Continental Baseball League AKA The 80's Ugly Fat Child MLB Never Wanted

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

Cool name, sounds Dutch. I created a few other try-out players, so I'll keep you guys posted. Hopefully they all make the team. I basically put you guys on teams that needed that position filled (which was quite a few), so the chance of playing would be better.

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

Indoor League Players Report To Las Vegas for Wild Workouts
March 7, 1984 - ASSOCIATED PRESS

In one of the most bizarre Winter's that professional baseball has ever witnessed, Major League Baseball saw a cheesy, seemingly goofy indoor league steal away one of it's best pitchers, Orel Hershiser. Hershiser signed a 3-year, $3.2 million contract with the MIBL Chicago Cougars, quite a commitment for a league that so many predict doesn't have a future. "It's a brilliant move. We throw money at these guys, they come a-callin'!" MIBL founder/owner Rex Hearst said. Pitchers and catchers reported to Las Vegas about a week ago. The league has rented the Grand Garden Arena for the entire spring training, although some teams are also practicing at a few local high school baseball fields. "We need to get conditioned on turf, but we also need to adjust to the different playing style," said Texans manager George Scherger, who has managed professional baseball for the past 25 years.

All in all, so far the Indoor League has "taken" over 100 former major leaguers, including former All-Star George Foster, who signed with the Colorado Rockies. It'll be interesting to see if the league could provide one last spark for some of the players, like Foster, who's major league career appears to be over.
Other league news is that roughly 5-7 players have been signed to amateur try-out contracts. Of these are CF Sylvester Galloway of Chicago, SP Seth Lloyd and SP Alex Hill of Colorado, SP Jeremy McDaniel of Houston, 3B Eleno Jiarnoran of San Antonio. If these players make it through Spring Training with their ball clubs, they will be signed to league minimum salaries, which is roughly $42k.

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

Indoor League Way More Fun Than Expected
March 26, 1984 - ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rex Hearst's Colorado Rockies have rocked all of the competition they have faced so far this inaugural Spring Training. Bill Lee has managed to a 9-2 record, while former MLBer George Foster has seemingly found his bat, belting 4 HR's in only 18 AB's! The dimensions of the Las Vegas Grand Garden Arena are actually a bit more extended then the dimensions of most of the teams actual indoor field. To top it off, watching the indoor baseball is even more fun then most people predicted! With Hearst's genius plan of adapting baseball to a smaller field, managers adapted their playing style to that of the "Old School." We have seen more stolen bases, hit and runs, and bunting this Spring Training then we did all of last year in the MLB! It's no wonder so many fans are enjoying the indoor league so much. "I love it. It's so fast and intense, and they still hit a lot of homers! It's like watching hockey and baseball," said one fan. "It's simple really, you make the size of the field smaller, it becomes more difficult to get hits. Balls that are normally hits on a regular field are outs here. You have to play smarter and quicker. When you finally get someone on base, you better make it count," Rockies manager Bill Lee said. It's quite a surprise really, no one ever expected the league to become what it is so far, an enjoyable, learning experience, and cheap. The average price for season tickets for the Colorado Rockies is as low as $150, but goes to $1500. Still, that's no very bad compared to MLB packages.

Lastly, a little bit of news from the try-out front. Out of the small group, only one has made any real impact. Alex Hill, who's from Las Chavas, NM, has pitched well for the Rockies so far. He has pitched 13 innings, with an ERA of 4.15 and one complete game. However, his teammate, Seth Lloyd, hasn't impressed. Lloyd, who's from Atlanta, GA has pitched 8.1 innings, with an ERA of 10.80. Manager Bill Lee refused to commit on the status of players, but it's a fair assumption that Lloyd would probably only be extended a practice squad contract offer, if that. Worse news is that the Houston Texans released SP Jeremy McDaniel, after he suffered an injury which required surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow. McDaniel pitched only 10.2 IP with an ERA of 7.94. Filipino 3B Eleno Jianoran has seen very limited playing time this Spring, and it's unlikely he will make the team, or practice squad. Lastly, OF Sylvester Galloway, who went to junior college in Huntsville, Alabama, has been abysmal this Spring for the Chicago Cougars, he's batting .087 with one stolen base. He's most likely going to sign to the practice squad, given his potential ceiling and his tremendous speed. He obviously needs to work quite a bit more on his contact and hitting in general.

