Continental Baseball League

[tarmer]

The year is 1962 - The continental baseball league is officially formed as third MLB league. The league led by William Shea and Branch Rickey is established to not only bring a Major League team back to New York City but also to several other cities that have been wanting team presence since baseball has grown.

The league with the backing of the likes of Jack Kent Cooke and others have formed an 8 league circuit to take on the lock of MLB. This will be the story of this league.

Branch Rickey was concerned about how to fill the rosters of these teams, but did note “ It does not matter who is on the field whether major or minor leaguer as long as the outcome of the game is to be determined”

It is at this point the “What-If” starts. In reality this league was scheduled to start in 1961 and it was
planned for 8 cities New York, Toronto, Minneapolis, Denver, Buffalo, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas bit they never played a single game before folding. As an olive branch to the Continental League to get them to fold several of these teams were created in MLB in 1961 and later........

This does not happen here... In this league the Continental actually is able to get off the ground and challenge the MLB. So here it is the Continental Baseball League:

Some liberty is taken with the teams and explained why below:

Here are the 8 participants

Buffalo Bisons, New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Angels, Denver Bears, Atlanta Crackers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Houston Colt 45’s

( The angels are taken as preemptive strike for a west coast presence to compete directly with the recently relocated dodgers. This did not happen as MLB moved the angels to AL in 61 as a response to CBL,

So the idea was rather than make new teams in areas to just elevate the existing teams in the area to save costs and keep already installed fan base

This will be historic from the team and player perspective (this will not be a fictional league) but player performance may or may not match real life

We will use scouting, we will use 1-20 for all ratings and 20-80 for potential
There will be a forum and slack which will take care of ALL league matters and Stats plus.. we will have drafts and FA and it will run parallel to real MLB the league champion will meet the winner of the MLB series for the World Series

This will be a small 8 team league

This league will require a few things:

1. Participation - If you cannot commit to being an active participant than please do not apply.. I know you say you can now but please think about it. The thing that kills leagues quickly is drop outs
2. Exports- I don’t expect them every sim but the need to be at least once a week (see 1 above)
3. Be part of the community, be somewhat active and respond to emails, slacks etc.

This league will also not allow crazy, silly trading that ruins teams or concepts. We all may transact within reason but there will be a monitor to this to maintain league concept

I have nothing up, nothing in place - But I will start putting things together and have ready in a week or less.. If any interest please pm or drop a response here.....

For those that want to see what the rosters look like go to Baseball Reference and find the teams you are wondering about that will be your roster..

I will fill in other rules as I move along and would like for you guys to post your thoughts as well. - Looking to get this off the ground as quickly as I can fill

[tarmer]

Angels taken.
7 more to go

[Max]

Can I get toronto?

[tarmer]

Yes you can have Toronto .. welcome aboard

[Max]

Yay!

[Max]

Do you use slack?

[tarmer]

I do use slack and will set this up on Slack... I am working on putting it together but am also making sure I have a solid bunch of managers

[tarmer]

Originally Posted by Max

Can I get toronto?

PM me your email address

[tarmer]

Every league has them and this is no different- Please carefully read and understand the rules before deciding to join. There have been too many times when what is written is not read and it leaves to irritated mangers or leaving the league because it was not as thought.

The CBL is 8 teams

The league will play 154 games - it will run simultaneously with MLB (in the background). The league champion will play the winner of the AL/NL Series (was World Series will now be MLB championship) in the World Series.

The league will be setup as an Association so all free agents, drafts and playoffs will be shared by all leagues.

The league will have a draft - the number of rounds each season is TBD based on amount of available players. The draft will be based on finishing position or pct.

The game will sim 3 times a week (MWF) 1 week at a time

Scouting will be on - set to normal
Player ratings will be set at 1-20
Current and Potential will be set at 20-80
There will be no stars

FINANCIALS:

These are a pain to deal with and I have never played in a league that these really worked out so I will continue to work on them - but for the moment we will play with the reserve clause on - this will allow managers to keep players until they retire or are traded, releases. Once financials are put together in a reasonable way this will be further discussed.

If anyone has any ideas please feel free to present

TRADING:

In an effort to maintain the vision of this league trading will be allowed only as follows:

1. There is no trading allowed between CLB and MLB, free agents MAY be signed but trades may not occur between these leagues.
2. Trades may be made freely between CLB teams but in order to keep managers from trading away players and leaving the team barren should they leave ALL TRADES WILL BE SUBJECT TO LEAGUE REVIEW. This is not meant to stop trading but to assure teams are getting value for trades.

