The King is Dead. Long Live the King (Yankees).

[Tribe1450]

The King is Dead.
Long Live the King (Yankees)

A New Era of Major League Baseball

Set in the winter months following the 1953 Major League Baseball Season when major league owners banded together to complain about their financial situation and the never-ending Yankee dynasty.

At the time the Yankees had won five (5) consecutive World Series Titles and six out of the past seven. It was their sixteenth (16) title overall since 1921. They lost only four (4) World Series during that time, amassing 20 American League Pennants in 33 years. They had never gone more than three (3) years between championships during that time.



** All accounts in this narrative are completely fictional and have been created for entertainment value only. Any use of real names, places, teams, or entities has been done so with great respect for the legacy, history, and real-life accomplishments of each. No part of this post or subsequent posts are real.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Tuesday, December 1, 1953

Long Live the Yankees – The King is Dead?

Major League Baseball owners have become increasingly frustrated with the dominance shown by the New York Yankees organization following their fifth consecutive World Series Championship. The seven other American League clubs filed a formal grievance against the Yankees with Commissioner Ford C. Frick yesterday, asking for some type of relief against the dynasty that will not allow second division clubs to become competitive.

Anonymous sources say the commissioner’s office has also been inundated with letters of protest from Yankee ballplayers themselves, upset with their compensation compared to the team’s overall success. Up until this time Commissioner Frick has not responded publicly to any type of personnel matter or competitive balance matter, claiming all such discussions will only be handled by the individual clubs involved.

Commissioner Frick today however met briefly with reporters to explain that he had in fact received the correspondence in question and that he will be taking a few weeks to explore all aspects of each. It is not known if or when the commissioner’s office will have any further public discussion on the subjects at hand or if he will discuss things with the individual league or team offices.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Monday, December 8, 1953

Baseball Shakeup?

Major League Baseball could be on the verge of a major shakeup according to anonymous sources at league offices in New York City.

The commissioner’s office has been holding meetings with all sixteen ownership groups during the past week to discuss financial concerns and competitive balance concerns. Details of those meetings have not been officially released, but sources say Commissioner Frick is not happy that internal disagreements are being made public.

It is unclear how long the meetings may continue or if Frick will begin holding private meetings with individual teams.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Monday, December 15, 1953

Organized Baseball Could Change Drastically in ‘54

Major League Baseball Commissioner Ford C. Frick told reporters today that he has been meeting with representatives from all sixteen big league clubs during the past few weeks to specifically talk about competitive balance within the league and the future of the league’s overall finances.

The commissioner spoke about the concerns some of the owners are having with decreased revenues. They are claiming the current Yankee dynasty has put the overall value of the league in a lower-than-expected position, which in turn causes each individual ball club to suffer financially.

The recent relocation of the Boston Braves to Milwaukee and a petition to relocate the St. Louis Browns to Baltimore were cited by the fourteen other clubs as reason enough to begin serious consideration of a wide range of options to help keep all their clubs competitive past Memorial Day each year.

Commissioner Frick said that he is considering the creation of a new special committee to investigate the competitive balance and financial situation of the league, but he gave no further information about how soon such a committee might be created or when it might in fact be ready to meet.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Monday, December 22, 1953

Organized Baseball Looking to Restructure

Major League Baseball Commissioner Ford C. Frick told reporters today that his efforts to re-examine the overall competitive balance of the league is going to take a short break for the holidays, but he is going to convene a special Blue-Ribbon Committee on League Operations in New York City on Monday, January 4.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Tuesday, January 5, 1954

Commissioner Holding Court on the Future of Organized Ball

Baseball Commissioner Ford C. Frick started meeting yesterday with executives from all sixteen Major League ballclubs to get their input and ideas on how to keep both the American and National League competitive for all its ballclubs and not just a few.

The recent dominance of the New York Yankees has created a vacuum that more than half of the league’s teams feel puts them at a continuous competitive disadvantage.

Commissioner Frick told reporters today that he will continue to hold meetings with team executives and ownership groups in the hopes of coming up with some type of guide to help the league move into the future.

The commissioner also mentioned that the proposed move of the St. Louis Browns franchise to Baltimore will be voted on by the fifteen other ownership groups next Monday during a special meeting in New York City.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Monday, January 11, 1954

Browns Transfer to Baltimore Approved – More Changes on Horizon

Major League Baseball owners formally approved the transfer of the St. Louis Browns franchise to Baltimore. The team will also be changing its name, colors, and logo as it becomes known as the Baltimore Orioles.

