British Baseball Reborn: 1950 - Present

[Haystacks]

From the Baseball Review archives

[RMc]

I'm totally stealing those logos. (Actually, why dontcha just send them to me? And a quickstart, maybe...?)

Will real players in America find their way to the UK, and vice versa?

[SalisburyTheWaterFox]

Just only check on England, Wales and Scotland. And check of of every country that's checked by default? If you need help, ask support

[Haystacks]

Originally Posted by RMc

I'm totally stealing those logos. (Actually, why dontcha just send them to me? And a quickstart, maybe...?)

Will real players in America find their way to the UK, and vice versa?

Will happily share, I've uniforms too, I'll try and make some time to stick them all in a google drive to share this week. Think I want to finish fleshing out minor leagues and have a bit of league history in place before putting together a quick start.

Right now I think we're a long way from players crossing the Atlantic, the gulf in finances are massive, right now an average player in the league earns around the average workers salary. And the gulf in quality... I'd imagine the very best players in the British National League wouldn't stand out from the crowd in AAA or AA. In the future maybe we will see aging major leaguers that have been released come over to Britain for one last pay check, it'd be a good draw for the crowds from an owners perspective too, I was imaging we'd probably start seeing star British players being lurred over to the Major Leagues around the 1990s.

[Haystacks]

Opening Day 1951

A Comeback, a wash-out and a blow-out

Tuesday, May 1, 1951

As the days grow longer and warmer the day all baseball players and fans have been waiting for finally arrived. Yesterday the National Baseball League ushered in the 1951 season with the excitement and drama we became accustom to last year.

In Liverpool the lead was back and forth throughout the game. Leeds White Sox took the lead in the top of the 1st, a 2-run home run from Jack Kennedy gave the Giants the lead in the bottom half. After adding a run to this lead in the 5th, Leeds pulled back 2 in the 7th and 1 in the 8th to lead the game 4-3. 3 runs in the bottom of the 8th, assisted by an error from the Leeds defence was enough for the Giants to win 4-6.

Over 6,000 flooded into Belle Vue Stadium for opening day in Manchester and heavy rain flooded the field... Not before a good 3 innings of action though, a double from Jack Findlay was followed shortly after by a double from Phil Cooper to open the scoring for the Elephants. A sacrifice fly-ball from the bat of Scanlon Ellis of the Steelmen saw the game tied as the umpires called it a day in the 3rd. The game will resume today (Tuesday 1st), weather permitting.

In Nottingham it was an assured defensive performance that limited the Sheriffs to 1 run, despite racking up 10 hits. Athletics pitching ace George Jones took the win and Player of the Game plaudits, throwing the whole game only allowing the 1 run despite 10 hits, and sitting down the Nottingham batters swinging 5 times.

Two solo home-runs in the top of the 9th secured a comfortable win for the London Monarchs. Bristol opened solidly with an error in their favour and 4 singles to take a 2 run lead in the 1st. However the Pirates had no answer to Gael Keith's bat, he tallied 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 RBI, and 1 base on balls in his 5 plate apperances.


From the Baseball Review's archive

[Haystacks]

From the archives of The Baseball Review

[Haystacks]

[Haystacks]

From The Baseball Review archives.

[Haystacks]

The Baseball Review

All-Star Game Rosters Announced

July 22, 1951

The votes are tallied and the players have been chosen -- all that's left is to "Play Ball"! It's time once again for the midyear classic, where the league's premier performers come together to show their skill and talent. The All-Stars from the National League North and the National League South are set to tangle to determine which league is the best.

The roster for the National League North is:

