Fallout: New Vegas' Mojave Baseball League

[Tyke]

Yeah, Jones is obviously the answer to my previous query. And LaRue continues to produce the goods, also.

[StLee]

Goodsprings Pitching Dominates NCR Again

Goodsprings got a solid game from Bob Jackson to out duel New California Republic’s Jim Crouch in a 2-1 Lucky 38s victory in Game Five of the Mojave Series.

Jackson was named the game’s MVP after giving up only one earned run on six hits with four strikeouts in 7.2 innings.

Crouch got the loss despite pitching well. He allowed two earned runs on four hits with a walk and five strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Dan Barlow and Bill Shelton finished the game for the Bears, not allowing a single base runner in the final 2.2 innings.

The Lucky 38s had half of their hits in the bottom of the second when they took a 2-0 lead. With one out, Dennis Shaft walked. After Perry Ferguson singled, Java Stirfry hit an RBI double to score Shaft. Alex Raines then hit an RBI ground out that proved later to be the game-winning RBI.

New California Republic’s sole run came in the third. Crouch hit a one-out single and advanced later on a passed ball. Alex Carney then singled him in with two outs for the only offensive output in the game for the Bears.

The teams combined for 10 total hits. Carney was the only player in the game with multiple hits with two. The NCR’s Joel Bowles and the Lucky 38s’ Shaft were the only players with extra-base hits in the game.

The NCR and Goodsprings now head to the Hoover Dam for Game Six. The Bears need two victories to claim the series, while the Lucky 38s are a victory away from clinching their second straight title over the NCR.

Game note: Joel Bowles made his debut in the Mojave Series after missing part of the semifinals series and the first four games of the Mojave Series due to the death of his brother… Jim Ford is expected to be the starting pitcher for Bears, while Donald Bush will try to clinch the series for the Goodsprings….Gerardo Makejoo was ejected in the first inning after arguing a called strike three.

[Tyke]

One more... just one more!

[NYY #23]

I would think Jones is lined up for a potential game 7 as well. Hopefully that won't be necessary and they'll close it out in 6!

[StLee]

Martinez Blasts Lucky 38s to Second Straight Title

Entering the seventh inning of Game Six of the Mojave Series, Martinez had been silent on the power side of things. Martinez, who hit a team-leading 21 home runs during the regular season, had yet to deliver in the postseason.

That all changed, though, with Goodsprings up 3-2 in the seventh inning. Martinez’s three-run shot in the inning helped propel the Lucky 38s to a 6-2 lead on their way to a 7-3 victory over New California Republic and the 2288 Mojave Baseball League title.

The game was scoreless after four innings, but that changed in the fifth inning. Alex Raines led off the top of the inning with a single for the Lucky 38s. After starting pitcher Bush bunted Raines over, Mike Duncan hit an RBI double for a 1-0 Goodsprings lead.

It didn't take long for the Bears to tie the game. The NCR’s postseason pitching ace Jim Ford helped his own cause by taking a 2-0 pitch over the right field wall to tied the game, 1-1.

The Lucky 38s answered in the sixth when Dennis Shaft hit a one-out solo home run, his first of two, which also earned him Game MVP honors. Shaft finished the game 2 for 4 with two home runs with two runs scored and two RBI. He was named MVP despite claiming he would have given the award to Martinez. Ford was replaced by Dan Barlow after the homer.

Mike Britton continued the home run barrage in the bottom of the sixth, going yard to lead off the inning. That tied the game 2-2. Britton’s home run was his sixth of the postseason. He also finished with 15 RBI.

The game was decided in the top of the seventh. Barlow got the first out, but was then replaced by David Martin. Martin immediately gave up a double to Bush, prompting another pitching change. Mark White came on for the Bears, but allowed Mike Duncan to single Bush to third. Stu Vanstone then hit an RBI sacrifice fly to score Bush and a 3-2 lead. Jimmy LaRue was walked, followed by Martinez’s homer to straight away center. After Leroy Hodges replaced White, Shaft hit his second home run of the game to give the Lucky 38s five runs in the inning and a commanding 7-2 lead.

New California Republic was not done. Greg Greer came on in relief in the eighth inning. He walked Carney to lead off the inning and then Gerardo Makejoo tripled him in. Greer found his groove right after the triple, though, striking out the next three batters to end the threat.

Bush earned the win for Goodsprings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts in seven innings. Greer pitched the final two innings, allowing one earned run on one hit with a walk and five strikeouts.
The NCR used six pitchers in the game. Ford went 5.1 innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits with five strikeouts. Martin was the losing pitcher, allowing one earned run on one hit without recording an out.

While the two teams combined for 18 hits, eight of those hits were extra-base hits: two doubles, a triple, and five home runs.

Duncan led the Lucky 38s in hits in the game, going 3 for 5 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. Carney was the only player from the NCR with multiple hits.

Game Notes: The Lucky 38s’ Jim “Dandy Apples” Jones was named the Mojave Series MVP. In two starts, he was 2-0 without giving up a run. He allowed nine hits in 15 innings with two walks and 14 strikeouts. The NCR’s Britton and Goodsprings’ Jesus Martinez were also finalists for the award…. The NCR’s Clarence Woods was a miserable 0-4 with a 4.56 ERA in four postseason starts. He was a top performer in the regular season but performed poorly when the games counted most.

[NYY #23]

I never like being wrong with my predictions, but I'm happy about Goodsprings winnings in 6 and not 7!

A well deserved MVP for Jones as well, although I can't help but think of Jonestown every time I see his name.