Anonymous league sources say additional franchise relocations are likely occur in the next few years if the league does not act to improve competitive balance and finances for all sixteen teams. Commissioner Ford C. Frick is not commenting on his recent talks on the subjects, but he did hint that an announcement could be made later this month or early in February.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Thursday, January 28, 1954

Baseball Commissioner to Address State of the League

Major League Baseball Commissioner Ford C. Frick announced today that he will be hosting a formal press conference on Wednesday, February 3 in New York City when he will explain a complete restructuring of organized baseball in America. He would not tell reporters any of the details of his plans or what prompted him to seek out changes.

Anonymous sources say that every aspect of the game is being discussed and changes could be coming on subjects such as relocation, expansion, and league wide finances.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Wednesday, February 3, 1954

Organized Baseball Changed Forever – History Lost – Future Preserved?

Major League Baseball Commissioner Ford C. Frick dropped a proverbial bombshell on organized baseball today, citing a need to improve overall competitive balance and league finances. The changes to be announced are drastic and will be felt from coast to coast.

The commissioner worked for weeks with all sixteen ownership groups to come up with a plan that lays out the next 20 to 30 years for Major League baseball. The changes will be taking effect for the upcoming 1954 season and include league restructuring, a new divisional alignment of teams, and a complete restructuring of league finances.

The commissioner’s office said no further franchise relocations will be permitted until at least 1961, when both the American and National Leagues will expand by two teams each.

While all sixteen teams and the commissioner’s office have agreed in principle to the terms of the new long-term agreement, a formal vote on the matter has not yet taken place. The commissioner has called a special meeting for Monday, February 22, 1954 when a vote to ratify the new agreement and blueprint for organized ball will be taken.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Monday, February 22, 1954

Major League Baseball Approves Sweeping Changes

Major League Baseball owners voted unanimously today to change the structure of organized baseball in America. Commissioner Ford C. Frick said he was acting at the will of league ownership and players when they approached him with a desire to plan out the short-term and long-term future of the league so that teams could remain competitive and profitable.

Exact details of the new agreements will be released to the public on Saturday, February 27, just six days before the start of Spring Training. Even with the short turnaround before the start of the new season, league owners and the commissioner’s office have said the new structure deals mostly with off the field activities, although player finances are also a key piece to their plans.

Anonymous sources say that a new player contract system will be implemented this year, which will in part guarantee ballplayers a minimum salary, while also offering players a chance to negotiate the terms of their playing contracts as early as this season.

[Tribe1450]

I will post narratives of the league set up information and behind the scenes planning for the on-going history of the league.


This league has a complete full history of MLB through and including 1953. I imported a complete minor league system for the 1954 season and then adjusted the entire system to my own liking (details coming up).

The league has correct owners (no facegens), and I did my best to pick their correct attributes (patience, spending, etc.)

Finances have been changed / updated (details to follow)

Ballparks are correct to the year (thanks Silvam!)

Logos, uniforms, caps are all correct for 1954.

Spoiler alert - relocation and expansion do not pan out according to history.... Dodger Dome anyone!


I am rather detail oriented, so I have spent the better part of the past six months or so (Covid anyone) laying out the timelines for the the league, including expansion plans, ballparks, logos, uniforms and cap updates.

I will share my settings and league set up details as best I can.


I will do my best to post a quick-start of the league once I have finalized all of the details and I am ready to actually start moving through the sim.

Happy Holiday's to everyone - and thanks to others who have inspired me to take the leap into writing up a dynasty report!

[nebben]

Any updates? I'm fascinated by this setup. I've toyed around with something similar, around the same 1950s timeframe, but got bogged down in the details of setting it up. Would love to hear how it's going for you.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Saturday, February 27, 1954

Baseball Changes Explained

Major League Baseball (MLB) owners have voted unanimously to restructure organized baseball, including the American and National Leagues and all their affiliated minor league operations.

The league will restructure Minor League operations to allow for just four (4) affiliated teams per Major League franchise. One (1) team will be allowed in each of the four levels of Minor League operations that will remain affiliated with MLB.

Minor League Baseball (MiLB) will now include two different leagues in each level. Triple-A will include the International League and the Pacific Coast League. Double-A will include the Texas League and the Eastern League. Single-A will include the Florida State League and the California League. Rookie Leagues will include the Midwest League and the South Atlantic League.

