traded Brown for a promising young pitcher named Dave Bailey, but Bailey blew out his shoulder in 1939 and ruined his career.

Meanwhile, Groton had assembled a talented cast of young players and, by the late Thirties, some of the youngsters became stars. Two of their pitchers, John Ellender and Justin Fruge, have won Oustanding Pitcher prizes, and their batting order, led by Paul Clayton and a slugging first baseman, Grant Gould, is very productive.

Thanks for the post, CatKnight. You'll all learn more about the histories of the teams very soon.

[Big Six]

Here's a brief history of each of the eight Connecticut Shore League teams. They'll be listed in order of their cumulative records.

Mystic Clippers
Cumulative Record: 857-683, .563
Eastern Division Championships: 6 (1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937)
Shore Series Championships: 4 (1933, 1934, 1936, 1937)

The Clippers established the Shore League’s first dynasty, securing the Eastern Division title six straight times and winning four Shore Series, more than any other club. The wheel of fortune has turned recently, however, and the Clippers are coming off two consecutive fourth place finishes.

BEST PLAYER: Brian Olson
Olson manned right field for the Clippers throughout their run of dominance. He was the classic five-tool player, hitting .300 with power, drawing walks, stealing bases, and winning three Fielding Excellence awards. He was the first player in CSL history to win two Outstanding Batter prizes. Despite retiring in 1940 and missing most of two other seasons to injury, Brian still ranks fourth in career Wins Above Replacement (WAR).

BEST PITCHER: Jose Solis
A four-time All-Star, Solis won the 1937 Outstanding Pitcher award, going 21-7 with a 2.53 ERA. Injuries have eroded much of his skill, and it’s likely Jose won’t make the team in 1942. Nevertheless, the big righthander remains the top choice among several distinguished Clippers hurlers.

Madison Republicans
Cumulative Record: 821-719, .533
Western Division Championships: 5 (1932, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938)
Shore Series Championships: 3 (1932, 1935, 1938)

The Republicans’ nickname is a salute to James Madison, our fourth President, who was a leader of the Democratic-Republican Party of the early 1800s. Madison won two Presidential elections, and the Republicans have been consistent winners,too--partially due to their owner’s willingness to spend his money. Like the Clippers, the Republicans have struggled to win lately, finishing each of the last three seasons below .500.

BEST PLAYER: David O’Herlihy
O’Herlihy holds almost all the Republicans’ hitting records and, at age 33, is still going strong. The slugging left fielder has made the All-Star team each of the first 10 seasons and is one of the league’s most popular stars. David is good for a .300/.400/.500 “slash line” almost every year. He ranks in the top five in most offensive categories on the career leader boards.

BEST PITCHER: Will Key
Key, a power closer with a 96 MPH fastball, is tied for the all-time lead in saves with 258. He has been especially tough in the Shore Series, posting an 0.68 ERA in 13 postseason innings. Key barely got the nod over four-time All-Star Scotty Goodwin, who’s posted 146 wins in ten seasons as a Republican.

[Big Six]

Stonington Brawlers
Cumulative Record: 787-754, .511
Eastern Division Championships: 2 (1938, 1940)
Shore Series Championship: 1 (1940)

The consistent Brawlers have finished first or second in the East in five of the last six seasons. As befits their name, the club relies on a brawny offense that produced a league record 201 home runs in 1941.

BEST PLAYER: David von Hof
DVH is the league’s most celebrated slugger. His 379 home runs are 83 more than any other player, and his 48 homers in 1936 are a league record. von Hof has won five league home run crowns and led the league in slugging four times. He is one of two players who have received the Outstanding Batter Award twice. At age 34, DVH has a shot at 500 career homers, and nobody hits them farther.

BEST PITCHER: Dave Frazier
A long, lean Kansan, Frazier was the #1 overall pick in the 1934 rookie draft. He has proven to be worth the choice. Dave won the 1938 Outstanding Pitcher Award and led the league in 1941 with 23 victories. He is a hard-throwing ace at the top of his game at age 29, and will anchor the Brawler rotation for years to come.