Spring Training wraps up in a week. That is when teams will trim their rosters down and sign players to their practice squads. All team rosters need to be cut down to 22 players by April 9th, with a maximum of 15 allotted to the practice squad. It is also then that the $7.5 million salary cap is enforced. Currently, the top spenders are the Colorado Rockies with $6.5 million on the payroll, and the lowest are the Miami Atoms, with $3.5.

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

Indoor League Opens With Huge Reception
April 15, 1984 - ASSOCIATED PRESS

All four home teams packed their arenas last night, for opening day of the Major Indoor Baseball League. In the Eastern League, Chicago ousted Boston 6-4, with decent pitching by superstar Orel Hershiser. The young and cheap Miami Atoms beat out the Long Island Indians 3-1 in a pitching duel between Dave Lapoint and Dave Freisleben. In the Western League, the Houston Texans took down the mighty Colorado Rockies, with a brilliant performance by Dave Frost. In Texas, San Antonio took down Phoenix in 10 innings to beat the Bulls 7-5.

One last note: both SP Seth Lloyd and SP Alex Hall, pitchers who tried out for the Colorado Rockies this Spring, were released from the practice squad because of injuries. Alex Hill suffered shoulder inflammation while Lloyd will be out almost a year because of a torn tendon in his pitching arm. Rex Hearst has said he would like to bring back Hill and reevaluate his progress after his injury. Lastly, former San Antonio Gunslingers 3B Eleno Jianoran was signed by the Boston Red Sox, and assigned to their Carolina League affiliate, the Winston-Salem Red Sox.

[norva13x]

My career is over before it began

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

We'll have to see where good ole' Seth Lloyd ends up down the road....but I hear he had quite the surgery, so we'll have to see how his rehab goes...

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

Long Island Captures Chesterfield Classic!
October 16, 1984 - ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Long Island Indians defeated the Phoenix Bulls 7-6 last night, in a hard fought game. The Indians were able to pull the Bulls plug in the 7th inning, when they scored two runs. The Indians manager, Bill Rigney is no stranger to championships, he has won his share when he managed in Organized Baseball.
The Indians and Bulls, who both lead their respective leagues in wins, destroyed most competition they faced. Here are some notable stats for the inaugural 1984 Major Indoor Season:

1.) Ken Phelps belted 60 home runs, compared to the MLB's Barry Bonds, who knocked 42 HR's for the Cleveland Indians. The MIBL also plays 8 less games, so it's a pretty bold statement by Phelps.
2.) Orel Hershiser made headlines last offseason when he shunned the MLB for more money, and he lived up to expectations. Hershiser won 21 games and captured a 3.24 ERA.
3.) Each team in the MIBL scored an average of 811 runs for the season in 154 games versus the MLB who only scored an average of 676 in 162 games!
4.) The Indoor League was a huge financial success...as Rex Hearst is reporting that the teams themselves made over $36 million dollars. With the advertising revenue included, the total league gross is over $50 million dollars! Rex Hearst said that there is significant interest from the West and Pacific Northwest to expand. Hearst said that remaining debt from start-up costs will be paid, and the difference will be dispersed to the teams.
5.) Financially, the only considerable impact the Indoor League had on the MLB was on the Boston Red Sox and surprisingly the New York Yankees. In 1983, the Red Sox grossed over $14 million and drew over 2.2 million fans, while in 1984 they only made $2.7 million, and only drew 1.2 million fans. That is a huge loss of reported revenue, and about one million less tickets sold! In 1983, the Yankees made $13.3 million and brought 1.9 million to the park, while in 1984, they only grossed $5.6 million, and only 1.3 million bought tickets. That is over $7.5 million dollars less, and about 600,000 less fans. On the other hands, the Boston Americans made $1.9 million and drew 717,000 fans. However, the Americans are playing in a facility one-fourth the size of Fenway Park, and they ranked 5th in the league in attendance. Perhaps 717,000 of those former Red Sox fans are now Americans fans? At $6.50 a ticket, that's over $4.6 million dollars. The Chesterfield Champion Long Island Indians probably drew very well because the 68-94 Yankees stunk this year. However, the Indians drew over 900,000 fans, ranked third in the league in attendance, and made $4.6 million for the season. On camera, the MLB is very calm and seemingly not worried about the financial impact of the MIBL, however off-camera, they are fuming and ranting about how billionaire Rex Hearst's League of Degenerates potentially stole $50 million plus dollars from their coffers.

