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OOTP Dynasty Reports Tell us about the OOTP dynasties you have built! |
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07-28-2012, 01:35 AM | #1 |
Minors (Double A)
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Baseball in the Kingdom of New Hibernia
National Flag of the Kingdom of New Hibernia. Designed in 1870 and adopted in 1873, it was designed to symbolically unite the nation's three main ethnicities under a common banner; green for the Irish majority, a St. Andrew's cross for the Scots, and a fleur-de-lis for the small yet significant French community. In 1873, the British colonies of Newfoundland and Labrador won their independence from Britain after a three year revolution. A year of deliberation and referendum followed, after which the two colonies united to form the Kingdom of New Hibernia. Situated on the north-easternmost edge of the North American continent, New Hibernia holds the unique distinction of being the only independent kingdom in the Western Hemisphere. Baseball was introduced during the Second World War. The Germans sought to gain a North Atlantic base from which their U-Boat fleet could disrupt allied shipping lanes. In early 1942, an Expeditionary Force of American and British troops was hastily assembled to occupy the neutral Kingdom before a German invasion could take place. The Americans would often play baseball in front of increasing numbers of New Hibernians who would gather to watch this foreign sport. The occupation ceased by 1946, but the Kingdom had become baseball mad. Gaelic sports and association football had long been the Kingdom’s main pastimes, but by 1950, almost every town had its own amateur baseball team and most schools were operating a baseball program. The first New Hibernian baseball player to garner foreign interest was Finn Garrity, a young pitcher from Carbonear. Garrity attended Yale University from 1951-55 on a full athletic scholarship. His impressive college career earned him a tryout with the Brooklyn Dodgers, with whom he signed a minor league contract upon his graduation from Yale. Garrity joined Brooklyn’s Montreal affiliate for the 1956 season and was the International League’s best pitcher for the first half of 1957 until an automobile accident put a premature end to his playing career. He returned home to Carbonear that year where he began teaching and coaching high school baseball. In 1961, a group of businessmen from St. John’s asked for Garrity’s help in building a new semi-professional league from the existing amateur teams. Though his playing days were over, he was still seen as the popular face of New Hibernian baseball. Offered the role of League Commissioner, Garrity insisted on being made manager of his hometown Carbonear Caribou instead. By the spring of 1965, Garrity's Caribou and the 15 other teams of the New Hibernian Baseball League were set to begin play for their 150-game inaugural season. Finn Garrity, the 31 year old manager of the Carbonear Caribou 1965 New Hibernian Baseball League Code:
Cormac League Northern Division Southern Division Lewisporte Lumberjacks Labrador City Miners Gander Aces Clarenville Knights Cornerbrook Royals Carbonear Caribou Botwood Sailors Bonavista Privateers Fergus League Northern Division Southern Division New Highlands Highlanders Wabana Steelers Gambo Dolphins St. John’s Whalers Dunville Railmen Marystown Oilers Bishop’s Falls Crusaders Grand Bank Anglers To be continued... Last edited by jotro; 08-08-2012 at 10:58 PM. |
07-28-2012, 08:27 AM | #2 |
All Star Reserve
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Stinky Windsor
Posts: 916
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Great back story!
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07-28-2012, 03:29 PM | #3 |
Minors (Double A)
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The NHBL consists of two subleagues. The Cormac League (CL) is named in honor of Cormac, the first King of New Hibernia. The Fergus league (FL) is named for King Fergus, the current monarch and great-grandson of Cormac. Both leagues are split into a Northern and Southern division. The teams who finish the regular season with the best record in their division will face off in a best-of-five League Championship playoff round, after which the two league champions will meet in a best-of-seven playoff for the King’s Cup.
Top performers from each league are presented with awards at the conclusion of the postseason. They are: The Royal Pitching Award for the top pitching performance; The Royal Batting Award for the top offensive performance; The Royal Glove Award for the top defensive performance. Additionally, the most impressive newcomer to the league is awarded the title of Rookie of the Year. 1965 New Hibernian Baseball League Code:
Cormac League Northern Division Southern Division Lewisporte Lumberjacks Labrador City Miners Gander Aces Clarenville Knights Cornerbrook Royals Carbonear Caribou Botwood Sailors Bonavista Privateers Fergus League Northern Division Southern Division New Highlands Highlanders Wabana Steelers Gambo Dolphins St. John’s Whalers Dunville Railmen Marystown Oilers Bishop’s Falls Crusaders Grand Bank Anglers The NHBL maintains two developmental leagues – NH Reserve League for top prospects and the NH Youth League for players not yet ready to compete at the higher levels. All developmental teams share the nickname and uniforms of the parent club, and play their home games at the big club’s facilities. Often, team owners will treat their fans to single admission double or triple headers, where the minor teams will play before the major league game. Last edited by jotro; 07-28-2012 at 03:40 PM. |
07-28-2012, 07:06 PM | #4 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,521
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Enjoy reading about your fictional league. Well rounded and love the various team names. Keep it up as I plan to follow along.
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07-28-2012, 08:55 PM | #5 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 6,407
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07-29-2012, 10:54 AM | #6 | |
Minors (Double A)
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thanks, guys!