[Tyke]

Well done to the guys - and I agree completely with Jones as MVP. It was an interesting Series and you could never really shake the feeling that the Bears were always dangerous and could come back at you. Now for the "threepeat"!

[StLee]

New Vegas Samurai Hitter Award



Glass Heads MBL Best Batter List: Robert Glass had an impressive 2288 season against Mojave Baseball League pitchers and was acclaimed the league's New Vegas Samurai Hitter Award winner today.

The Westside catcher hit .368 and collected 126 hits, 25 home runs, 65 RBIs and scored 66 times to win the coveted trophy.

Glass was a surprise selection for the award, beating out great seasons by others. However, there was no doubt that Glass had a spectacular season.

Goodsprings’ Jimmy LaRue finished a close second in voting. LaRue set MBL records in batting average (.446) and hits (179). Mike Britton of New California Republic, who led the MBL in home runs and RBI finished third.


Lead Dealer Pitcher Award



Radscorpions Ace MBL's Best Pitcher: The 2288 Lead Dealer Pitcher Award in the Mojave Baseball League has been given to Lee Burke of the North Vegas.

The Radscorpions ace worked 156.1 innings this season, crafting a 16-2 record and a 1.61 ERA in 21 starts. Burke collected 146 strikeouts while walking 34 and limiting opponents to a .168 batting average.

New California Republic’s Clarence Woods was considered the favorite to win the award, but he finished second in voting. Woods was 17-1 with a 2.31 ERA and finished with 147 strikeouts. Burke’s teammate, Rich Richmond was third in voting. He was 13-3 with a 2.16 ERA.


New Kid Award



Wilkins Awarded MBL Rookie Trophy: Stu Wilkins was the preeminent newcomer this year in the Mojave Baseball League and the winner of the 2288 New Kid Award.

The New California Republic left fielder played 92 games this season, hitting for a .341 with 107 hits, 11 home runs, 62 RBIs and 48 runs scored.

Primm’s President Carter, second place in voting, was a young leader for the expansion team. He finished the season with 41 appearances and 10 starts. His record was 7-6 with a 2.86 ERA. In 119.2 innings pitched, he gave up 105 hits, allowed 38 earned runs, walked 37 and struck out 110. He led the Outlaws in ERA, wins, and strikeouts. Shortstop Andrew Zimmerman of Boulder City was third place in voting. In 92 games, he finished with a .289 average with 19 doubles, four triples, three homers, 30 RBI, and 48 runs scored. He also walked 10 times, struck out 82 times, and stole 12 bases.


Mojave Hardcore Mode Postseason Award



Goodsprings’ Jones Dominant in Postseason: Jim Jones had a stellar postseason for the Lucky 38s and his efforts were awarded with the 2288 Mojave Hardcore Mode Postseason Award.

In three games started in the postseason, Jones was 3-0 with a 0.41 ERA. In 22 innings pitched, he allowed 11 hits, allowed two runs, one earned, walked six batters, and struck out 19.

The NCR’s Mike Britton and Jim Ford finished second and third in voting. Britton had six home runs and 15 RBI in 13 postseason games. Ford was again in masterful postseason form, going 4-0 with a 1.52 ERA in 29.2 innings. He started five games, only having a no decision in the final game of the playoffs.


Return to Sender Defense Awards

MBL Announces 2288 Top Gloves: Making the play is the mark of great defenders. Spearing a liner, diving in the hole or crashing headlong into the wall makes no difference to these awe-inspiring fielders. Magicians they sometimes appear to be, showing up out of nowhere to rob a batter of a hit and to turn a hit into an out. Pitchers love 'em and batters curse 'em. These defensive wizards will collect their 2288 Mojave Baseball League Return to Sender Defense Awards tonight:

Pitcher: Jesús Luján (Boulder City Atomic Wranglers)
Catcher: Vincent Harvey (Nellis AFB Boomers)
First Baseman: Rob Carlson (Primm Outlaws)
Second Baseman: Daniel Bentley (Tops Mutants)
Third Baseman: Mike Britton (New California Republic Bears)
Shortstop: George Gray (New California Republic Bears)
Left Fielder: Jason Williams (Camp McCarran Brahmin)
Center Fielder: Gerardo Makejoo (New California Republic Bears)
Right Fielder: Ángel Serrano (South Vegas Vault Boys)

[StLee]

8.8.88 – Realignment?

On this eight day of the eighth month of the year 88, the new partnership may mean more changes for the Mojave Baseball League.

Commissioner Lee and other league officials are discussing ideas to include in the inevitable redistribution of teams due to the New California Republic taking over sponsorship and now taking a small stake in each team's ownership.

If there is a rebalance of teams, there needs to be a quick decision to beat the draft in October.

Also, questions about the future of the Mojave Baseball League are now in play. Will things stay like they are, or could the MBL become something quite different?

8.17.88 – Player trade

The Nellis AFB Boomers traded 27-year-old left fielder Lee Peterson to the Primm Outlaws, getting 17-year-old minor league shortstop Richard Cannon in return.

8.19.88 – Player trade

The Gomorrah Devils traded 29-year-old starting pitcher Steve MacIntyre to the Primm Outlaws, getting 18-year-old minor league right fielder Johnny 38 Special in return.

8.27.88 – Player trade

The Gomorrah Devils traded 32-year-old third baseman Vincent Aerotech and 19-year-old reliever Glenn Brady to the Camp McCarran Brahmin, getting 31-year-old starting pitcher Bobby Lorn in return.

