Fictional Post War British Baseball

[Dalwhat]

PROLOGUE

Somewhere in an alternate reality far, far away….

It is London, September 1945. The Japanese have recently surrendered, thus ending WWII and a Labour government led by Clement Attlee has been elected to drive Great Britain forward and rebuild out of the desolation left by the war.

Pretty soon it becomes apparent that morale is vital if the country is going to build on the legacy of the euphoria the people have of waking up to “peace in our time”. The government decides to concentrate on providing entertainment for the masses in an attempt to provide a feel good factor that should have a knock on effect throughout the economy. Unfortunately the national game of association football is in a parlous state. Most of the grounds are bomb sites or else have been requisitioned and put under the plough in the national interest. In addition the vast majority of the clubs aren’t sufficiently financially viable to do anything about this malaise anywhere in the near future. A radically imaginative plan is floated, however it requires the assistance of the Americans.

In a deal that involves extending the leases of the airfields used by the USAF during the war, President Truman is persuaded to put the British government in touch with Major League Baseball. In a startlingly short time the league owners each agree to sponsor a team based in the UK. The league thus formed will have the same format as MLB to begin with but will be entirely independent and allowed to evolve at its own pace. In addition to sponsoring the teams with respect to equipment, training and payroll MLB will also advise the clubs in Great Britain about stadium design. In return the US government agrees to be sympathetic to league owners’ business interests and provide them with significant tax incentives.

The new league is to be called the United Kingdom Baseball League (UKBL) and franchises are set up in each of the top sixteen population centres of the country. They are sorted into two divisions based on geography and the 154 game schedule will preclude interleague play other than at the end of the season when the overall winner will be named following a best of five game playoff. The US sponsors are allocated by random ballot and allow the teams to use their nicknames in return for a cut of merchandising revenue.

Southern Division
Birmingham Phillies
Brighton Browns
Bristol Dodgers
Cardiff Senators
Leicester Reds
London Tigers
Nottingham Cardinals
Portsmouth Yankees

Northern Division
Belfast Cubs
Edinburgh Red Sox
Glasgow Braves
Leeds Giants
Liverpool Pirates
Manchester Athletics
Newcastle Indians
Sheffield White Sox

Towards the end of the year the locations for the stadia are selected and development is helping build up the local economies of the areas in which they are sited. Already councils of other cities are showing interest in adding their names to a shortlist when and if an expansion occurs.The scheme is such a success that the British government approves the creation of three classes of minor league clubs each of which will be affiliated to, although not subsidised by, one of the UKBL clubs. They will effectively be at AAA, AA and A level.

Throughout the process it was intended that the season would begin in April 1946 and so by December 1945 everything was in place for the inaugural draft. The guidelines for this was that players of US origin would be entitled to 25% of the draft spots with the remaining 75% made up of British and Commonwealth players, however international players would have a restricted number of roster slots available.

The dynasty will continue with a review of the draft, by which time the clubs should have decided on their logos and uniforms.

[Dalwhat]

Inaugural Draft (Part 1)

The honour of being the first player drafted into the newly formed UKBL fell to Gavin Westacott, a speedy LF from the south coast of England who was taken by the Newcastle Indians.



26 year old "Kingfish" Westacott seemed to tick all the boxes having blazing speed, good defense and above average contact and power. However perhaps his diva attitude turned the Indians off him as he was only offered a single year arbitration deal worth $16,200. It will be interesting to see how his career pans out as he will probably live his entire career in camera thanks to the historic tag placed around his neck.

Overall the draft threw up some interesting numbers in respect of the payrolls the teams were prepared to fork out.



The biggest overall spenders were Liverpool whereas the Leicester Reds seemed content to get by with a figure only 30% of the Pirates' budget. Leicester staffed their roster with players on only one year deals apart from 33 year old C Lenny Blye who was able to squeeze a two year deal out of them worth $46,400. It remains to be seen if this is an effective attempt at moneyball or else that Cincinatti just doesn't believe in the experiment quite as strongly as Pittsbugh.