SP Oscar George (SHF) - 3-7, 4.00 ERA, 99.0 IP, 1.37 WHIP, 4.3 K/9, 2.2 WAR
SP Brian Haynes (LIV) - 11-6, 3.09 ERA, 160.1 IP, 1.35 WHIP, 3.1 K/9, 2.9 WAR
SP Nicolas Legg (MAN) - 8-9, 4.07 ERA, 148.0 IP, 1.42 WHIP, 3.1 K/9, 3.1 WAR
SP Dennis Macdonnell (LDS) - 10-6, 2.26 ERA, 147.2 IP, 1.19 WHIP, 3.4 K/9, 3.7 WAR
SP James O'Toole (MAN)* - 13-5, 2.82 ERA, 159.1 IP, 1.20 WHIP, 3.9 K/9, 4.3 WAR
SP Alexander Shaw (SHF) - 7-10, 3.88 ERA, 146.0 IP, 1.42 WHIP, 4.9 K/9, 3.7 WAR
RP Robert Jackson (LDS) - 1-2, 2.11 ERA, 38.1 IP, 1.04 WHIP, 2.8 K/9, 0.3 WAR
CL Gavin D'Arcy (LIV) - 4-1, 8 SV, 1.72 ERA, 31.1 IP, 1.31 WHIP, 4.3 K/9, 0.1 WAR
CL Gerard Marks (LDS)* - 3-5, 12 SV, 2.39 ERA, 52.2 IP, 1.18 WHIP, 4.4 K/9, 1.6 WAR
C Joey Casey (MAN)* - .244/.318/.347, 193 AB, 4 HR, 81 wRC+, 0.3 WAR
C Patrick Dowell (LIV) - .264/.291/.382, 220 AB, 5 HR, 2 SB, 80 wRC+, 0.6 WAR
C Charles Harrington (SHF) - .289/.337/.389, 149 AB, 2 HR, 97 wRC+, 0.6 WAR
C Carl Neumann (LIV) - .375/.420/.537, 80 AB, 3 HR, 165 wRC+, 1.1 WAR
1B Maurice Dougherty (LIV) - .285/.367/.416, 221 AB, 6 HR, 119 wRC+, 0.9 WAR
1B Tyler Hardy (LDS)* - .294/.374/.435, 269 AB, 7 HR, 2 SB, 126 wRC+, 1.6 WAR
1B Colin Thompson (SHF) - .297/.343/.495, 182 AB, 8 HR, 128 wRC+, 0.8 WAR
2B Phil Cooper (MAN)* - .299/.394/.449, 214 AB, 4 HR, 136 wRC+, 1.3 WAR (Injured)
2B Finlay Duncan (LIV) - .293/.397/.452, 259 AB, 5 HR, 137 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
2B Scanlon Ellis (SHF) - .278/.343/.407, 241 AB, 6 HR, 1 SB, 100 wRC+, 1.7 WAR
2B Frank Macintyre (LDS) - .266/.338/.424, 278 AB, 6 HR, 111 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
3B Jake Aitken (MAN) - .309/.358/.439, 278 AB, 5 HR, 10 SB, 119 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
3B Jack Kennedy (LIV)* - .274/.407/.465, 241 AB, 13 HR, 142 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
SS Dean Ainley (SHF)* - .237/.297/.369, 279 AB, 8 HR, 1 SB, 81 wRC+, 0.0 WAR
LF Matthew Murray (LDS) - .321/.390/.491, 287 AB, 4 HR, 8 SB, 144 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
LF James Walker (LIV)* - .272/.359/.438, 283 AB, 4 HR, 5 SB, 119 wRC+, 2.6 WAR
LF Jacob West (SHF) - .276/.347/.431, 290 AB, 5 HR, 5 SB, 113 wRC+, 1.4 WAR
CF Nicky Aldridge (LIV) - .307/.332/.479, 267 AB, 4 HR, 6 SB, 117 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
CF Jack Findlay (MAN)* - .259/.341/.435, 255 AB, 8 HR, 17 SB, 114 wRC+, 2.8 WAR
CF David Mitchell (SHF) - .268/.330/.460, 250 AB, 11 HR, 4 SB, 114 wRC+, 0.7 WAR
CF Andrew Wilson (LDS) - .248/.325/.445, 218 AB, 6 HR, 110 wRC+, 1.9 WAR
RF Robert Green (SHF)* - .356/.428/.508, 191 AB, 4 HR, 3 SB, 162 wRC+, 1.7 WAR


The roster for the National League South is:

SP James Bayman (NOT)* - 7-7, 3.21 ERA, 148.2 IP, 1.31 WHIP, 3.5 K/9, 3.5 WAR
SP Charles Christy (LON) - 6-7, 3.40 ERA, 135.0 IP, 1.32 WHIP, 3.1 K/9, 1.6 WAR
SP James Hood (LON) - 10-6, 3.56 ERA, 118.2 IP, 1.33 WHIP, 3.6 K/9, 1.3 WAR
SP George Jones (BIR) - 5-5, 2.62 ERA, 89.1 IP, 1.10 WHIP, 4.9 K/9, 2.7 WAR (Injured)
SP Reece Macaskill (BIR) - 8-6, 4.14 ERA, 119.2 IP, 1.30 WHIP, 4.4 K/9, 1.2 WAR
SP Zachary Sharp (BRI) - 8-7, 4.08 ERA, 128.0 IP, 1.41 WHIP, 2.7 K/9, 1.9 WAR
SP John Waghorn (BRI) - 3-2, 2.65 ERA, 115.2 IP, 1.34 WHIP, 3.4 K/9, 2.4 WAR
RP Jacob Amary (NOT) - 5-4, 2.06 ERA, 35.0 IP, 1.34 WHIP, 4.4 K/9, 0.7 WAR
CL Jack Ferguson (BIR)* - 3-1, 9 SV, 2.27 ERA, 47.2 IP, 1.24 WHIP, 3.8 K/9, 0.7 WAR
CL Jayden Werner (NOT) - 4-4, 6 SV, 2.42 ERA, 52.0 IP, 1.08 WHIP, 3.3 K/9, 1.3 WAR
C Benjamin Gill (LON)* - .314/.369/.491, 159 AB, 6 HR, 137 wRC+, 1.2 WAR
C Richard Jones (BIR) - .242/.343/.335, 182 AB, 4 HR, 90 wRC+, 0.9 WAR
C Edward Wilkinson (NOT) - .244/.318/.340, 209 AB, 4 HR, 83 wRC+, 0.6 WAR
1B Chris Allen (BIR) - .306/.367/.444, 252 AB, 7 HR, 10 SB, 126 wRC+, 1.8 WAR
1B Gael Keith (LON)* - .285/.390/.570, 207 AB, 17 HR, 162 wRC+, 2.2 WAR (Injured)
1B Ciaran Pemberton (NOT) - .332/.408/.642, 232 AB, 21 HR, 187 wRC+, 3.2 WAR
2B Jack Cove (LON) - .273/.366/.412, 260 AB, 6 HR, 4 SB, 118 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
2B Max Douglas (BIR) - .301/.363/.454, 229 AB, 7 HR, 4 SB, 125 wRC+, 2.1 WAR
2B Kane Hamilton (NOT)* - .349/.391/.514, 255 AB, 7 HR, 1 SB, 150 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
3B Jude Carroll (LON) - .279/.373/.382, 251 AB, 7 HR, 115 wRC+, 1.2 WAR
3B Toomey Grant (NOT) - .324/.355/.439, 173 AB, 3 HR, 119 wRC+, 1.3 WAR
3B Ellis Johnson (BRI) - .317/.370/.438, 281 AB, 6 HR, 1 SB, 123 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
3B Dylan Moore (NOT)* - .310/.365/.443, 174 AB, 4 HR, 3 SB, 123 wRC+, 2.0 WAR
SS Derby Fisher (BRI)* - .251/.326/.448, 259 AB, 12 HR, 8 SB, 111 wRC+, 2.4 WAR
SS Samuel Taylor (LON) - .270/.329/.430, 270 AB, 9 HR, 6 SB, 108 wRC+, 1.3 WAR
LF Oscar Cookson (LON)* - .278/.379/.479, 263 AB, 10 HR, 6 SB, 136 wRC+, 2.9 WAR
LF Robert Mullen (BIR)* - .380/.434/.645, 279 AB, 14 HR, 4 SB, 195 wRC+, 4.9 WAR
CF Elliot Fraser (BRI) - .289/.333/.515, 266 AB, 9 HR, 127 wRC+, 2.2 WAR
CF Conor Mackie (LON) - .274/.304/.373, 252 AB, 1 HR, 16 SB, 81 wRC+, 1.3 WAR
RF Ethan Bretherton (BRI) - .286/.369/.459, 220 AB, 6 HR, 126 wRC+, 0.9 WAR
RF Shaun Doherty (BRI) - .230/.335/.339, 239 AB, 2 HR, 10 SB, 89 wRC+, 1.4 WAR
RF Joseph Pallett (LON)* - .323/.394/.556, 257 AB, 11 HR, 160 wRC+, 3.0 WAR

From the archives of The Baseball Review

[Haystacks]

Bretherton Dominates in 6-4 Win over National League North All-Stars

Tuesday, July 24, 1951

The 1951 All-Star game drew the crowds to Birmingham’s Athletics Field for another excellent competition of baseball between the very best players of North and South.