All other Minor League teams and or leagues will no longer be affiliated with Major League Baseball and no additional player development contracts will be allowed unless approved by a majority of current Major League owners.

Each of the leagues of organized ball will be divided into two (2) divisions of four (4) teams each. Owners will continue discussions about potential inter-league scheduling in the future.

1954 Season Division Alignment

American League Eastern Division
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Philadelphia Athletics
Washington Senators

American League Western Division
Detroit Tigers
Baltimore Orioles
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Indians

National League Eastern Division
Brooklyn Dodgers
New York Giants
Philadelphia Phillies
Pittsburgh Pirates

National League Western Division
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Redlegs
Milwaukee Braves
St. Louis Cardinals

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Saturday, February 27, 1954 (continued)

Major League Baseball will play 154 games per year, starting on the first Thursday on or after April 1st, (April 8th for 1954 only) while high-level minor-league teams will play 144 games per year starting on the first Thursday on or after April 8th. Rookie level teams will pay 84 games per team starting on the first Monday on or after May 15th.

A new American League Championship Series and National League Championship Series will be added to Major League Baseball, with the winners of those series meeting in the World Series. The League Championship Series will utilize a best-of-five format, while the World Series will remain a best-of-seven format. Home field advantage for each round will be determined by regular season won-loss records of the participating teams.

A new Major League Baseball Expansion Committee and a Major League Baseball Ballpark Advisory Committee will be created by May 1, 1954 to allow for robust and detailed discussions to occur on both subjects. Those committees will report to the Commissioner’s Office by August 1 with initial plans for expansion and ballpark renovation or construction.

Both committees will be used to create a new funding mechanism to help pay for ballpark renovation or new ballpark construction.

Any new franchise approved by MLB will be responsible for securing land and or property acquisition agreements for a new state of the art ballpark and club offices. The league will provide funding assistance to any franchise that needs ballpark or facility upgrades, with priority given to those clubs who are considering a relocation to another city.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Saturday, February 27th, 1954 (continued)

A special Commissioner’s Blue-Ribbon Panel on Relocation will also be created by April 15th, 1954 to discuss the details related to any future franchise relocation plans. A super majority (68%) of Major League Owners would have to approve any future franchise relocation, but an emphasis will be placed on retaining current locations whenever possible.

A new financial system has also been adopted by Major League Owners. A free-market system has been instituted, which will guarantee a minimum salary for all players on a team’s active roster, with true Free Agency possible after eleven (11) years of Major League or Minor League Service. A new salary arbitration process will be used to determine a yearly player salary for any player with 8, 9 or 10 years of service time.

A new national broadcasting contract has been finalized by the Commissioner’s Office, which will guarantee a fixed amount of income for each of the 16 franchise operations. A new Luxury Tax has also been created to keep future player salaries in check. An average of total payroll for all sixteen teams will be calculated and if an individual club exceeds 125% of that average amount, a luxury tax rate of 50% will be charged on the excess amount. That amount will be payable in equal shares to the teams that are spending less than the average amount per year.

I am really not sure how the game deals with the distribution of luxury tax dollars. I am using the in game system.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Saturday, February 27, 1954 (continues)

The financial changes are part of a new eleven (11) year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) being finalized with the newly created Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). When a new contract is negotiated for the 1965 season, Free Agency limits will be dropped to six (6) years of service time for both Major and Minor Leagues.

A new yearly Amateur Draft has also been created to help with a more equitable distribution of players entering the league. The draft will be held in December of each year and will include sixteen (16) rounds. The number of rounds will expand during expansion years. Teams will draft in reverse order of their previous seasons record, allowing for the teams with the worst won – loss records to draft first.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Saturday, February 27, 1954 (continued)

New roster size limits are also being imposed on all levels of organized baseball. Major Leagues will have a 26-man active roster limit until September 1st each year, when the rosters can expand to 28 players. A 40-man major league roster will also be in effect throughout the year.

As the restructuring of Minor League Baseball (MiLB) takes place this spring, all Triple-A players will be retained by their parent ballclubs, but all others will become free agents and will be available and included in a new 150 round Free Agent Draft, which will take place on Monday, March 1, 1954.

Minor League Baseball (MiLB) will have its teams adjusted to reflect modern day franchise affiliations for all levels. The actual league divisional setups will be different from modern day because of the difference in the overall number of teams. As expansion occurs, MiLB will adjust leagues and divisional setups accordingly.