[Dalwhat]

Inaugural Draft (Part 2)

The top paid individuals as drafted were as follows:



Top of the heap was CF James Chown as drafted by the Bristol Dodgers.



Known affectionately as Munchkin the scouts had marked his card as being a five tool player as well as being extremely bright AND popular. The Dodgers immediately signed him up to a six year deal.

His was not the top contract signed however as over in the capital the Tigers had signed 29 year old SS Bernard Ainsley to a seven year deal worth $420k.



The Tigers hoped Mr "Fly By Night" would become the leader in the clubhouse and the tall switch hitter from near Liverpool had already become a popular figure with both fans and players by the time spring training came around. His ability to get on base was expected to make up for a lack of power and give the big bats in London something to aim for.

The time for talking was done now as spring training was around the corner and the next instalment will focus on the league's first outings. Would the fans turn up to watch grown men play what many still perceived to be rounders? Only time would tell.

[Dalwhat]

Spring Training (Part 1)

Everyone reaches the eve of spring training without mishap with the exception of Sheffield White Sox reliever Ross Pollard. The Sox' official statement read that Pollard was injured while getting beaned during batting practice. He was subsequently listed day-to-day for four days in March with a "bruised ankle". Since when you can be beaned in the ankle I have no idea unless the ball bounced off his head onto his foot. Either way he seems to be fortunate cookie as he seemed fully fit when he hits spring camp.

Elsewhere in the League Leeds Giants' SP Finlay MacChrystal turned heads when he walked into the clubhouse on the first day of spring training. MacChrystal surprised everyone by shedding weight as a result of a diet change in the off season.



The Scot, whose nickname before this episode was ironically "Skinny", released a statement saying "I decided it was time to take my career to another level. You only get one shot at playing this game at a professional level and I want to make the most of my opportunity. Apart from doing more work outs I decided I was going to completely change my diet. I eliminated all junk food and focussed on implementing as many greens into my diet as possible"

As a result, the entire clubhouse is excited to see how MacChrystal performs this year. Some believe that he could really turn the corner on his career.

"I feel great. I'm excited to get out there and show the world who I am" MacChrystal said, grinning from ear to ear.

It is believed the 25 year old Scot, who now tips the scales at a meagre 12st 12lbs (180lbs), has entirely cut out haggis and deep-fried Mars bars from his diet and has a chance at making his team's starting rotation.

Meanwhile the so-called experts have run their experienced eyes over the rosters and come out with their projections for the year ahead.



In the South it is expected to be tight first season with the possibility of Brighton edging out London, Bristol, Nottingham and Cardiff. Basically it is too close to call at this stage and perhaps things will be a little clearer by opening day. What all the experts seem to agree on however is that the apparently underfunded Reds are in all likelihood going to prop up the table.



In the north things seem to be a little more clear cut. Newcastle Indians, first pick Gavin Westacott and all, are expected to steamroller all before them and win the league at a canter. The highly funded Pirates are only projected to finish somewhere in the chasing pack.

Everything is up for grabs however as projections aren't worth the paper they're written on, especially this year in the first season of the league when all the unknowns are factored in. Who are the big time players? Who can handle the pressure? And what effect will injuries have? Things will look a whole lot clearer by the end of spring training.

[Dalwhat]

Spring Training (Part 2)

It was universally accepted that pre-season spring training was a resounding success with some pre-eminent performances from the players. The League Office also released a statement praising all the "behind the scenes" individuals that made everything work with very few hiccups. Particular mention was made of the groundsmen that prepared the pitches, local tradesmen who pulled together and created seating and in many cases entire stadia in the short time since the league's creation. Also receiving mention were the stewards and other safety officials who had provided their time and skills freely. It was agreed that the clubs should award themselves a huge pat on the back on pulling this off. The crowds had turned up and been thrilled by some outstanding performances. This was evidenced by the number of season tickets already purchased league-wide, notwithstanding the poor weather the players were expected to perform in.