The scoring was opened in the top of the 2nd by the North All-Stars’ Jack Kennedy, with an inside the park home run. Leeds’ Tyler Hardy followed this with a double, moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt from Sheffield’s Robert Green, and made his way home to make it 2-0 on a double from Manchester’s Joey Casey.

The South immediately answered back in the bottom of the inning. London’s Joseph Pallett hit his own solo home run, inside the park. This was followed by a double from Kane Hamilton of Nottingham and a single from Bristol’s Ethan Bretherton. Hamilton was able to tag up on a sacrifice fly out from Ellis Johnson (Bristol) to tie the game.

The Southern stars took the lead in the bottom of the 4th, another hit from Bretherton set Richard Jones (Birmingham) up with a man on base and 1-out. Jones hit a home run into the right-field seats over 400ft from home plate for a 2-run home run. London’s Jack Cove followed this up with a solo home also into the seats to send the fans in the outfield into a frenzy.
Sheffield’s Colin Thompson replied for the North with a 2-run home run over the left field wall in the top of the 6th. But just as the North thought they were back in the game Bretherton hit a rocket into the seats for a solo home run in the bottom half.

Both side’s pitching then shut down the hitting and the game wrapped up as a 4-6 victory for the National League South All-Stars.

Player of the Game: Ethan Bretherton, 3AB, 2R, 3H, 1RBI.
Ballpark: Athletics Field. Attendance: 23,000

From the archives of The Baseball Review

[Haystacks]

From the archives of The Baseball Review

[Haystacks]

The Baseball Review
The 1951 Pennant Chase

Monday, August 27, 1951.

As we enter the final week of this 1951 baseball season the chase for the National League North and South Pennants could not be any closer.

In the North, with the season on the line, Manchester Elephants are to travel to Liverpool's Sefton Park for a 4 game set, the Manchester club are half a game back on the Giants with a total of 8 ballgames remaining to play. The Elephants will go on to face the Leeds White Sox in their final 4 games at their Belle Vue Stadium, whilst the Giants have 3 remaining at their home against last season's National League North winners' the Sheffield Steelmen.

Down in the National League South the Birmingham Athletics sit top with a 57-46 record followed by the London Monarchs on a 58-47 record respectively. The Monarchs will travel to Birmingham for a series of 4 games that could decide the pennant, they follow this with a 3 game set in Nottingham. The Athletics will wrap up their season with a 3 game set in Bristol.

The Monarchs fantastic form of 7 wins in their last 10 has them as favourites in the South, whilst bookmakers see the North league as almost too close to call.

[Haystacks]

From The Baseball Review archive

[Haystacks]

1951 British Baseball Championship Series

The regular season had wrapped up in an incredible fashion. Baseball had spread like a fever in London as their Monarchs mounted an incredible run to take the National League South pennant. On the 1st of August the London club was 10 games behind the Birmingham Athletics, a run of 24 victories in 31 games would see the Monarchs take the pennant, 2 and a half games ahead. An run of good form so notable, the comeback would still be talked about in modern times as one of the greatest.

In the North League the complete collapse of Sheffield Steelmen, last year’s pennant winners, finishing with a record of 44-67, created the novel circumstance where the 1951 standings were the exact opposite of 1950. The Giants turnaround had been impressive, but not a certainty, out of all 8 teams combined the Liverpool club sat average in both offence and defence, they had not been stand out in any area, but their consistency had carried them to the northern pennant, they were going into the Championship Series without pressure, as outsiders.



Game 1; a 1 on, 1 out, home run from Monarchs’ star man Oscar Cookson, in the bottom of the first got the scoring open for the series. London added two more in the third, but a defensive and pitching collapse in the fifth and sixth allowed the Giants victory. Jack White was on the mound for the Monarchs, formerly of the Giants. In 5.2 innings he allowed 7 hits, 6 runs, 3 earned runs. The game was really about his former comrade in arms, Liverpool pitcher Edward Johnson, although giving up 4 early runs, Johnson pitched the complete game, fanning 5 hitters along the way. But it was his performance at the bat that really caught the eye, in 4 at bats, he got 2 hits and 2 RBIs for his efforts, playing his part in the Liverpool comeback.