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

For those interested, here are some jerseys gracefully created by Davwms:

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

Hearst Unveils Two Indoor Expansion Clubs, One Run by Bill Murray
October 18, 1984 - THE SPORTING NEWS

Rex Hearst, owner of the Colorado Rockies, and founder of the infamous "Indoor League," revealed two expansion teams that will join his league next year. The Mizuno Comets, which are the first league team to be owned independently of Hearst, and the California Seals were showcased last night at a press conference in Denver. The Comets are owned by Mizuno USA, which is actually run and operated by the Mizuno Corporation in Japan. Mizuno makes superior sporting gear, especially baseball gear, and they have operated a semi-professional industrial league team in Japan for years. Hearst and Mizuno USA CEO Bill Puccini introduced famous comedian and actor Bill Murray as the Comets general manager. Murray is an avid sports fan, but a rabid baseball fan, and even did a comedy bit for SNL in 1979 where he quit acting to pursue a baseball career for the independent Grays Harbor Loggers. "Well, I just want to tell my fans, I love you. But I love baseball more." Murray said, as he put on the Comets jersey. "I also love how Mizuno will give me as many sets of golf clubs that I want." Murray told another reporter. The Comets will play in San Francisco, while the Seals who are also in the Bay Area, will be stationed in Oakland. Hearst reported that he has been in negotiations with a well-known motel chain in regards to buying the franchise, but he denied to give any more information.

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

From this point on, I have taken over the Mizuno Comets, as GM Bill Murray...

Mizuno Roster Preview
February 24, 1985 - SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Bill Murray hasn't been auditioning for movies this winter, but he has been auditioning plenty of baseball players, hoping to get a shot to play professional baseball. Over the past two months, the Mizuno ballclub has held three Bay Area try-out sessions, with a number of locals showing up. So far they haven't bared much fruit, as only two players have signed amateur try-out contracts. C Angel Serrano, of Arcata, California and RHP Jeff Jackson, from Napa, California signed on with the club as scabs trying to make it big earlier this week. Serrano will have plenty of competition for just a spot on the practice squad, as he is competing with four other catchers, while Jackson is a control pitcher, with minimal stuff, but plenty of intelligence. Jackson actually dropped out of Stanford last year, and played baseball in Mexico this Winter. Serrano only has experience at the college level, as he played for Humboldt State last season. He was undrafted by any Major League Baseball team.

Murray also introduced his coaching staff this week, and a fine group it is. Dave Bristol, former Reds, Giants, Braves, and Brewers manager, will head the team, while recently retired Jerry Grote, Tony Perez, and Gaylord Perry will take coaching positions.

The biggest off-season splashes for the Comets are the addition of 1B Dave Kingman and OF/1B Franklin Stubbs. Both players feature big bats, and can pack quite a punch, since they're a righty-lefty combination. Besides those two additions, Murray has solely focuses on control pitchers who can go the distance, and speedy, contact hitters who are extremely good defensively. He signed Mike Gallego, Bob Sheldon, and Bob Coluccio to maintain the infield. There's already plenty of competition set up for Spring Training, and the team will report to Napa, California in one week for a pre-Spring Training mini-camp, and will then report to Las Vegas, in early March.