8.29.88 – Player trade

The Tops Mutants traded 29-year-old reliever Don Brooks to the Westside Sarsaparillas, getting 20-year-old minor league third baseman Oscar Taylor in return.

8.30.88 – Draft trade

Camp McCarran believes it needs the first overall pick in the draft (player name), so it is trying to work out a deal to swap the seventh overall pick and a prospect with Primm for the rights to the first overall pick.

[StLee]

9.21.88 – League Realignment

The New California Republic said it was “just business.” Commissioner Lee said it was bad business. But against the wishes of what Commissioner Lee wanted, the government decided that it would take some of its money and run.

Today it was announced that the New California Republic was shutting its government doors on the Mojave Baseball League. What that means is that the NCR will purely be a sponsor, but all teams and facilities associated with the league will be shut down.

That means the New California Republic Bears and Camp McCarran Brahmin are no more. Additionally, Ultra Luxe, which calls its home at Camp Golf, will have to relocate.

There are a few places that the Ultra Luxe team can consider, probably inhabiting one of the up and coming communities like Nelson or Nipton.

The NCR will also shut down its minor league facilities. Therefore, stadiums at the Hoover Dam, Camp McCarran, Camp Golf, the Mojave Outpost, and the NCR Correctional Facility are hereby off limits to Mojave Baseball League participation.

Though there is a lot of open space in the Mojave Wasteland, there are not very many inhabitable places. The NCR’s decision to close down its baseball facilities come at a time when Commissioner Lee and President Kimball’s relationship has been at an all time low. There were some behind-the-scenes problems throughout the season and previous offseason, and Commissioner Lee must feel some pressure in losing his overall power.

Commissioner Lee said that he would release a statement within the next few days concerning what actions he will take.

9.22.88 – Redistribution Draft

Commissioner Lee has yet to release an official statement, but he has called all remaining owners together for a redistribution draft. Sarah Weintraub, the owner stripped of her team, will serve as an acting executive to break any tied votes.

The draft will be held today. Results will be posted tomorrow. The twelve remaining teams are expected to draft five rounds.

9.23.88 – Redistribution Draft Results

First Round
1.1 Primm – SP J. Rosales, CM
1.2 Nellis AFB – 3B M. Britton, NCR
1.3 Boulder City – CF G. Makejoo, NCR
1.4 Novac – 1B J. Tombstone, CM
1.5 Gomorrah – SP C. Woods, NCR
1.6 Tops – SP/MR J. Ford, NCR
1.7 Freeside – 2B J. Bowles, NCR
1.8 Ultra Luxe – SS G. Gray, NCR
1.9 Westside – LF J. Williams, CM
1.10 South Vegas – SP D. Dugood, NCR
1.11 Goodsprings – LF S. Wilkins, NCR
1.12 North Vegas – CL B. Zapp, NCR

Second Round
2.1 Primm – SP C. Willis, CM
2.2 Nellis AFB – MR D. Barlow, NCR
2.3 Boulder City – RF C. Martin, NCR
2.4 Novac – SP T. Willis, CM
2.5 Gomorrah – CF J. Hartman, CM
2.6 Tops – 3B R. Blair, CM
2.7 Freeside – CL M. Hernandez, CM
2.8 Ultra Luxe – SP J. Crouch, NCR
2.9 Westside – SS S. Gillespie, CM
2.10 South Vegas – MR T. Stevens, CM
2.11 Goodsprings – MR D. Martin, NCR
2.12 North Vegas – 2B B. Brown, CM

Third Round
3.1 Primm – 1B R. Hall, NCR
3.2 Nellis AFB – RF G. Rush, CM
3.3 Boulder City – MR B. Shelton, NCR
3.4 Novac – LF R. Bradley, NCR
3.5 Gomorrah – RF D. Green, CM
3.6 Tops – CL A. Lund, CM
3.7 Freeside – MR K. Heard, CM
3.8 Ultra Luxe – MR M. Flowers, NCR
3.9 Westside – MR J. Montana, NCR
3.10 South Vegas – 2B Z. Peterson, CM
3.11 Goodsprings – MR D. Morris, NCR
3.12 North Vegas – SP G. Brady, CM

Fourth Round
4.1 Primm – C J. Watson, NCR
4.2 Nellis AFB – RF T. Caldwell, NCR
4.3 Boulder City – CL R. Bryant, NCR
4.4 Novac – CF G. Hood, CM
4.5 Gomorrah – SP G. Last Laugh, CM
4.6 Tops – LF A. Carney, NCR
4.7 Freeside – LF M. Franklin, NCR
4.8 Ultra Luxe – MR R. Hart, NCR
4.9 Westside – LF V. Hall, CM
4.10 South Vegas – MR C. Griffith, NCR
4.11 Goodsprings – 2B W. Sparks, NCR
4.12 North Vegas – RF M. Smith, NCR

Fifth Round
5.1 Primm – MR K. Stanley, CM
5.2 Nellis AFB – MR M. Salazar, NCR
5.3 Boulder City – C C. MacDonald, NCR
5.4 Novac – MR/CL R. Ward, NCR
5.5 Gomorrah – RF F. Data Entry, CM
5.6 Tops – 1B D. Weeks, CM
5.7 Freeside – 2B J. Tolbert, CM
5.8 Ultra Luxe – SS J. Cole, CM
5.9 Westside – SP S. Foster, NCR
5.10 South Vegas – SS E. Minor, NCR
5.11 Goodsprings – MR T. Perry, CM
5.12 North Vegas – CF G. Induboddel, CM

[Tyke]

Didn't see that coming! No Bears to beat up on - what will the L38s do now?