Guilford Corgis
Cumulative Record: 778-763, .505
Western Division Championships: 3 (1933, 1934, 1939)
Shore Series Championship: 1 (1939)

As tenacious as their namesakes, the Corgis spent eight years at or near the top of the standings. Recently, the team has endured tougher times, finishing last in 1940 and 1941. Their rabid fans are hoping their favorites make a comeback in ’42.

BEST PLAYER: Arthur Smith
A catcher who can hit .300 with pop and features a rifle for a throwing arm is a valuable player indeed, and for years, the Corgis had such a player in Smith. A seven-time All-Star, Arthur is fading at age 32, but he hit .303 as a reserve in 1941.

BEST PITCHER: Darrell Miller
Miller was the second pick in the allocation draft in 1932, and he’s been a fixture in the Corgis rotation ever since. At age 41, Darrell pitched 277 innings to a 2.79 ERA, and he is slated to return in 1942. He was named the league’s Outstanding Pitcher in 1933 and 1934—the only double winner in league history--and he has 124 wins and a 2.68 career ERA to his credit.

[Big Six]

Waterford Conchs
Cumulative Record: 755-785, .490

The Conchs are the only Shore League club that has never played in a Series, despite having a better cumulative record than three other teams. They finished three games back in the 1932 Eastern Division race, but haven’t as close to capturing to a flag since.

BEST PLAYER: Spike Butler
This sweet-swinging lefty holds the league records for hits, runs, batting average, and OBP. He seldom runs anymore, but he once stole 30 bases a year, and he’s hit 188 career homers. Spike was the 1937 Outstanding Batter, and at age 33, he’s still featured prominently in the Conchs’ outfield. He is one of the league’s most popular stars.

BEST PITCHER: Gerald Spradlin
Spradlin posted a sparkling 1.67 ERA and won 16 games to lock up the 1940 Outstanding Pitcher Award. He accepted a $93,000 bonus to sign with the Conchs after being chosen #2 in the 1936 draft, and the Conchs believe they spent their money wisely. Shoulder problems cost him most of the 1941 season. We’ll see if he can regain his form; he’s only 27, and should be near his peak.

Branford Barbers
Cumulative Record: 754-786, .490
Western Division Championship: 1 (1941)

A team on the rise, the Barbers finished only one game back in 1940 and captured the division last year. They hope to continue their recent winning ways , with a core of exciting young players paired with a veteran pitching staff.

BEST PLAYER: Lynwood Beauregard
“General” Beauregard has never hit for a high average—his lifetime mark is .243—but he draws 90 walks a year, hits with some power, and has sure hands around the second base bag. He is 36 now, but his skills are still largely intact.

BEST PITCHER: Nolan Hopkins
Hopkins Is a eight-time All-Star, and he has been a steady winner since the league’s first season. His 166 career victories are an all-time record, and his 1587 career strikeouts place him fifth. Nolan is also remarkably durable; he has never missed a start. At age 36, he is still a key component of the Barbers’ plans.

[Big Six]

Groton Green Sox
Cumulative Record: 727-814, .472
Eastern Division Championships: 2 (1939, 1941)
Shore Series Championship: 1 (1941)

Like the Barbers, the Green Sox are enjoying a recent resurgence. They won the 1941 Eastern pennant by defeating Stonington in the first divisional playoff in CSL history, and went on to win the Series in seven games over Branford. They’ll try to defend their title in 1942.

BEST PLAYER: Boyd Kneeshaw
Although Paul Clayton captured the 1940 Outstanding Batter prize, the title of best all-time Green Sox player goes to Kneeshaw, the first player chosen by the Sox in the ’32 allocation draft. He’s been a regular at third base and shortstop ever since. His combination of power (252 career HR) and superb defense at short add to his value, and he’ll play the 1942 season at age 30.