All service time will remain in place for all players. The draft order for the Free Agent Draft will be determined by averaging the won loss records for each franchise during the past ten years, and then drafting in an inverse order of those winning percentages. The franchises with the worst records will draft first each round.

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Saturday, February 27, 1954


1954 Free Agent Disbursement Draft (150 rounds)

Draft Order (remains the same for each round)
1. Baltimore Orioles
2. Pittsburgh Pirates
3. Philadelphia Athletics
4. Washington Senators
5. Cincinnati Reds
6. Chicago White Sox
7. Chicago Cubs
8. Philadelphia Phillies
9. Milwaukee Braves
10. New York Giants
11. Detroit Tigers
12. Cleveland Indians
13. Boston Red Sox
14. St. Louis Cardinals
15. Brooklyn Dodgers
16. New York Yankees

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Saturday, February 27, 1954

Free Agent Draft (sharing only first 9 rounds)

Not sure what the new Baltimore Orioles franchise is thinking about, but other teams in the first round have apparently been doing their homework on the younger prospects in the league.

A few teams have decided to take a chance on aging veterans. The 150 round draft filled all four minor league affiliates for each franchise.

Each team selected 150 players, but then almost simultaneously they weeded out their lower rated players and ended up keeping only their highest rated players.

Some players were drafted and then released immediately, while in many other instances, drafted players bounced a player already in a teams farm system. Teams were able to keep their AAA affiliate roster from 1953 moving into the new year, but lost all lower level players in to the FA draft.


Round 1
Round 1, Pick 1 - Baltimore Orioles: C Charles Wilson, age 25
Round 1, Pick 2 - Pittsburgh Pirates: SP Don Drysdale, age 17
Round 1, Pick 3 - Philadelphia Athletics: SS Dick Hogan, age 20
Round 1, Pick 4 - Washington Senators: SP Bobby Shantz, age 28
Round 1, Pick 5 - Cincinnati Redlegs: CF Al Kaline, age 19
Round 1, Pick 6 - Chicago White Sox: SS Andre Rodgers, age 19
Round 1, Pick 7 - Chicago Cubs: 2B Harmon Killebrew, age 17
Round 1, Pick 8 - Philadelphia Phillies: 3B Bob Elliott, age 37
Round 1, Pick 9 - Milwaukee Braves: SP Bob Bruce, age 20
Round 1, Pick 10 - New York Giants: C Lefty O'Doul, age 56
Round 1, Pick 11 - Detroit Tigers: RF Roberto Clemente, age 19
Round 1, Pick 12 - Cleveland Indians: C Earl Battey, age 19
Round 1, Pick 13 - Boston Red Sox: C Aaron Robinson, age 38
Round 1, Pick 14 - St. Louis Cardinals: SP Ewell Blackwell, age 31
Round 1, Pick 15 - Brooklyn Dodgers: SP Jack Kramer, age 36
Round 1, Pick 16 - New York Yankees: 2B Joe Gordon, age 39


Round 2
Round 2, Pick 1 - Baltimore Orioles: SP Vinegar Bend Mizell, age 23
Round 2, Pick 2 - Pittsburgh Pirates: SP Bob Shaw, age 20
Round 2, Pick 3 - Philadelphia Athletics: CF Claudio Solano, age 28
Round 2, Pick 4 - Washington Senators: SP Joe Dobson, age 37
Round 2, Pick 5 - Cincinnati Redlegs: CF Ron Northey, age 33
Round 2, Pick 6 - Chicago White Sox: SS Dick Groat, age 23
Round 2, Pick 7 - Chicago Cubs: SP Walt Masterson, age 33
Round 2, Pick 8 - Philadelphia Phillies: 2B Bobby Richardson, age 18
Round 2, Pick 9 - Milwaukee Braves: SP Hank Aguirre, age 23
Round 2, Pick 10 - New York Giants: 1B Phil Cavarretta, age 37
Round 2, Pick 11 - Detroit Tigers: LF Bob Skinner, age 22
Round 2, Pick 12 - Cleveland Indians: 2B Charlie Neal, age 23
Round 2, Pick 13 - Boston Red Sox: 2B Connie Ryan, age 34
Round 2, Pick 14 - St. Louis Cardinals: C Carl Sawatski, age 26
Round 2, Pick 15 - Brooklyn Dodgers: LF Johnny Hopp, age 37
Round 2, Pick 16 - New York Yankees: 1B Bill D White, age 20