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

Mizuno Ready To Open Season Against Bulls
April 13, 1985 - SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

The Mizuno Comets kick of their inaugural season against the Phoenix Bulls tomorrow afternoon. The Comets will open the season against the Bulls in a 2-game series, and then make their way across the bay to Oakland, and play the other expansion California Seals in a 3-game series. The Comets showed defensive consistency during Spring Training, but they were very erratic offensively. The Comets went 11-13, and the Comets showcased some interesting talent. The Comets signed SP Jeff Jackson to a practice squad contract, and also dealt try-out player C Angel Serrano to the Houston Texans for OF Rob Deer earlier in the Spring. The first casualty of the Spring was SP Doc Medich, who was released after only two atrocious appearances. OF's Jim Peters and Dave Edwards quickly followed suit, and all have since then signed minor league contracts with MLB clubs. The Comets also managed to sign the two-way Japanese P/INF Toru Nimura, and two-way P/3B/1B Lance Clemons to contracts. Manager Dave Bristol also decided to completely convert wild man Roger McDowell to an OF. "I like having the versatility of two-way players. It's rare to find competent players on both sides of the spectrum, Nimura is the best. In Japan, it's essential to have the game perfected in all technical aspects. Nimura can go out and play shortstop for five innings and then go and pitch four innings and get a win. But, he's just so damn slow." Bristol said. However, all two-way players were reassigned to the practice squad, in order to cut the team down to 22.

SP Dan Freisleben faces Phoenix's Bob Walk on Opening Day.


Crazy man Roger McDowell was converted to a full-time OF this Spring by manager Dave Bristol

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

Comets Pretty Sharp First Week of Season
April 21, 1985 - SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

In 608 AB, George Foster has 48 career MIBL HR's. He also sports an amazing mustache in this undated photo.

Although the Comets lost their franchise opener 3-1 against the Phoenix Bulls in a nail-biter, they have taken control of the reins, and are one of the most solid ball clubs in the Indoor League. The Comets won the series against expansion the California Seals 2-1, behind extremely solid pitching. Mizuno suffered slight starting pitching woes when staff ace Dave Freisleben threw only six pitches in his second start before he was taken out of the game with back stiffness. And workhorse Randy Jones strained an abdominal muscle after only 1.2 IP in his first game. He was placed on the 15-day disabled list. However, despite the injuries, the Comets bullpen came to relief beautifully, with the experienced LHP Bob McClure and RHP Allan Ramirez pitching extensively out of the pen. Another stellar surprise is LHP Juan Guerra, who has fulfilled a variety of roles from the pen, from long relief, to set-up man to closer. In order to fill some of the gaps, the Comets signed RHP Nino Espinosa to a league minimum deal, and also dealt Dennis O'Toole to the Boston Americans for OF/DH Juan Beniquez and practice squad RHP Jeff Jackson to the Long Island Indians for 1B Terry Lee.

The Comets kick of the week against the 2-5 San Antonio Gunslingers, where OF George Foster leads the league with 6 home runs.

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

Comets Hottest Team in Western League
May 21, 1985 - SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

The Kong Man himself, clearly the King of the Home Run so far in 1985

The Mizuno Comets have crushed the rest of Western League competition this past month, running up a 21-14 record. Perhaps the most impressive Comet so far is 1B Dave 'Kong' Kingman, who over the past 13 games has hit 11 home runs, batted .372, and leads the league with 20 HR, with only 35 games played so far. "It's pretty cool. These tiny little arena fields. Much cooler then the major leagues," Kingman told reporters. The Comets are one game ahead of Phoenix, their league rival.

The Comets have suffered a bit on the pitching front however, with below average starting pitching from both Dave Freisleben and Joaquin Andrujar, who have a combined ERA of 5.07. Recent pick-up RHP Mike Garman and LHP Bob McClure have been solid, and young flamethrower LHP Juan Guerra appears to have found his stroke. Despite an average pitching staff, the Comets have been terrible defensively, committing 29 errors, something manager Dave Bristol insists is a result of the turf conditions of the league. "These boys grow up playing mostly on grass. It takes a while to get adjusted to the turf. I'm not saying it's acceptable, but dammit, that turf is some wild stuff!" Bristol said. Despite their sub-par pitching and nasty fielding, the Comets lead the league with 85 home-runs.