[StLee]

Before getting into the offseason drama, here are the rest of the news and notes from 2288.

9.26.88 – Player trade

The Tops Mutants traded 28-year-old left fielder Dallas Fox to the Primm Outlaws, getting 17-year-old minor league shortstop Darryl Mallett in return.

9.29.88 – Player trade

The Nellis AFB Boomers traded 35-year-old right fielder Gilbert Rush and 18-year-old minor league reliever Anthony Hatfield to the Novac Dinosaurs, getting 31-year-old second baseman Joe Chase in return.

10.5.88 – Player draft

Primm Outlaws: Drafted SP Jerry Wallace in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 1, 1st overall pick).

Nellis AFB Boomers: Drafted SP Bob Mullet in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 2, 2nd overall pick).

Novac Dinosaurs: Drafted SP Steve Joker in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 3, 3rd overall pick).

Boulder City Atomic Wranglers: Drafted 3B Neil Ong in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 4, 4th overall pick).

Gomorrah Devils: Drafted SP Wilbur Jackson in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 5, 5th overall pick).

Tops Mutants: Drafted SP Alex Elliott in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 6, 6th overall pick).

Freeside Kings: Drafted SP Gunner Gunner in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 7, 7th overall pick).

Ultra Luxe White Gloves: Drafted SP Jimmy Smith in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 8, 8th overall pick).

Westside Sarsaparillas: Drafted SP Bryan Stone in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 9, 9th overall pick).

South Vegas Vault Boys: Drafted SP Vernon Livingston in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 10, 10th overall pick).

Goodsprings Lucky 38s: Drafted SP Butch Hallight in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 11, 11th overall pick).

North Vegas Radscorpions: Drafted CF Eric Krause in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 1, Pick 12, 12th overall pick).

Primm Outlaws: Drafted SP Danny Foster in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 1, 13th overall pick).

Nellis AFB Boomers: Drafted MR Jesús Reyna in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 2, 14th overall pick).

Novac Dinosaurs: Drafted SP Peter Pumpkineater in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 3, 15th overall pick).

Boulder City Atomic Wranglers: Drafted CL Victor Milton in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 4, 16th overall pick).

Gomorrah Devils: Drafted SP Kris Orr in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 5, 17th overall pick).

Tops Mutants: Drafted SP Daniel Summers in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 6, 18th overall pick).

Freeside Kings: Drafted SP Brant Carney in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 7, 19th overall pick).

Ultra Luxe White Gloves: Drafted SP Pat Betterman in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 8, 20th overall pick).

Westside Sarsaparillas: Drafted SP Chris Last Laugh in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 9, 21st overall pick).

South Vegas Vault Boys: Drafted LF Ron LeBlanc in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 10, 22nd overall pick).

Goodsprings Lucky 38s: Drafted SP Don Downey in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 11, 23rd overall pick).

North Vegas Radscorpions: Drafted SS Rob Mathis in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 2, Pick 12, 24th overall pick).

Primm Outlaws: Drafted SP Robert Raymond in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 1, 25th overall pick).

Nellis AFB Boomers: Drafted SP Jack Holodisk in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 2, 26th overall pick).

Novac Dinosaurs: Drafted CF Jeff Fritz in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 3, 27th overall pick).

Boulder City Atomic Wranglers: Drafted SP Eugene Baker in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 4, 28th overall pick).

Gomorrah Devils: Drafted SP Dave Taylor in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 5, 29th overall pick).

Tops Mutants: Drafted SS Maxwell Kane in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 6, 30th overall pick).

Freeside Kings: Drafted SS Rusty Butters in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 7, 31st overall pick).

Ultra Luxe White Gloves: Drafted SP Reid Campbell in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 8, 32nd overall pick).

Westside Sarsaparillas: Drafted SP Curt Rhodes in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 9, 33rd overall pick).

South Vegas Vault Boys: Drafted SP Chris Brown in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 10, 34th overall pick).

Goodsprings Lucky 38s: Drafted SP Andrew Rogers in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 11, 35th overall pick).

North Vegas Radscorpions: Drafted SP Steve Coeyman in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 3, Pick 12, 36th overall pick).

Primm Outlaws: Drafted SP Rafael Rodríguez in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 1, 37th overall pick).

Nellis AFB Boomers: Drafted 3B Adam Cunningham in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 2, 38th overall pick).

Novac Dinosaurs: Drafted SP Sean Roberts in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 3, 39th overall pick).

Boulder City Atomic Wranglers: Drafted SP Danny Boyd in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 4, 40th overall pick).

Gomorrah Devils: Drafted SP Charlie Sullivan in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 5, 41st overall pick).

Tops Mutants: Drafted SP Samuel Bailey in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 6, 42nd overall pick).

Freeside Kings: Drafted SP William Jackson in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 7, 43rd overall pick).

Ultra Luxe White Gloves: Drafted SP John Boulder City in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 8, 44th overall pick).

Westside Sarsaparillas: Drafted CF Bruce Sánchez in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 9, 45th overall pick).

South Vegas Vault Boys: Drafted SS Ken Barnes in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 10, 46th overall pick).

Goodsprings Lucky 38s: Drafted SS Leo Wilson in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 11, 47th overall pick).

North Vegas Radscorpions: Drafted 3B Reginald Burkett in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 4, Pick 12, 48th overall pick).

Primm Outlaws: Drafted SS Matt Nelson in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 1, 49th overall pick).