Round 3
Round 3, Pick 1 - Baltimore Orioles: SS Ken Toothman, age 18
Round 3, Pick 2 - Pittsburgh Pirates: SP Cliff Melton, age 42
Round 3, Pick 3 - Philadelphia Athletics: RF Oscar Rodriguez, age 22
Round 3, Pick 4 - Washington Senators: C Hank Foiles, age 24
Round 3, Pick 5 - Cincinnati Redlegs: 1B Jim Gentile, age 19
Round 3, Pick 6 - Chicago White Sox: SS Eddie Lake, age 37
Round 3, Pick 7 - Chicago Cubs: LF Lee Thomas, age 18
Round 3, Pick 8 - Philadelphia Phillies: C Jake Early, age 38
Round 3, Pick 9 - Milwaukee Braves: 1B Pepper Martin, age 49
Round 3, Pick 10 - New York Giants: RF Tommy Holmes, age 36
Round 3, Pick 11 - Detroit Tigers: CF Aldo Salvent, age 24
Round 3, Pick 12 - Cleveland Indians: SS Billy Gardner, age 26
Round 3, Pick 13 - Boston Red Sox: SS Felix Mantilla, age 19
Round 3, Pick 14 - St. Louis Cardinals: C Dick Brown, age 19
Round 3, Pick 15 - Brooklyn Dodgers: 3B Whitey Kurowski, age 35
Round 3, Pick 16 - New York Yankees: 1B Gordy Coleman, age 19


Round 4
Round 4, Pick 1 - Baltimore Orioles: SP Bill Wight, age 31
Round 4, Pick 2 - Pittsburgh Pirates: CF Harry Anderson, age 22
Round 4, Pick 3 - Philadelphia Athletics: SP John Stadnicki, age 17
Round 4, Pick 4 - Washington Senators: CF Williamson William, age 18
Round 4, Pick 5 - Cincinnati Redlegs: C Gene Green, age 20
Round 4, Pick 6 - Chicago White Sox: CF Hermenio Cortes, age 19
Round 4, Pick 7 - Chicago Cubs: RF Bob Lennon, age 25
Round 4, Pick 8 - Philadelphia Phillies: 1B Jose Echeverria, age 19
Round 4, Pick 9 - Milwaukee Braves: 1B Max E West, age 37
Round 4, Pick 10 - New York Giants: 3B Snuffy Stirnweiss, age 35
Round 4, Pick 11 - Detroit Tigers: C Hal R Smith, age 22
Round 4, Pick 12 - Cleveland Indians: LF Don Demeter, age 18
Round 4, Pick 13 - Boston Red Sox: SP Mudcat Grant, age 18
Round 4, Pick 14 - St. Louis Cardinals: SS Daryl Spencer, age 25
Round 4, Pick 15 - Brooklyn Dodgers: C Ed Fernandes, age 35
Round 4, Pick 16 - New York Yankees: SS Humberto Guerrero, age 20
 

Round 5
Round 5, Pick 1 - Baltimore Orioles: CF Bobby Prescott, age 22
Round 5, Pick 2 - Pittsburgh Pirates: LF Earl Rapp, age 32
Round 5, Pick 3 - Philadelphia Athletics: RP Fred Bourbeau, age 21
Round 5, Pick 4 - Washington Senators: 1B Norm Zauchin, age 24
Round 5, Pick 5 - Cincinnati Redlegs: 1B Elias Osorio, age 23
Round 5, Pick 6 - Chicago White Sox: LF Willie Tasby, age 21
Round 5, Pick 7 - Chicago Cubs: 3B Woodie Held, age 21
Round 5, Pick 8 - Philadelphia Phillies: RF Floyd Robinson, age 17
Round 5, Pick 9 - Milwaukee Braves: SP Roger Craig, age 24
Round 5, Pick 10 - New York Giants: C Rollie Hemsley, age 46
Round 5, Pick 11 - Detroit Tigers: 2B Bill Mazeroski, age 17
Round 5, Pick 12 - Cleveland Indians: 3B Frank Carswell, age 34
Round 5, Pick 13 - Boston Red Sox: CF Lee Walls, age 21
Round 5, Pick 14 - St. Louis Cardinals: RF Jim King, age 21
Round 5, Pick 15 - Brooklyn Dodgers: LF Cliff Mapes, age 31
Round 5, Pick 16 - New York Yankees: 3B Bill Rigney, age 36