BEST PITCHER: John Ellender
Two Green Sox have won Outstanding Pitcher awards, but Ellender, a six-time All-Star at age 30, has the more substantial body of work. He was the #2 pick in the 1932 amateur draft. John is an excellent athlete who fields his position well and is a very good hitter for a pitcher.

Old Saybrook Privateers
Cumulative Record: 683-858, .443
Eastern Division Championship: 1 (1940)

The Privateers were the whipping boys of the league throughout the Thirties, finishing last six of the first eight seasons. A series of wise draft choices propelled them to the playoffs in 1940, and could keep them in the running for a while.

BEST PLAYER: Adam Watkins
This superb athlete took some time to develop into a star, but he’s definitely reached that level now. He slammed 42 homers in 1940 and set a new league record with 140 RBI last season. Adam plays center field, runs like a deer, and catches everything he gets his hands on. And, he’s only 26 years old.

BEST PITCHER: Dustin Byrd
Byrd wins this distinction based on his long service to a team that produced one mediocre season after another. He has accumulated 106 wins, by far the most in Privateers history, and he’s consistently among the league’s leaders in strikeouts. Several young Privateer hurlers might one day eclipse him, but for now, Dustin’s the man.

[Big Six]

March 1, 1942

Now, let's meet some of the Connecticut Shore League's brightest stars of today. Here are the Top 20 players and Top 20 pitchers in the league, as chosen by Baseball News as spring training begins.

For position players, I've provided their age, position, and their "core" offensive statistics for 1941.

TOP PLAYERS                 AGE POS   AVG-HR-RBI                   
 1  Spike Butler, WAT        33  RF  .333-25-93
 2  David von Hof, STO       35  RF  .270-38-90
 3  Alex Callihan, WAT       25  CF  .318-23-98
 4  Adam Watkins, OS         27  CF  .318-36-140
 5  Chris Strunk, OS         26  RF  .309-20-92
 6  Bruce Vogt, WAT          25  1B  .327-23-111
 7  Paul Clayton, GROT       27  RF  .280-24-85
 8  David O'Herlihy, MAD     33  LF  .299-32-83
 9  Grant Gould, GROT        27  1B  .276-42-135
10  Sherwood Rankin, MYST    27  CF  .305-22-69
11  Tommy Phelps, OS         23  SS  .309-1-48
12  Arnold Hebert, BRAN      25  3B  .267-12-67
13  Cedric Hornbuckle, MYST  27  SS  .303-13-65
14  Ray Matt, STO            27  1B  .306-33-90
15  Mike Doyle, GUIL         27  LF  .322-19-62
16  Charlie Michell, STO     27  C   .293-32-78
17  Eric Hamlyn, WAT         22  2B  .303-5-50
18  Lance Smith, GROT        22  LF  .326-10-53
19  Boyd Kneeshaw, GROT      29  SS  .257-28-103
20  Ralph Gaines, STO        25  SS  .301-16-52

Watertown fans have to be pleased to see several of their young stars joining Butler, a long-time Conchs hero, on this list.

For pitchers, I provide their age, their record, and their ERA.

TOP PITCHERS                 AGE  W-L, ERA
 1  Dave Frazier, STO         29  23-9, 2.48
 2  Gerald Spradlin, WAT      27  6-0, 0.60
 3  Matt Carter, GROT         23  19-7, 2.57
 4  Scotty Goodwin, MAD       34  10-20, 3.23
 5  Nolan Hopkins, BRAN       37  19-14, 2.76
 6  John Ellender, GROT       30  16-10, 2.81
 7  Jesse Williams, OS        26  19-11, 3.37
 8  Justin Fruge, GROT        29  23-11, 2.51
 9  Dave Kinney, STO          33  18-13, 3.24
10  Dave Cline, STO           22  14-14, 4.03
11  Shannon West, GROT        27  12-10, 3.25
12  Walter Salzman, STO       28  13-5, 2.76
13  Brian Dunlap, GUIL        27  16-9, 3.46
14  Jamie DeYoung, MAD        26  8-9, 3.27
15  John Wilson, OS           24  3-2, 3.24
16  Darrell Miller, GUIL      42  15-17, 2.79
17  Shane Polston, BRAN       24  11-17, 3.96
18  Scott Moye, GROT          25  7-5, 3.21
19  Francisco Sanchez, MAD    22  0-2, 3.13
20  Carl Harris, OS           24  12-13, 3.62