Nellis AFB Boomers: Drafted SP Jessie Matthews in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 2, 50th overall pick).

Novac Dinosaurs: Drafted SP Mark Nelson in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 3, 51st overall pick).

Boulder City Atomic Wranglers: Drafted SP Danny Moon in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 4, 52nd overall pick).

Gomorrah Devils: Drafted SP Joe Monroe in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 5, 53rd overall pick).

Tops Mutants: Drafted C Denis Martin in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 6, 54th overall pick).

Freeside Kings: Drafted MR John Bailey in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 7, 55th overall pick).

Ultra Luxe White Gloves: Drafted CF Sandy Breeches in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 8, 56th overall pick).

Westside Sarsaparillas: Drafted SP Jerry Rodríguez in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 9, 57th overall pick).

South Vegas Vault Boys: Drafted SP Ken Cooke in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 10, 58th overall pick).

Goodsprings Lucky 38s: Drafted 3B Tim Banks in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 11, 59th overall pick).

North Vegas Radscorpions: Drafted SS Martin Martin in the 2288 first-year player draft (Round 5, Pick 12, 60th overall pick).

10.7.88 – Player trade

The Goodsprings Lucky 38s traded 32-year-old shortstop Tom Effing Jones and 18-year-old minor league left fielder Toy Moriarty to the Primm Outlaws, getting 30-year-old starting pitcher Miguel Santos in return.

10.11.8 – Player trade

The Westside Sarsaparillas traded 31-year-old left fielder Mike Plasmagun and 19-year-old minor league left fielder Tony Hernández to the Gomorrah Devils, getting 33-year-old starting pitcher Rhyme Killer King in return.

11.17.88 – Player trade

The Tops Mutants traded 33-year-old third baseman Aaron Myers and 18-year-old minor league third baseman Richard McCarthy to the Novac Dinosaurs, getting 34-year-old starting pitcher Bruce Wilson in return.

11.24.88 – Player trade

The Goodsprings Lucky 38s traded 25-year-old catcher Eddie Pegasus to the Boulder City Atomic Wranglers, getting 37-year-old starting pitcher Jesús Luján in return.

12.29.88 – Team uniform change

North Vegas is spicing up its team a little with some uniform changes. At this time they are the only team to change their look.

Pictures are attached below.

[Author's note: I am leaving on a two-month-long holiday. During this time I may or may not have time to give updates. I will not have my laptop with me, but I do have an unused license for ootp 14, so I may be able to install the game where I am and find some time to write. If I can, I will. If I can't, then I will return to this dynasty by the end of February. There are still some exciting events yet to happen before the end of Lee's story. And, who knows? Maybe the Mojave has more baseball interest beyond the 2290 season.

Anyway, happy holidays to all. Hope to see more of you in 2014 and, alternately, 2289.]

[Tyke]

Thanks for the latest updates, Lee - though I must say I was disappointed to see the L38s trade away Tom Effing Jones. I don't care about his performance, it's just the coolest name!!! Have a great holiday

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by StLee

[Author's note: I am leaving on a two-month-long holiday. During this time I may or may not have time to give updates. I will not have my laptop with me, but I do have an unused license for ootp 14, so I may be able to install the game where I am and find some time to write. If I can, I will. If I can't, then I will return to this dynasty by the end of February. There are still some exciting events yet to happen before the end of Lee's story. And, who knows? Maybe the Mojave has more baseball interest beyond the 2290 season.

Anyway, happy holidays to all. Hope to see more of you in 2014 and, alternately, 2289.]

Have a great holiday!

[StLee]

The Historian here. I have a lot of journal entries from Lee without dates written on them. They seem to be from a time long ago, or maybe they're just stories Lee made up. I don't know why he included these in his baseball journals, but they are there. I won't show them all because there are simply too many here to show, and I can't see the full picture.


However, the story below struck me as something with Lee's prints on it. At this point, I have no idea who these two characters are, but they seem to play some kind of role here in the history of the Mojave. What that role is, I don't know. But everything Lee has done has been with a purpose, so there must be some reason why he put a star on this particular story.


Again, there are no dates, but these descriptions of Vegas seem to be from long ago. Long, long ago...

His slow saunter down the bright-lit street drew attention from neither tourist nor peddler. He stopped for minutes at a time, listening. Listening and watching. Memories, histories, he collected them all. When someone asked him, he called himself The Keeper.

A young man sat on a footbridge between New York New York and the MGM Grand. His clothes were covered in dust and days-old vomit stains. The unkempt man held a sign that read, "I betcha mines biger then yurs." The Keeper stood by and watched over and over as inebriated tourists took the beggar's bet. The young man would then flip his sign and unfold it to show the punch line: "My sine is waaay biger then yurs now give me some $$$." Most of the tourists obliged with a dollar or change.

Once there was a pause in foot traffic, The Keeper approached the young beggar. The Keeper could see a burn scar on the beggar's right cheek and three scratch scars near his left eye. "I'll give you $30 if you tell me your story," The Keeper said.

"Sure. I was born. I got drunk. It's a beautiful day." He laughed, showing missing incisors and a bottom front tooth. "Now pay up."

"Let me rephrase that. I'll give you a dollar for everything you tell about your past. But don't lie. Tell me what really happened." Screams from a rollercoaster buzzed past them.

"Thirty dollars to tell about myself?" The Keeper nodded and the young man shrugged. "OK. Let me think. Say, gotta beer?"

The Keeper shook his head.