The Comets made a few key trades over the past month, acquiring veteran C Dave Graham for RHP Warren Brusstar, which freed up some much needed cash for the Cosmos. Mizuno also shipped recently converted utility OF Roger McDowell for utility C/OF Gary Alexander. Graham also signed a one-year contract extension with the club, to the tune of $192k.

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

Indoor League Undergoing Big Changes for Junior Season
August 19, 1985 - ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nintendo will own an expansion club next season, in conjunction with releasing their hugely popular video game system later this year in North America.

In a press release from the Commissioner's Office yesterday, Dr. Oscar Acosta announced quite a few changes that will take place within the league for the following season. He also announced that two additional franchises have been secured, for the Eastern League, and will also start next year. Nissan Motor Company and Nintendo Co. Ltd, both Japanese conglomerates, will own and operate independent franchises beginning in 1986. It is reported that Nissan's franchise will operate out of Philadelphia, while Nintendo will most likely operate out of the Pittsburgh area. Logos and personnel announcements are expected after the season. Acosta also announced that the Indoor League will be creating a second-tier "development" league, essentially the beginning of a minor league system similar to that of Major League Baseball. In addition to the development league, the Indoor League will be hosting it's first official "Try-Out" League this Winter, where the majority of players will participate in the Winter indoor League, and eventually be entered into a draft. Acosta also announced future plans for the league to create a development league within the Caribbean, a hot-spot for baseball talent. It is widely believed that if the Indoor League can secure enough significant talent, that teams can make some big bucks selling contracts to MLB franchises. That plan is exactly what Major League Baseball would like to avoid. A few other minor changes proposed by the Commissioner were a longer schedule, inter-league play, and more dynamic play-off system. A last bit of league news is that Apple Inc. a software company located in Southern California, has reportedly purchased the Bay Area California Seals from the league for an undisclosed amount. They will presumably relocate the franchise after the season to Southern California, into more volatile MLB territory, but operate at an even lower cost. According to the League Office, three other franchises are currently in negotiations with potential buyers. League founder, and owner of the Colorado Rockies, Rex Hearst, has indicated that he would like all franchises to be completely financially independent within the next 2-3 seasons.

Comets Still #1, Mizuno Sporting Good Sales Up Nearly 45% in NA
August 19, 1985 - SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Franklin Stubbs has been nicknamed "Stubbs the Destroyer" amongst MIBL brass

The Comets have held their own so far this season, mostly because of OF Franklin Stubbs and 1B/DH Dave Kingman. Stubbs has thrashed all league pitching so far, to the tune of a .322 BAVG, with 56 HR's and 113 RBI's, in only 441 at-bats. He will certainly destroy 1B Ken Phelps' home run record of 60 from last season, and set a new baseball precedent. Sure, the fields are smaller, but people still love home runs. However, given the nature of the Indoor League, there's no doubting the differences between the Indoor League and MLB. This is clearly evident in one of the most bizarre signings in the short history of free agency. Last season the St. Louis Cardinals signed the reigning Indoor League Home Run King Ken Phelps to a massive 7-year, $23 million contract! What has Phelps done so far this year in major league stadiums against major league pitching? Only hit 8 zingers with a batting average of .257 with 33 RBI's. Most St. Louis fans must feel utterly sick. They have baseballs most expensive and mediocre utility first-basemen. Hopefully this upcoming off-season, MLB team executives will scrutinize the weight of MIBL statistics. The best part of the Phelps deal was that he was 30 when he signed, and will be 37 when it expires. Can't wait to see his numbers then!


In a few years, free agent signing flops will probably also be called "Phelps Flops"

The Ken Phelps debacle aside, the Comets have been increasingly consistent over the months. It appears that pitching coach Gaylord Perry was finally able to get through to some of the veterans and they are delivering consistent and solid performances every game. In the first month of the season, the pitchers were constantly giving up late-game leads, pushing it into extra-innings, and losing the majority of those battles. GM Bill Murray has been brilliant in his first year involved with professional baseball. He possesses an uncanny ability to judge and scout players meticulously. So far this season he has turned a few major signing flops into gold, through trades, and has also managed to secure the core of the franchise for next season.