Groton's rotation features four of the top 11 pitchers, and there are five Green Sox on the list altogether. None of the quintet are older than 30.

[darkcloud4579]

I like this ideas lot. Very creative and original. Kudos!

[Big Six]

Originally Posted by darkcloud4579

I like this ideas lot. Very creative and original. Kudos!

Thanks very much, darkcloud4579. I figured I might reallyenjoy a baseball "world" that was a little out of the ordinary, without being located in an exotic country or a completely fictional setting. I might do something like that sometime, but for now I will stick a little closer to home.

[Big Six]

March 27, 1942

Spring training is over, and it’s only a matter of days before the 1942 Connecticut Shore League season opens on April 1.

The prognosticators at Baseball News have issued their preseason predictions, and they’re picking the defending Shore Series champion Groton Green Sox to cruise to an easy victory in the Eastern Division pennant race. In fact, the Sox are the only Eastern club predicted to finish with a winning record. The Stonington Brawlers, Mystic Clippers, and Waterford Conchs are slated to finish behind the Green Sox, in that order.

The experts believe the Western Division will feature a tough battle between the Old Saybrook Privateers and the Madison Republicans, with the Privateers barely in front. The Branford Barbers are picked for a close third, with the Guilford Corgis bringing up the rear.

Fans of the Corgis and Clippers beg to disagree, however. Their teams finished with the best records in spring training ball, each coming in with 14-10 slates. All in all, the competition during the preseason was intense, with no team finishing with fewer than 10 victories.

Among the hitters forecast to have big years are Old Saybrook’s Paul Flint, Stockbridge’s David von Hof, and the Waterford trio of Alex Callihan, Spike Butler, and Bruce Vogt.

Pitchers expected to be especially successful include Nolan Hopkins of Branford, Dave Frazier of Stonington, and Matt Carter of Groton.

[Big Six]

April 1, 1942

I won't do this every year, but since 1942 is the first season I'm writing about here, I think I'll post each team's usual starting lineup and most important pitchers, along with some of their key ratings. That way, all of us--myself included--will know the teams and their players even better.

For position players, the ratings I've given are Contact, Gap Power, Power, Eye, and Speed.

For pitchers, I'm listing Stuff, Movement, and Control. Pitchers with asterisks beside their names are lefthanders.

First up: the Baseball News choice for Eastern Division champions, the Groton Green Sox:

GROTON           POS  AGE   C   G   P   E   S
Lance Smith       LF   22  14  12   9   4  18
Nick Wallace      3B   25  16  13   2  11  12
Paul Clayton      RF   27  13  17  14  12  14
Grant Gould       1B   27  15  10  15  12   6 
Boyd Kneeshaw     SS   29  12  11  13   9  12
John McDougall    CF   23  10  11   7  11  16
Joe Farrington    C    25  11  14   9  10   2
Michael O'Gorman  2B   38   9  13   2  11  12

GROTON           POS  AGE   S   M   C      
Matt Carter       SP   23   9  15  16
Justin Fruge*     SP   29  11  12  14
John Ellender     SP   30  10  13  14
Shannon West      SP   27  14  16   8
Scott Moye        MR   25  11  13  13
Johnny Lucas      CL   23  12  17  10

The Green Sox have a formidable pitching staff which is usually considered the league's best. They are a young team with no real flaws.