The beggar continued. "My mother's a bitch. Well, she was. She, um, died, like years ago. She used to f*** people for money. Mighty Vegas, you know? And she got pregnant." The beggar pointed to himself. "She was always high on coke and meth and other s*** and she always drank. Always. She hurt me, you know? Like hit me and bit me and, s***, everything. See my scars, huh? Cigarette lighter right here on my face. And her goddamn claws on my eye. That hurt. I was about seven when that happened. Accidentally walked in on her while she was f***ing a priest. He ran out without paying and she came at me naked and raging and just clawed me up. Took a big chunk out of my side, too, with her teeth. I got more."

He rolled up his sleeves. "You going to give me some money yet? I got more."

The Keeper handed him a $20 bill. "Yes, tell me more, please."

The beggar wiped his forehead. It was only 70 degrees on the January afternoon, but the desert sun was hot and dry. "These are some more scars. All cigarettes and lighters. Here and here and this one and this one and this one. Yep. All of 'em when I was just a weak kid.

"She never let me go to school, either. Said it was all bastards and c***s teaching there. And then when I was 11, she died. I don't know how. I just saw her dead. I was in a orphanage for awhile but then I ran away. Been out here ever since."

"How old are you now?"

"Seventeen going on f*** it all, know what I mean?" The beggar laughed again.

Street callers barked their pitch: 2 for 1 shows. See the best entertainment. Magic, show girls, dancers. 2 for 1!


The Keeper took out a note pad. On it were three questions. The Keeper started with the first. "How did you start drinking?"

"My mom. She used to leave her bottles out. And she never finished them. I would wait for her to pass out and then finish her drinks."

"How do you drink now?"

"From the bottle," the beggar guffawed. "Seriously, the same way. I wait for the drunk tourists to leave their s*** out and then I just chug 'em down."

"Finally, do you want to know when you'll die?"

"What, no, man. What are you, a pervert or something? Or a serious, um, serial killer?"

"I am The Keeper. I keep all memories of then, now, and forever. I just want to know if you want to know your future."

"No, man. You're like seriously scaring me now."

The Keeper reached into his pocket and took out a $20 bill and a $10 bill. "Here is the last of the $30 I promised and $20 more. Cherish this money. It's the last of the money I will ever own. Use that money wisely. Use it only when your heart pounds telling you that you can spend it. If you're patient you will know what I mean. If you're patient, you will be an important man right here in Vegas long after things have...changed."

The beggar took the money into his hands and just looked at it. He then looked up at The Keeper. "What are you, man?"

"I transcend time. I am the Keeper. You are The Beggar. If we meet again, we can no longer call each other by those names. Do you understand what I mean?"

The beggar nodded. "Well, not really, but, OK, man. Whatever you say, Mr. Keeper. Now can I go, um, relieve myself. I think you made me s*** my pants."

"It's a hot, sunny day," The Keeper said. "Lots of nice casinos around here. My favorite is the Paris, but all of them are pretty nice. I've got to go to McCarran now to catch a plane. I have another on my list to meet in D.C. Good luck." The Keeper walked away from the beggar, the beggar looking at the man and then the cash in his hand. The Keeper got on an escalator towards the Strip below, and then he was gone.

[Tyke]

Terrific, intriguing post to pick up again. You've obviously come back refreshed!!!

[StLee]

Originally Posted by Tyke

Terrific, intriguing post to pick up again. You've obviously come back refreshed!!!

{I'm still on holiday, but my wife and I just took a three-day detour to Las Vegas. Call the last post on-scene research. When I first started this dynasty, I had some ideas for a greater storyline that I thought I might like to explore, though they were out of the realm of this website's purpose: OOTP baseball. Now that I've actually physically been to Vegas, spent time on the Strip and Downtown and saw Lake Mead, the Grand Canyon, and the Hoover Dam with my own eyes. Saw the red rocks. Saw the peddlers. Read the beggars' signs. Coughed the desert sand out of my lungs. Ate the casino buffet. Now I might explore this dynasty in different ways. Or, if it deviates too far away from the purpose of OOTP dynasties, I may convert it away from fan fiction to an actual narrative. Who knows?


For this dynasty, I have not yet loaded my Mojave dynasty onto my new tablet, but I did e-mail my document to myself to continue the offseason stories as we approach the climax. Probably, though, the next ootp season will not start until the last week of February. }

[StLee]

12.17.88


Aaron Kimball’s vertibird zipped onto the helipad atop the Hoover Dam. A small contingent of NCR rangers and securitrons stood on guard to protect the president.


Lee stood near James Hsu as the only two civilians other than me allowed on or near the Hoover Dam. President Kimball exited the vertibird and looked towards Lee and Hsu. He was holding a half full glass of whiskey and gulped it down.


“So are you here to ****ing save me again, or are you here as the assassin?”


“Not funny,” Lee said. He glanced away from President Kimball.


“Neither are you. So where’s my bastard of a brother? Late like usual, I bet.”


Lee held the president’s gaze this time. “Haven’t seen him. He’s been avoiding me since the little stunt you guys pulled on my league.”


“You mean my league. I ****ing bought it, remember? And as far as I’m concerned you work for me now.”


Hsu shifted on his heels. His eyes were cast down.


“And what about you, you ****ing traitor? You here to suck off Lee after this meeting? Help to make him feel better after we tear him a new one?”


“Sir? No, sir.” Hsu was shaking.


Lee stepped in front of Hsu. “That’s enough, Kimball. Quit being a goddamn bully.”