Player of the Game: Edward Johnson, Liverpool Giants



Game 2; Cove, Cookson and Keith, came to life. A run in the batting order that had been terrifying the South League for a month were asleep in game one, but their bats cracked in game 2. In the top of the third the Giants took a 1 run lead, a Keith solo-home run in the fourth tied it up. 4 more for the Monarchs in the sixth, with a two-run home run from Cookson, gave the Monarchs a comfortable 1-5 victory, to the delight of the expecting London fans. There were some whispers of concern however, the fifth man in London’s deadly order, right fielder Pallett had an average of .307 for the regular season with 77 RBIs. He’d been hitless so far in the series.

Player of the Game: Gael Keith, London Monarchs



Game 3; the Monarchs travelled to Liverpool with the series tied. Cookson opened the scoring with a solo-home run, his third home run in three games. The Giants put up 3 in the second but inning by inning the Monarchs clawed back runs, with the game tied in the fifth, Liverpool favourite Kennedy hit a 2 run-home run to give the Giants a lead they would not give up this time. Another run in the seventh and a solid showing from Liverpool’s relief pitchers, Wiles and D’Arcy secured a 3-6 victory and have the Liverpool club a 2-1 lead in the series.

Player of the Game: James Walker, Liverpool



Game 4; double, double, double. Liverpool’s James Walker in 5 at bats, got 3 hits, all of which were doubles, to do his part in securing a third win in the series for the Giants. The Liverpool club took the lead in the second and did not look back, a solo-home run from second-baseman Duncan added to the lead. London’s Keith hit a solo-home run in the fourth, which would be a solitary consolation. Liverpool continued to add to their lead in the fifth, and sixth. A 3 run-home run Liverpool’s right fielder, Jude Loughran, secured a 1-7 win for the Giants.

Player of the Game: Edward Johnson

Walker’s 3 doubles sets the record for doubles in a play of game.



Game 5; Liverpool pitcher Brian Haynes, put on quite the up and down display, he allowed 10 walks, but only 2 hits, London failing to make him pay for his poor control. The Championship was all but confirmed to be Liverpool’s by the fifth inning, as they scored 2 in the second, 1 in the third and 5 in the fourth, with no answer from London until the eighth. After the final out, the sellout crowd in Sefton Park erupted into the field to celebrate with their heroes.

Player of the Game: Nicky Aldridge, Liverpool.

Brian Haynes sets playoff record for walks allowed with 10.

Liverpool Giants win series, 4 to 1.



Player of the Series: James Walker, LF, Liverpool Giants.

[Haystacks]

1951 Season Awards

October 6, 1951

National League North

Player of the Year

With stellar statistics and an uncanny ability to lead his team to victory, many around National Baseball League felt two-way player James O'Toole was a shoo-in to be named most valuable player - except for the player himself.

"There's lots of great players in the league, I'm not so sure I deserve to be named among the best," he said.

But O'Toole has in fact been named the 1951 National League North Player of the Year Award winner.

The Manchester Elephants ace put up an impressive year, with a 20-7 record. In 28 starts he piled up 239 innings, had 116 strikeouts with 79 walks and a 2.75 ERA. O'Toole held opposing hitters to a .240 batting average and compiled a 6.6 WAR along the way.

At the bat O'Toole appeared at the plate 422, in 389 at bats he got 133 hits, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 15 home runs, he scored 75 times, batted in 68 runs, leading the North League in average with a .342.

He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Jack Kennedy of the Liverpool Giants finished second in voting, while Tyler Hardy of the Leeds White Sox finished third.

Pitcher of the Year

O'Toole capped a spectacular year, not only taking home the prize for Player of the Year, he was also voted Pitcher of the Year.

Stats above.

He received 4 first place votes out of a possible 8. Dennis Macdonnell of the Leeds White Sox finished second in voting with 4 first place votes, while Gerard Marks of the Leeds White Sox finished third.

Rookie of the Year

Leeds fans have reason to cheer today as center fielder Andrew Wilson brought home the National League North Rookie of the Year Award for 1951.

He put together a .257 batting average on the strength of 90 hits and swatted 11 home runs. He also racked up 64 RBIs and scored 52 runs, signaling that this might be the beginning of a solid baseball career.