King of the bats proved to be the aforementioned James Chown of the Dodgers who led the league in AVG and OBP.



He was beaten to the SLG crown by Clive Pinch of the Pirates although still hit an entirely creditable 1.022 himself. Overall everything pointed to a fascinating power duel between the two in the season to come. One player who would take no further part in the season however was Arthur Stallard of the Birmingham Phillies.



Art had just come back from a mild hamstring pull when he suffered a torn flexor tendon in his elbow resulting in a projected 10 month layoff. Everyone wishes him well and a swift recovery. Hopefully he will be able to get in shape in time for next season. Word has it that he may agree to ground breaking surgery to improve his chances said Phillies spokesman Tommy John.

With the pre-season done and dusted the journalists had revised their predictions for the season ahead.



In the South the Brighton Browns had cemented their tag as favourites although the Cardiff Senators hopes had taken a tumble. What was noticeable however was the reduced expectation of offense overpowering pitching with ERA projections being a full run lower following the teams' run outs in Spring Training. This was mirrored in the Northern Division where the relative expectation of the Belfast Cubs and previous favourites Newcastle Indians seemed to have reversed. The reason for this appears to have resulted from a positive re-evaluation of the Cubs' pitching staff where their projected ERA had fallen from 5.02 to 3.09. Meanwhile the heavily spending Pirates continued to impress few.

All of this poring over statistics and extrapolating results over 154 games is all well and good and sells newspapers but the time had now arrived where individuals had to put up or shut up. Opening Day was nigh and as is said in association football the table doesn't lie at the end of the season.

The next report will be at the All Star break where hopefully there will be names to laud and performances to applaud.

[progen]

Besides a baseball fan, also a huge soccer fan, and was in Manchester last April to see United play at Old Trafford. Huge United fan!!

My daughter lives in London!

Good stuff, I'll be following!

[Dalwhat]

The All Star Break

By the time the All Star break rolled around it was clear all was not well in Liverpool.



The Pirates were so far off the pace that news had already reached Pittsburgh. And the MLB club, that had pumped huge amounts of money into the fledgling British franchise, were not happy. Not happy at all. The only bat to escape criticism was second baseman Carl Stonehouse with an AVG of .341. Even the much heralded Clive Pinch, who had promised so much in pre-season was slumping to a SLG of only .384 although he had batted in 40 runs. The real problem however was the pitching. The club had four of the original rotation on long term injuries. In total the Pirates had five pitchers and two position players sidelined for over two months. This was the one thing that money couldn't solve. The Pirates management however were left in no doubt by their MLB overseers that they had to find a solution so that by the end of the season they weren't the laughing stock of the League.

Meanwhile, the Cubs of Belfast were tearing it up. Already 9.5 games up they looked to be bankers for the pennant. Unfortunately for them the spectre of injuries was beginning to cast its shadow of them too. The Cubs depended heavily on their starting pitching. Unfortunately however their ace Ross Kinsey had succumbed to a shoulder injury just before the All Star break.



At the time of his injury "Hoover" Kinsey had pitched 12-0 from 16 starts with an ERA of 1.17. His replacement had pitched 2 losing games with an ERA of 7.24. The Cubs had lost 6 of their last 10 games and their fans were hoping this wasn't a sign of the bubble having burst.

In the South things were much closer.



The Reds, in contrast to the Pirates, were running the shop on a shoestring however the entire staff seemed to be overachieving and they were on top of the Division. Obviously things could change in the run in but this was exactly the pennant race the Government, the MLB and the domestic organisers were hoping for. A grand spectacle was planned at The Oval cricket ground in Kennington, south London which was hosting the All Star Game. The Prime Minister, Clement Attlee had even arranged for King George VI to turn up and throw the ceremonial first pitch. Unfortunately the British weather had the last word and the entire event was rained off with monsoon conditions lasting the entire week. The All Star game was cancelled and the season resumed.

Play Ball!!

[Waino2Yadi]

Loving this so far! Any chance for a quick-start of this?