Last bit of news from Mizuno, the sporting goods company based in Japan is projecting a huge increase in North American sales, namely in the Baseball goods sector. The company holds the Comets responsible, and in response has injected an additional $2 million dollars into their coffers.

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

Comets Capture Chesterfield Classic!
October 16, 1985 - SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

The Mizuno Comets, a team dedicated to destroying it's competition, proved it could do just that last night, after they beat the Miami Atoms 4-3 to win the Chesterfield Classic. The Atoms took the series to a 7th game after they beat up the Comets to the tune of 9-1 the previous game. However, the Comets, tired and ragged from a strenuous season, wanted to end it, and punched a hole in the the Atoms jugular. The Comets couldn't have done it without Triple Crown winner Franklin Stubbs, who finished the season with a line of 76 HR's, .326 BAVG, and 156 RBI's. "It's awesome. Nobody expected this club to do this our first year. We were an expansion club," said C Gary Alexander, who after the interview, was released by the Comets.

All in all it was an amazing year for the Comets. They captured the lead early in the Summer, and never let go. They built up quite a rivalry against the Phoenix Bulls, who were right behind them all year. GM Bill Murray left town immediately after the celebration, and is expected back next week. He is filming a series of advertisements and commercials for the leagues new official championship sponsor, Winston Cigarettes.


Beginning early next year, this creepy guy will be replaced with the awesome Bill Murray

Nintendo and Nissan Reveal Team Logos, Prepare for Expansion Draft
October 18, 1985 - SPORTING NEWS

VP of Nintendo Baseball Operations, Koji Inoue, revealed his teams logo and jerseys yesterday afternoon. Three-hundred miles away, Nissan's GM, Fred Wilmott, introduced the Philadelphia media to the Firebirds. Nintendo will be stationed in Pittsburgh, while Nissan will occupy Philadelphia, both cities already have fervent MLB fan bases. "I believe that the fans are starting to make the distinction. Obviously there's a difference between Major League Baseball and Major Indoor Baseball," Commissioner Dr. Oscar Acosta said. Perhaps the Pennsylvania expansion clubs will strike up a heated, intra-state rivalry.


The California Seals also revealed their revamped logo. The Seals club was purchased by Apple Inc. earlier in the Summer, and they will relocate from the Bay Area to Los Angeles.






Special thank you to Davwms for awesome help with logos and jerseys!

[Dr. P.R. Park III]

Indoor League Television Rights Sold to ESPN
February 12, 1986 - ASSOCIATED PRESS


The Major Indoor Baseball League, going into its third year of existence, and coming off another season of stealing profit from Major League Baseball, is looking to deepen its pockets for the coming years, by inking a 3-year contract with sports television network, ESPN. The league will allow the cable network to air approximately 44 regular season games in 1986 , which roughly equals two games a week. ESPN will also solely air all playoff series, and the Winston Championship Series. Terms of the deal were officially undisclosed, however an official very familiar with the negotiations hinted that the Indoor League would be getting paid upwards to around $4 million a season by ESPN, or $12 million for three years. MIBL Commissioner Dr. Oscar Acosta and Founder/Creator Rex Hearst were unavailable for comment, for they have been in a Tibetan monastery for the past three weeks.

In other news from around the Indoor League this off-season, the leagues new United Development Indoor League will kick off this season as the top-tier development league. All teams host one development team, which plays in an adjacent city in close proximity to the parent club. One of the purposes of the league, besides developing younger or injured players, was to attain the ability to sell players contracts to MLB clubs. Exactly that happened earlier this month, when the Indoor League held it's first Prospect Draft, and the first two picks, 3B German Ornelas and RF Bryan Booker, both drafted from the expansion Nissan and Nintendo franchises, were sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. Ornelas was sold for $75,000, while Booker's contract was sold for around $95,000.

[RMc]

I'm in...but only if you put a team in Detroit!

Name: Rob McLean
Position: SP
Country: USA
DOB: 3-23-65
Birth Place: Livonia, MI