“Yeah, you only talk, Commishy Ner, because you got a damn army of robots abiding by your every whim to keep my government less secure.”


“If I remember right, I gave them all to you in exchange for peace.”


“War, son. War equals money. War equals fear. War equals power and security and protection and every chance you and I have ever had of getting laid. You think radscorpions and mutants and those ****ed up flesh people you carouse with are sitting around campfires singing Kumba-****ing-ya? Hell, no, they’re not. They’re out there blasting and stinging and chomping the **** out of each other and their women are getting their titties hard watching it unfold.


“That’s what I tried to tell you when you had all them warbots in your possession. Why not finish the job? House would’ve. So would Caesar. And so would I. But you? You act like you know something the rest of us don’t. Well, you don’t. I know you keep your enemies close and all the people depending on you will do whatever you ask. Now that’s peace. You sandeaters out here in the Mojave think you know what freedom is because you follow your own gods. The people out in California know what real freedom is because they know if I say to jump they had better damn well jump or my NCR troops are going to zap a laser beam right through their ****ing skulls.”


Lee interrupted. “Freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose, huh, Kimball?”


“I never know what the **** you’re talking about, Cactus****er. What I’m saying is this. I understand you’re trying to make your own little peace corner in this world. I’m telling you it’s a false god. You think you have friends. You’re wrong. I don’t like you at all. I think you’re a ****ing idiot. But, you know what? I’m the only SOB in this entire desert you can trust because I’m the only one who won’t betray you. I’ll tell you exactly what I’m going to do, and then I’ll do it.”


“You know how I know you’re a goddamn liar? Because you just pulled some betrayal bull**** that kept me busy with trying to keep afloat your own financial investment.”


President Kimball interrupted this time. “Pennies in our treasury. Something else you don’t know. We keep the money supply low to keep the people in check. We have a lot of paper stashed away for when we need it. Our sponsorship ain’t nothing on your league.”


“So then you’re admitting right now that you’re trying to sabotage the league, right? That you did betray me by throwing your sponsorship into the league when you just want to ruin it and ruin me.”


“No, you dumbass. I want your league to make a lot of cash. I want every single player in your league to be millionaires with not a single bottle ****ing cap, but a million ****ing NCR bucks in their pockets. I want every ticket-buying loser to stick 5 NCR in the ticket stash and not a bunch of rusty, bent-up caps into the coiffeurs. So, you see, I want the Mojave Baseball League to thrive. And that’s why I made the move I did. I can’t have my men and my other investments devoted to baseball when their attention needs to be towards higher things.


“My **** up of a brother was put in charge of a baseball team to get him out of ****ing up the government. He’s blood, you know? I have no choice but to give him some important duty. So he was my ambassador in the Mojave, and he let me know everything I needed to know.”


“Like?”


“Like that your baseball league is genius. People out here are buzzing like I never saw buzzing. Just a few years after their homes were torn asunder by war and rape and sodomy, you come along playing a kiddie game and now every dumbass out there has a smile on their face. Meanwhile, just a few clicks out west, I still have useful citizens jumping off bridges and buildings.


“So, I need you yet. Hell, once I figure out exactly how all this is working, I may need you out west to get us started there. Who knows? We could have our Pacific League and take on you desertfolk one day.”


“Won’t happen, Kimball.” Lee had been patient, but his patience was wearing thin like a lion in a butcher shop. “You can go ahead and start your own goddamn baseball league out west, but you’ll never get my help. I’m busting my ass every day to improve the qualities of life of the people here, and you cut out my progress behind me. I know I’m helping you personally through some of the decisions I’ve made, but it’s not for you and it’s not for me. It’s for the people who have hope yet despite the severity of this wasteland. They deserve it, and I believe Vegas to be the perfect place to restore civilization. I believe the government is good. But, I’ll tell you at the same time that I doubt you’re the right man to restore that hope.”


“So, then, who? YOU?!? All you know about is putting a gun in your hand and blasting through problems. Hell, I can see it in your face. You want to murder me right now even though I’m the first person in your life ever talking sense. You want to murder me because you want something you can’t have and you think putting a bullet in my skull is the best way to get closer to what you want. You know what else I know. You’re bar none the greatest threat I’ve ever had. Bigger than that fruitcake and House combined. And at the same time I think the stupidest thing I could ever do is to kill you. I hate you but need you. You hate me and think things would be better without me. It would just reset everything for you and you got nowhere.”


Lee nodded and gave a pout of approval. “That makes sense. I don’t want you dead, though. I just want you to accept that the Mojave IS a part of the NCR but different than the NCR all at the same time. Gaming and sports are always going to trump politics here. They always have. Since the beginning of this city.”


“What could you know about that?”


Lee smiled. “I’m a keeper of secrets, too. I’m just not dumb enough to tell you where my aces are hidden.”


Kimball put his hands in his pockets. “You’ve got aces? I’ve got aces, too.” Kimball then turned to his assistant. “Is my brother still not here?”


The young woman in a tight green military dress suit turned her eyes towards the guard commander who shook his head. “Sir, no sir.”


“Well, then I won’t wait. I consider this meeting over. You know now why I pulled my government out of this league?”


“Eliminate conflicts of interest, right?”


“Yep. But my consolation is I’ll let my boys in camo currently playing to keep on. You might not get anymore of my active soldiers to join who aren’t already in, but if people from this area quit enlisting to play baseball because you’re taking them all in as charity cases, then I will pull all my boys out and draft up the rest of the population to kill this league. You got me?”