Round 6
Round 6, Pick 1 - Baltimore Orioles: RF Walter Sessi, age 35
Round 6, Pick 2 - Pittsburgh Pirates: RF Russ Snyder, age 19
Round 6, Pick 3 - Philadelphia Athletics: RP Jocko Thompson, age 37
Round 6, Pick 4 - Washington Senators: RF Bob Quinn, age 18
Round 6, Pick 5 - Cincinnati Redlegs: 3B Lou Klein, age 35
Round 6, Pick 6 - Chicago White Sox: 3B Steve Mesner, age 36
Round 6, Pick 7 - Chicago Cubs: RF Johnny Lindell, age 37
Round 6, Pick 8 - Philadelphia Phillies: 2B Johnny Lucadello, age 35
Round 6, Pick 9 - Milwaukee Braves: LF Lee Maye, age 19
Round 6, Pick 10 - New York Giants: 2B Maury Wills, age 21
Round 6, Pick 11 - Detroit Tigers: SS Billy Moran, age 20
Round 6, Pick 12 - Cleveland Indians: CF Roy Weatherly, age 39
Round 6, Pick 13 - Boston Red Sox: C Richard Czekaj, age 18
Round 6, Pick 14 - St. Louis Cardinals: 2B Reno Bertoia, age 19
Round 6, Pick 15 - Brooklyn Dodgers: 2B Gene Mauch, age 28
Round 6, Pick 16 - New York Yankees: CF Dick Greco, age 28
 

Round 7
Round 7, Pick 1 - Baltimore Orioles: SP Lefty Chambers, age 32
Round 7, Pick 2 - Pittsburgh Pirates: 2B Frank Bolling, age 22
Round 7, Pick 3 - Philadelphia Athletics: RP Lee Roy Jones, age 31
Round 7, Pick 4 - Washington Senators: 2B Leo Rodriguez, age 24
Round 7, Pick 5 - Cincinnati Redlegs: 2B Moises Camacho, age 20
Round 7, Pick 6 - Chicago White Sox: RF Hersh Martin, age 44
Round 7, Pick 7 - Chicago Cubs: 1B Dick Sisler, age 33
Round 7, Pick 8 - Philadelphia Phillies: 3B Pumpsie Green, age 20
Round 7, Pick 9 - Milwaukee Braves: 1B Ricardo Garza, age 24
Round 7, Pick 10 - New York Giants: LF Harry Elliott, age 30
Round 7, Pick 11 - Detroit Tigers: SS Tony Kubek, age 18
Round 7, Pick 12 - Cleveland Indians: 1B Frank Torre, age 22
Round 7, Pick 13 - Boston Red Sox: RP Ron Necciai, age 21
Round 7, Pick 14 - St. Louis Cardinals: CF Dean Stafford, age 32
Round 7, Pick 15 - Brooklyn Dodgers: RF Thurman Tucker, age 36
Round 7, Pick 16 - New York Yankees: RF Cliff Aberson, age 32


Round 8
Round 8, Pick 1 - Baltimore Orioles: SS Bearl Brooks, age 27
Round 8, Pick 2 - Pittsburgh Pirates: 1B Nap Reyes, age 34
Round 8, Pick 3 - Philadelphia Athletics: RF Dick Hall, age 23
Round 8, Pick 4 - Washington Senators: RP Bill Jamieson, age 22
Round 8, Pick 5 - Cincinnati Redlegs: RF Carlos Paula, age 26
Round 8, Pick 6 - Chicago White Sox: 1B Ron H Jackson, age 20
Round 8, Pick 7 - Chicago Cubs: 2B Sibby Sisti, age 33
Round 8, Pick 8 - Philadelphia Phillies: LF Stan Palys, age 23
Round 8, Pick 9 - Milwaukee Braves: CF Oscar Sardinas, age 23
Round 8, Pick 10 - New York Giants: CF Bill Kern, age 20
Round 8, Pick 11 - Detroit Tigers: 1B Inocencio Rodriguez, age 19
Round 8, Pick 12 - Cleveland Indians: 2B Ronny Camacho, age 18
Round 8, Pick 13 - Boston Red Sox: RP Dizzy Trout, age 38
Round 8, Pick 14 - St. Louis Cardinals: SS Rac Slider, age 20
Round 8, Pick 15 - Brooklyn Dodgers: 3B Hillis Layne, age 36
Round 8, Pick 16 - New York Yankees: RP Dick Hyde, age 25
 