He received 7 first place votes out of a possible 8. Donny Sambrook of the Manchester Elephants finished second in voting, while Jack Findlay of the Manchester Elephants finished third with 1 first place vote.

Manager of the Year

A baseball manager's success usually depends on the talent of his club, but in the case of Brady Houghton, he seems to have taken the Liverpool Giants to a higher level and gotten his just due. He was named this season's Manager of the Year in the National League North for leading the team to a very rewarding season.

"Everyone on the team put in a lot of hard work this season," he told reporters. "It's always nice when it's acknowledged in some way."

Houghton led Liverpool to a first place finish in the National League North. The Giants ended up with a 58-52 record.

Great Glove Award

"Ball hawk" is a good name for the members of the defensive elite, the players who make leather shine. The fielders who crashed the wall, leapt in the air, and dove in the hole better than any others during 1951 have been tabbed as the National League North's Great Glove Award winners. Here are this year's best:

Pitcher
James O'Toole (Manchester Elephants)

Catcher
Patrick Dowell (Liverpool Giants)

First Baseman
Donny Sambrook (Manchester Elephants)

Second Baseman
Scanlon Ellis (Sheffield Steelmen)

Third Baseman
Jack Kennedy (Liverpool Giants)

Shortstop
Bert Wood (Liverpool Giants)

Left Fielder
Jacob West (Sheffield Steelmen)

Center Fielder
Jack Findlay (Manchester Elephants)

Right Fielder
Harrison O'Malley (Leeds White Sox)

National League South

Player of the Year

He may have less experience than most of his National Baseball League peers, but that didn't slow Robert Mullen down at all in 1951.

At the age of 23, the Birmingham left fielder has been named the winner of the National League South Player of the Year Award.

He had a .366 batting average and a .418 on-base percentage this year. In 107 games he piled up 155 hits, 33 doubles, 8 triples, 20 home runs, 88 RBIs and 86 runs scored.

"I'm blown away by the season I was able to put together," he said. "I'm looking forward to trying to do it all again next year."

He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Gael Keith of the London Monarchs finished second in voting, while Oscar Cookson of the London Monarchs finished third.

Pitcher of the Year

James Hood of London excelled on the mound in 1951 with a 15-8 record and was named the National League South Pitcher of the Year Award winner.

The Monarchs star put on quite a show with a 3.38 ERA in 24 starts and 74 strikeouts in 183.2 innings.

He received 5 first place votes out of a possible 8. Jack Ferguson of the Birmingham Athletics finished second in voting with 2 first place votes, while Charles Christy of the London Monarchs finished third.

Rookie of the Year

All the votes have been tabulated and the recipient of the prestigious National League South Rookie of the Year Award is Ellis Johnson of Bristol.

This gifted first-year performer won the honors by batting .327 with a .378 OBP. In 111 games this year, the third baseman laced 137 hits in 419 at-bats, hit 10 home runs, drove in 47 runs and scored 70 times.

He received 8 first place votes, as a unanimous winner. Edward Wilkinson of the Nottingham Sheriffs finished second in voting, while Ian Lloyd of the London Monarchs finished third.

Manager of the Year

An outstanding season by the Monarchs garnered their manager Kenneth Garner the National League South Manager of the Year award for 1951. He led London to a 64-48 record this year and a first place finish in the National League South.

Even so, Garner seemed less than thrilled. "I don't give a darn about the award," he growled to reporters, "I just want this team to win championships!"

Great Glove Award

Any pitcher would love to have these defenders on the field backing them up. They are the best glovemen in the National League South for 1951. This year's Great Glove Award winners are:

Pitcher
James Bayman (Nottingham Sheriffs)

Catcher
Richard Jones (Birmingham Athletics)

First Baseman
Ciaran Pemberton (Nottingham Sheriffs)

Second Baseman
Kane Hamilton (Nottingham Sheriffs)

Third Baseman
Dylan Moore (Nottingham Sheriffs)

Shortstop
Derby Fisher (Bristol Pirates)

Left Fielder
Oscar Cookson (London Monarchs)

Center Fielder
Conor Mackie (London Monarchs)

Right Fielder
Joseph Pallett (London Monarchs)

[Haystacks]

Controlled Expansion Becomes Rapid Expansion

During the 1951 winter meeting of club owners and executives of the National League there was some caution in the air as it was announced the league had been approached by a small group of clubs calling themselves the 'Professional Union of Baseball Clubs' requesting acceptance into the National League or they would intend to start their own competing professional league.

