JG's IPA

[jg2977]

I want to give a big shout out to Eugene Church. I wanted to do a large league with fictional cities and towns. I've been following his IPA for quite a while and thought it would be great if I could do my own. I inquired him about it to see if it was okay and he was more than happy to oblige. He sent me all 64 teams' logos, jerseys and caps, and histories of the cities and all the ballparks. Plus 8 more from his North-South recreational league so I added those as well.

I want to start posting about it because I've been posting my NHL dynasty and it's helped me become really immersed in the league, so I want that to be true for the IPA as well.

I've run 18 seasons thus far. The Colfax Black Sox have set the gold standard for IPA titles so far, with 3 championships (1902, 1910 and 1915). Three other teams have 2 titles (Cold Creek, Cape Coral and Grand City). The only repeat champion thus far is Cold Creek in 1904 and 1905. The past 7 seasons have been all about parity, with 13 different teams participating in the IPA Pro Cup Series. The unpredictability of the playoffs makes it really exciting, and it feels really special if there is a team who can rack up multiple titles in only a few seasons. As you can see it's been rare thus far.

I've built up a nice history thus far, and look forward to continuing in the year 1919. Like EC's IPA, only the division winners qualify for the postseasons, and I have no intention of ever expanding the playoffs.

[jg2977]

Team history list

[jg2977]

Standings on June 1, 1919

[jg2977]

We have some nice pennant races shaping up heading into June.

In the RU North, Far Mountain and Taranto are sitting at the top at 30-20, with Glasco in 3rd place only one game behind. Glasco is the defending division champion.

In the RU South, St. John is looking dominant at 34-16, with defending IPA Pro Cup Champion Valka sitting 8 games behind barely above .500 at 26-24.

In the RU East, Eastshore with the IPA's best record, who made the IPA Pro Cup Finals two years ago, leads by 4 games over Cold Creek. Cold Creek is trying to return to their glory days from 1904-1909 where they won 6 straight division titles, including IPA Pro Cups in 1904 and '05, and another pennant in '08. Belle Plaine is 6 games out, and defending divison champion Elnora is in 4th place, 7 games out.

In the RU West, Forest City is on top at 35-15 with Sligo and Fort Benton only two games out. Could this be Fort Benton's year? They have never made the playoffs.

Heading over to the TU North, defending TU champ Mahaska has a slim 1-game lead over Fairfax, who is looking for their first division title since 1901 and 1902.

In the TU South, 1917 IPA Pro Cup Champion Southport has a 3-game lead over defending division champ Arroyo Grande. These two clubs met in a tiebreaker game last season and could be heading toward another close division battle this year.

In the TU East, the big suprise of the league is the Dutton Coyotes, who are having by far their best season. An expansion team in 1910, their best season was last year at 77-85, finishing in 5th place and 20 games out. After 50 games this year they lead the division at a solid 31-19. But the division is extremely tight. Red Bluff, the defending divison champ, is only two games out, tied with East Point and High Mesa. Ozarka, Hillsboro and South Fork follow closely behind at 3, 4, and 5 games out respectively.

Finally, in the TU West, Rolling Hills and Bay St. Clair lead the division at 31-19, four games ahead of Kenwood. Defending division champ Bayview has a chance to repeat being six games back, if they can get hot. Although they are struggling at .500, they have always been a dangerous team in the IPA with much success, winning 8 division titles, 4 pennants and 1 IPA championship.

[jg2977]

Standings on July 7, 1919 (season halfway point)

[jg2977]

Standings on August 18, 1919 (120 games played, 42 remaining

Bayview did get hot! Since June 1 their record is 50-20. They now lead their division at 75-45, 4 games over Rolling Hills.

Eastshore is dominating the league at 87-33, they have a 14 game lead over Sugar Valley.

Fort Benton is definitely for real, they are making a viable run at their first ever division crown. Their record is 79-41, putting them 4 games ahead of Colfax.

The South Fork Stallions now have a slim two game lead in the TU East, a division that has been very close all year and has had multiple division leaders over the course of the season. They are trying to win their first division title since 1905. Dutton did fall off, they are now only 61-59, 11 games out.

[jg2977]

Standings on September 9, 1919 (140 games played)

[jg2977]

Two weeks left in the season

[jg2977]

September 27, 1919 - League News

[jg2977]

Defending Champion Valka will not repeat

[jg2977]

League News - September 28, 1919

[jg2977]

League News - September 29, 1919

[jg2977]

League News - September 30, 1919

[jg2977]

South Fork and East Point long playoff droughts continue

[jg2977]

League News - October 3, 1919

[jg2977]

.400 hitters

[jg2977]

1919 Final Standings

[jg2977]

1919 Playoffs

[care4ameatball]

That's pretty cool man, but can't help but notice you have two teams who are both named Firebirds

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by care4ameatball

That's pretty cool man, but can't help but notice you have two teams who are both named Firebirds

I really liked the Kinston Firebirds logo and wanted them as an expansion team. I forgot I already had the Forest City Firebirds but I figured that's ok. For example, in the NCAA how many teams are named Wildcats?