Round 9
Round 9, Pick 1 - Baltimore Orioles: CF Al Heist, age 26
Round 9, Pick 2 - Pittsburgh Pirates: SS Roy Smalley Jr, age 27
Round 9, Pick 3 - Philadelphia Athletics: 1B Robert Pascal, age 23
Round 9, Pick 4 - Washington Senators: 3B Joseph Moran, age 18
Round 9, Pick 5 - Cincinnati Redlegs: C Jack Shepard, age 22
Round 9, Pick 6 - Chicago White Sox: RP Johnny Vander Meer, age 39
Round 9, Pick 7 - Chicago Cubs: 2B Billy Martin, age 25
Round 9, Pick 8 - Philadelphia Phillies: SS Jim Eldridge, age 24
Round 9, Pick 9 - Milwaukee Braves: LF Gino Cimoli, age 24
Round 9, Pick 10 - New York Giants: 1B Ken Landenberger, age 25
Round 9, Pick 11 - Detroit Tigers: LF Marvin Williams, age 34
Round 9, Pick 12 - Cleveland Indians: 2B Don E Leppert, age 23
Round 9, Pick 13 - Boston Red Sox: 3B Lou Stringer, age 36
Round 9, Pick 14 - St. Louis Cardinals: C Johnny Pramesa, age 28
Round 9, Pick 15 - Brooklyn Dodgers: 1B Bert Haas, age 40
Round 9, Pick 16 - New York Yankees: SP Ernie Broglio, age 18

[Tribe1450]

Major League Baseball
Thursday, March 4, 1954


Spring Training 1954

The Spring Training schedule was created by OOTP. It was adjusted/ edited to reflect all day games (1:05 pm) game times. I went into the schedule editor section of the league settings. You can not do this until the first day of Spring Training.

I also created a new ballpark from scratch using the ballpark creator in game. The “minor league” park was created using default settings and the ballpark was set in Arizona.

The Spring Training schedule was further adjusted to reflect all games being played at the new Spring Training ballpark. You can do this just like changing the game times - using the edit schedule function located in the team settings.

It should also be noted that I generated a new regular season schedule to reflect my division / subleague set up. As it turns out there are schedules available (in game or through the schedule mod section) that can be added to the game and then when you "clear" the schedule - set your schedule parameters in the league set up area - then create a new fictional schedule you should be good to go.

It took me a few times to move the starting date of the schedule to make sure the season ended on the last Sunday in September.

Once the regular season scheduled was created, I used the in game edit schedule function to change game times. Kind of tedious, but not too bad with only 16 teams. All weekends are now day games and most Thursday's are day games. Biggest pain was making all the Cubs games day games.

All in all in probably took me less than 20 minute to change.

I also adjusted the All-Star game in the league set up pages to reflect the game being played in Cleveland in 1954. I then double checked the regular season schedule to make sure it reflected the American League as the home team.

Regular season schedule clearing / re-creating needs to be done BEFORE the first day of Spring Training or you could have some serious issues with your Spring Training games. I am sure you can add them in manually easily enough, but that would be time consuming.

The last two games of the spring training schedule for each team (Games 29 & 30) – which ends on a Saturday and Sunday – were reworked to reflect interleague games / rivalries in a home and home series. I also changed the ballparks being used for the games to reflect the correct 1954 ballparks. This will give a great chance to easily "watch" those game to get a good feel for the ballparks and era just before the start of the regular seaon.

Red Sox / Braves
Yankees / Giants
Phillies / Athletics
Senators / Dodgers
Orioles / Cardinals
Indians / Reds
Tigers / Pirates
White Sox / Cubs

The game created a standard five-week spring training (30 games) – starting on Thursday, March 4th. Starting in 1955 (next year), the regular season schedule will begin on or after April 1st – moving it up one week compared to 1954. I changed the start date information in the league set up section on the first day of Spring Training - I will double check once the off-season gets here to make sure the change remains in place. This way I should not have to remember to change it later.

If I had changed the starting date to April 1st for this first year of my sim, it might have caused issues with spring training schedules since the sim universe started on February 27th. It might not have had enough days to create the five week minor league and I didn't want to tempt fate.

League news and notes will be updated on a week by week basis.

There are no injuries anywhere in the league at the start of the league season.