The expansion for 1952, agreed the previous year, was already to see the league expand by an additional 4 clubs, these being Blackpool Excursions, Leicester Foxes, Cardiff Dragons and Edinburgh Cannons, a 50% increase. The majority of club owners refused to believe their was enough 'high quality' baseball talent to justify further expanding the professional league, there was however an appetite to consume it, as these clubs were regularly bringing in crowds equal to the National League clubs.

A suggestion of a promotion and relegation system was quickly rules out, the agreed expansion clubs rejected this out of hand, they'd already been accepted to the National League, they were not going to accept being put in a 'lesser' league for the sake of this new band of club demanding entry to the league. Several owners, saw a perfect opportunity to mimic their inspiration, the Major Leagues. Led by John Moore, the argument was made to allow entry to the 'Union' clubs, but in the form of a separate but equal league.

A motion was proposed, the 'Union' clubs would be accepted into an equal league, The Union League. To ensure both leagues had at least one non-English club, the Sheffield Steelmen would be put into the Union League so the National League could accommodate the Edinburgh Cannons. The National League would no longer be split into two regions. The winners of each league would play in the British Championship Series.

The motion passed with the required 75% of the vote, only Blackpool and Leicester voted against. The Sheffield club was originally opposed to the plans, until they considered that they should theoretically dominate a league of newly professional clubs...

Once those lengthy discussions had finally concluded it was on the considerably easier job of agreeing a schedule. A 132 game schedule was agreed, 6 home and 6 away against the other 7 times in your own league, 3 home and 3 away against the teams of the other sub-league. League games are 6 game series, interleague games are 3 game series, paired in the week against the same team, every Sunday a rest day, (football would not play on Sundays until 1975, I believe). The season would begin the first Monday on or after April 15, and regular season play should span 160 days, ending late September. An All-Star game between leagues would be planned for the season mid-point, inside a week off for rest.

Finally the new teams were encouraged to find affiliate clubs to enter into the Progress League, and when word got out, their was no shortage of suitors!

The Clubs

The Croydon Capitals - before the formation of the National League, the London district amateur contests had been dominated by the Monarchs or the Croydon club, who's dominance has continued. They regularly draw crowds of at least 10,000 to their games, and their admittance into professional baseball gives London a club on both sides of the river Thames.

Ballpark: Capital Field, capacity currently being expanded to 24,000
Progress League Affiliate: Brighton Sunshines

Bradford Boars - named after the pub the club was formed in, the Bradford Boars were originally planning to join Blackburn Olympics semi-professional association. However a dispute over a salary cap saw the Bradford Boars and Hull Tigers come together to discuss professionalism

Ballpark: Barkerend Road, 18,400
Progress League Affiliate: Burnley Storks

Blackpool Excursions - Doris Thompson and Leonard Thompson, owners of Blackpool Pleasure Beach and other amusement parks, had built a ballpark to host the Manchester Elephants Progress League affiliate franchise, on condition they'd get their own club in the National League. Although frustrated about the new league structure, the Thompson's have their professional club and are ready to invest! The club is named after the excursion trains that bring holiday makers from across the north of England to Blackpool in the summer. Although being the smallest professional club in terms of permanent population in their local market, the Thompson's see the holiday market, which brings millions to Blackpool in the summer, as the perfect way to sustain the club.

Ballpark: South Shore Stadium, 20,296
Progress League Affiliate: The Thompson's didn't seek out an affiliate, they set up their own, the Southport Cyclones. Another club in a seaside town where the Thomson's own an amusement park, the club is named after the park's premier roller coaster.

Edinburgh Cannons - Named after the One O'Clock Gun. Ships in the Firth of Forth once set their maritime clocks by the firing of the gun. The firing dates back to 1861, when businessman John Hewat brought the idea to Edinburgh from Paris. The Edinburgh club have had paid players on their books since 1949 and have dominated Scottish baseball as it has grown.

Ballpark: London Road, 15,000
Progress League Affiliate: Edinburgh Northern Stars, named after the Edinburgh Northern Baseball Club, originally founded in the 1890s.