“OK. I understand your reasoning now.” Lee took a step towards the president, causing him to retreat towards his vertibird. Lee then put out his hand. The president refused it. “Well, then. I understand your reasoning, but we could have been more amicable had you told me and not pulled the bull**** of sponsoring my league and then sabotaging everything I had to sell to my people. Now I have a league full of players, coaches, and management not knowing what lies in their future, and it’s my fault for trusting you. And the fans may stay away, too. Or there can be a new divide against the NCR. You don’t know how much time I spent convincing people that they needed to trust the NCR because the NCR was most likely to do right. Now you and I have a very public feud, and it WILL make your job harder.”


“I don’t measure how hard my job is. It’s always hard. Nothing gets easier or harder. So don’t ****ing tell me what’s hard or what’s easy. You have your little mini kingdom in the Mojave. I have to manage land 80 times that, mother****er.” The president turned and got on his vertibird. It flew away before he had time to sit.

[StLee]

Lee's story is nearing its end. I don't know what it means just yet. I am still deciding what I will do once it does. In the meantime, I am reading through Lee's mass of journals. I wish he would have given me more clues. Maybe I have mentioned it before, but Lee had a pre-war book he always carried with him. He never locked it up nor hid it because he always carried on his person and challenged anyone to dare take it from him.


I, um, well, never saw it. I have no idea what that book contains, but I bet it holds all of the secrets to the universe, so to speak. Undoubtedly, I would know more of what has happened and what it all means if Lee had just revealed everything to me. It's not like Lee to just give up. That made me think he was dead at first, but like I mentioned at the beginning of this story, a trail of dead Mojave critters gave me no doubt that Lee was on to his next adventure.


Like I mentioned just recently, we are approaching the climax of Lee's story. Before I reach that climax, I want to post more of Lee's journals. I have been with Lee since the creation of the Mojave Baseball League, so some of his journal entries about baseball seem to be from times long ago, but many seem like he was there or knows something none of us do. Or that damn secret book was plagiarized. Whatever it is, here is a story of a place near here, of what looks to be a time long before the Great War of 2077.




Faded, scuffed balls cascaded through the warm Arizona air. America was still recovering from the war that started all wars, with the dropping of the bombs bringing this war, this threat, to a sudden and nearly immediate halt.
However, the country was in turmoil, and passions for matters as simple as baseball dwindled. In fact, the momentum Major League Baseball had was fading. Still, the MLB was the last vestige of entertainment holding on at all to American interests.

America was on the verge of severe and permanent change. The United States of America, though victorious over the Axis threats, was about to die. In the works, American politicians were scheming to make a radical change to match the changing political spectrum. The catch word was “Commonwealth.”
As soon as the German, Italian, and Japanese threats were stamped out, a newer and more severe threat crept into the American vernacular: Reds, Socialists, Marxists, Collectivists. COMMUNISTS.

Communism. Commonwealth. Community. Comedy. Divine, hellish comedy. People no longer feared the old monster, but the brand new red monster, giant nations hovering over the American way.

The USSR. The People’s Republic of China. THOSE threats were far greater than what the wars in Europe and the East were able to do. Still, the second world war marked the beginning of the end to an innocent America. America began as a war-torn country, from the battle over lands with Native Americans, to the British invasion, to other European skirmishes spilling over oceans, America never knew true peace.
But those skirmishes were nothing, really, until WWII broke the American spirit. Now, as soon as it ended, WWIII seemed to be on the horizon. Asia was overrun with reds, with the USSR and China being the major threats. No, baseball was hanging by a stitch. That stitch was ripping at fastball speeds.

A crack of a bat. #24 raced back and then fell into a casual gallop to allow the ball to float over his head and into his gargantuan glove.
“Aw, come on, Willie. Let me get a hit in on the day, will ya?” Whitey jogged towards the dugout to retrieve his glove and then ran out to the outfield to shag some practice swings before the exhibition game would begin. “I’m getting too old for this,” he yelped as he ran past Mr. Dark.

“Speak for yourself, youngun,” Mr. Dark barked back. He had been on the field for thirty minutes, but still stretched out his 34-year-old body between batters.

A flash in the sky, a boom, and all ball players dropped to the ground.
“Bombs! The Japs are retaliating!” a cry came. The thunderous boom spooked everyone but there was nothing. Nothing in sight. No burning fire. No mushroom cloud. Not one damn thing but that mysterious sound. It would be nearly ten years before America was able to produce that sound: the sonic boom.

So what was it? Suddenly, after the players peeled their dirt-stained uniforms off the ground, and fans in the stands started to emerge from beneath their bleacher seats, the cry of a mother resonated over the field. “My son! Where’s my son? Where’s my boy?”
People gathered around the young woman. “He was here. He was right here when the bomb went off. Where’s my boy? Tommy! TOMMY!!!” she wailed.

People looked. There was nothing in that sweltering Arizona ballpark to indicate he had ever been there except the clothes he was wearing lying right where he ducked for cover. They were laid out like a mother’s morning preparation. His NYG hat and t-shirt. His black and white striped shorts. His white socks and brown shoes. His box of popcorn. They were all there, but not little Tommy. He had vanished.

[farmkidD2]

It is amazing, for the past 3 years, a fallout baseball league has been on my mind, although it wasn't as location specific as yours. I actually started one. I thought the logos would be the hard part, but then I realized that I kept having players get drafted from cities that don't exist.

Did you go through and edit your world.xml file? I also thought it would be fun to edit the storylines.xml file, but that one could take a while. I was wondering if you did this, or if you just changed the uniforms and logos?