3. All trades must be made on line and finalized by both parties in order to be complete.
4. If it appears a team is tanking or attempting to trade away it’s future they will be spoken to.

5. The purpose of these rules is we are all big boys and have all played in those leagues where team managers know each other and make shady one sided deals as friends, or the team that either does not care or is having an awful season and they decide to open the floodgates and once that is done they leave the league... Let’s not have that here- It hurts the league and makes people lose interest


DRAFT

The CBL will share the draft with MLB so all teams will be involved in the draft. Due to this fact the number of rounds may vary from season to season based on available draft pool

SLACK

The league will use slack as one of its communication tools, all managers are expected to be on it and to respond to messages within a reasonable amount of time- this is to try and help keep activity level high

FORUM

The league will have a forum - This is old school as a lot of leagues have moved away from them but this league will still use one for various information, records, data and such - all mangers will be expected to register and check the forum occasionally for updated information.

STATS PLUS

We will also use Stats plus for the league


BIGGEST RULES: Let’s try to have fun with it, try to be active and try to be competitive- some teams will have a bigger challenge than others but the main goal is to win the league and beat MLB in the World Series

I am happy to have anybody that wants to join, but please please think hard about joining before you do. All leagues take some form of commitment (can be minimal of maximum) but the league and all other managers depend on each of us to participate. It kills the excitement and energy when teams start dropping out.. Life happens and that is understood but some leagues have had many years of success let’s see if we can do the same

[tarmer]

Angels, Twins, Toronto gone.. 5 more left

[goRays2020]

Are you waiting to start until you fill the league?

[tarmer]

Well that would be the best way to start... There is no reason to start without it being filled

[goRays2020]

Originally Posted by tarmer

Well that would be the best way to start... There is no reason to start without it being filled

I'm a total newb, wasn't sure. Are there still spots open? And what is the learning curve? Would I be jumping in the deep end with concrete blocks tied to myself?

[tarmer]

Originally Posted by goRays2020

I'm a total newb, wasn't sure. Are there still spots open? And what is the learning curve? Would I be jumping in the deep end with concrete blocks tied to myself?

No worries... It’s just that leagues can be hard to fill and since this is only 8 teams it would be better to fill them all... Yes there are spots open, This is a historic type league so it will be real players starting in the 60’s - some people don’t like that they prefer current - I don’t think being a newbie is an issue nor do I think it is deep water - the league is pretty straight forward the most important thing is the commitment to any league - not getting in and getting frustrated early and quitting after a few Sims.... if that works for you then I think you could do this.

The open teams would be New York, Buffalo, Houston, Atlanta and Denver- if you want to know the players look up on Baseball Reference for the 1961
Buffalo Bison, Mets, Houston Buffs, Atlanta Crackers or Denver Bears...

Let me know

[totroi]

I would be very interested in taking over the New York Mets! Also a newbie - i did however force myself to stay out of any online leagues until i got somewhat familiar with the game. So only aspects, which apply to online play, are new to me.

[taojc6]

I'd be interested in grabbing the Buffalo Bison.

[tarmer]

Originally Posted by totroi

I would be very interested in taking over the New York Mets! Also a newbie - i did however force myself to stay out of any online leagues until i got somewhat familiar with the game. So only aspects, which apply to online play, are new to me.

I would be happy to give you the Mets and can help with the online portion all I ask from all you guys (since you guys are all new) is that you do not commit to this league if you cannot stay - We were all new once so I get that but if I end up with all new guys who have no league experience I want to make sure you will not all bail once we get started..

So if interested PM me your email address so I can get you in

[tarmer]

Originally Posted by taojc6

I'd be interested in grabbing the Buffalo Bison.

Same message I wrote above - Happy to have you just don’t want people to bail when they get bored as most of these players will start in the 60s and won’t turn modern for some time

PM me you email

[tarmer]

Teams Taken:: Angels, Toronto, Buffalo, Mets, Twins
Teams left: Denver, Houston, Atlanta,

[tarmer]

Originally Posted by tarmer

I would be happy to give you the Mets and can help with the online portion all I ask from all you guys (since you guys are all new) is that you do not commit to this league if you cannot stay - We were all new once so I get that but if I end up with all new guys who have no league experience I want to make sure you will not all bail once we get started..

So if interested PM me your email address so I can get you in

Thank You