Newcastle Knights - I suspect you can figure out how this name came about... The shipbuilding communities of the north-east had embraced baseball during the summer months, the club grew rapidly and even enjoyed the easy access to playing exhibition games in Scotland and northern England.

Ballpark: Moor Park, 22,900
Progress League Affiliate: Sunderland Black Cats - named as tribute to both the football club and the Black Cat Battery, where the football club's nickname originates from.

Hull Tigers - The Tigers are named in tribute to the nickname for Hull City football club. As stated above they had originally planned to join Blackburn Olympics semi-pro league, the club has enjoyed sustained growth since they formed in 1950.

Ballpark: Tigers Stadium 17,476
Progress League Affiliate: York Vikings

Cardiff Dragons - Baseball has been slow to spread in Wales, the popularity of 'Welsh Baseball' has held back the spread of the American rules. The Dragons and their Progress League affiliate, have been set up by investors for this season, in private their is concern that their is not enough interest in baseball in Wales to sustain the clubs at this time.

Ballpark: River Taff Ballpark, 22,000
Progress League Affiliate: Swansea Swans

Leicester Foxes - Similar to the Thompson's, the owner of the Leicester club hosted an affiliate and built a ballground on condition he would get a team.

Ballpark: Foxes Field, 10,800
Progress League Affiliate: Portsmouth Navigators

With professional clubs in Blackpool and Leicester entering professional baseball, Manchester Elephants move their Progress League affiliated franchise to Oldham, nicknamed the Greyhounds. Nottingham move theirs from Leicester to Stoke-on-Trent, nicknamed Potters, in tribute to the communities long history in producing pottery and ceramics.

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Scottish Baseball League Affiliated to the British Baseball Association.

Following the Edinburgh Cannons' move to join the British Baseball Association's professional leagues, Scottish clubs met to discuss their future. Six charter clubs agree to go semi-professional, and form the Scottish Baseball League. To protect their players from poaching, they propose a fee agreement with the British Baseball Association. Any club of the National or Union League will have to pay a fee of £150 to acquire the rights of any player in the league.

When the announcement of the affiliation is made, both leagues also commit to exploring the possibility of a 'Home Nations' championship, similar to what his held in Association Football and Rugby.


Left to right, Aberdeen Bulls, Edinburgh Royals, Clydesdale Horses, Glasgow Celts, Dundee Lilies, Stirling Highlanders.

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Alliance League Affiliates to British Baseball Association

Blackburn Olympic's plans for an alliance of semi-professional clubs lay in tatters. The breakaway of some of the largest semi-pro clubs in the country led by the Hull and Bradford left Blackburn's scheme for a new competition in tatters.

The Derby club, claiming to be the heirs to the 1890 professional team formed by Francis Ley, suggested the remaining teams forge ahead, but enter an affiliation agreement similar to what had recently been announced between the Scottish Baseball League and the National and Union leagues. It was an accepted fact that the expansion of the professional leagues would see top talent poached from their clubs without and reimbursement, the best way to prevent this was through affiliation, and on this basis all clubs agreed.

In early February, the Alliance League was announced, and their affiliation to the BBA. The clubs remain independent, but any professional club will have to pay a fee of £100 to acquire a player on an Alliance League team's books.

The Clubs (left to right)

Blackburn Olympic, named after the short lived association football club of the same name and 1883 FA Cup winners.

Bolton Weavers - named for Bolton's strong economic ties to the cotton industry.

Derby Rams - no actual connection exists between this club and Francis Ley's, whatever the players, staff and fans may claim. Named for the English folk tale of The Derby Ram.

Manchester Cottonopolis - named for Manchester's ties to the cotton industry.

Middlesbrough Iron Pigs - named after the town's iron industry.

Preston Rifles - named for a former army battalion that went by this name.

Salford Dockers - named for Salford's docks, when the ship canal which links Manchester Port (actually in Salford) to the sea opened in January 1894 it was the largest river navigation canal in the world.

Stockport Hatters - Named for Stockport's once thriving hatting industry. The production of hats in Stockport will now be in decline as fashion trends begin to change.

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Standings and Statistics page from The Baseball Review.
From The Baseball Review archive

The Progress League



The Alliance League



The Scottish Baseball League