From the newswire, 1/1/1965: Quote:
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08-08-2012, 09:24 PM | #9 |
Minors (Double A)
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1965 INAUGURAL AMATEUR DRAFT – January 1, 1965
St. John’s, AV: Well, the waiting is finally over, and the results are in! The first amateur draft in the history of the New Hibernian Baseball League has taken place, and with that, the dreams of 400 lucky men have been realized. With the first ever pick in league history, the Clarenville Knights have drafted a 25 year old pitcher from Bay Roberts named Edwin Beckett. Edwin left his job as a policeman upon being drafted, so it looks like the police team is in need of a new ace! The complete list of first round draftees is as follows: Code:
2. Gambo Dolphins – 3B John Troy 3. Marystown Oilers – 3B Cliff Farris 4. St. John’s Whalers – SP Jerry Bookout 5. Bonavista Privateers – 3B Knox Kitterick 6. Cornerbrook Royals – 2B Jim Daniels 7. Gander Aces – CF Steven Broomhead 8. Grand Bank Anglers – RF Jared Russel 9. Carbonear Caribou – RF Connor McDonald 10. Botwood Sailors – LF Thomas Kilochan 11. Bishop’s Falls Crusaders – LF Arran Dyer 12. Dunville Railmen – SP Jim Dunagan 13. Wabana Steelers – C Victor Ford 14. Lewisporte Lumberjacks – 3B Fred Somers 15. New Highlands Highlanders – SP Brian Gilliland 16. Labrador City Miners – CF Sam Cowley Last edited by jotro; 08-21-2012 at 12:58 PM. |
08-08-2012, 09:27 PM | #10 |
Minors (Double A)
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08-08-2012, 10:46 PM | #11 |
Minors (Double A)
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February 15, 1965
St. John's: With the 1965 spring training season set to start, there is no better time to review some pre-season projections. Pundits suggest that the playoff races will be close, as all teams were subject to an untapped talent pool of unlimited potential. With that said, certain predictions can be made: Cormac League Playoffs: Lewisporte Lumberjacks (77-73) vs. Bonavista Privateers (81-69) Royal Batting Award Nathan Naysmith, Clarenville Knights 150 G – 584 AB – 31 HR – 107 RBI - .352 AVG - .433 OBP - .584 SLG Royal Pitching Award Carl ‘Hawk” Farr, Labrador City Miners 30 G – 13 W – 9 L – 1.83 ERA – 209.1 IP – 156 H – 22 BB – 221 K Fergus League Playoffs: New Highlands Highlanders (83-67) vs. Grand Bank Anglers (77-75) Royal Batting Award Jerry Fay, Gambo Dolphins 150 G – 587 AB – 36 HR – 115 RBI - .339 AVG - .400 OBP - .586 SLG Royal Pitching Award Auliffe Cresswell, Wabana Steelers 30 G – 18 W – 6 L – 2.38 ERA – 213.0 IP – 179 H – 24 BB – 185 K King’s Cup Grand Bank defeats Bonavista in 6 games. Last edited by jotro; 08-08-2012 at 10:48 PM. |
08-14-2012, 09:08 AM | #12 |
Minors (Double A)
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I've simmed through the first week of the 1965 season, but I am considering a sim that will take me up to 1975 or even to 2012. I'd like to have some history and some hall of famers to compare contemporary players to. Any thoughts?
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08-14-2012, 09:28 AM | #13 |
Major Leagues
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 478
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Having started and stopped many times. My experience is to do what will keep your interest. If you want the history and the hall of famers than sim far enough ahead to get enough history. You could sim 10 years at a time and when you are satisfied then pick it up from there.
I look forward to following. |
08-20-2012, 01:06 PM | #14 | |
Minors (Double A)
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Just in case anyone was interested, I've simmed from the 1965 season through the 1972 season all in one shot. I had the league evolution options turned on. I will allow league commissioner Colm Shanahan to explain what happened:
Quote:
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08-20-2012, 01:57 PM | #15 |
Minors (Double A)
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The NHBL now has a system of feeder leagues in place for high school and college level talent. We intended to have this in place for the 1965 season, but due to unforseen circumstances, the initial season was pushed back to 1966.
Formerly, the nation's 16 high schools played in two independent leagues; one for private schools and the other for public schools. As of 1966, all now compete in the integrated New Hibernian High School Sports Association (NHHSSA). Organization is as follows (1972 final standings): NHHSSA Home King League, Eastern Division Harbour Breton HS Pirates St. Patrick's Shamrocks Pasadena HS Stars Musgrave Harbour HS Captains King League, Western Division Stephenville Crossing HS Stallions Our Lady of Grace Clippers Humber Arm South HS Red Hawks Bishop Eagan Moose Country League, Eastern Division Catalina HS Bulls Burgeo HS Lions Sullivan Academy Cadets St. Andrew's Eagles Country League, Western Division St. Michael's Prep Knights (1972 Champs!) New Highlands HS Scots Adelphi Academy Blazers Bishop Troy Trojans |
08-20-2012, 03:10 PM | #16 |
Minors (Double A)
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*saved for college setup*
New Hibernia's Collegiate league is made up of teams from the Kingdom's 8 universities. Two subleagues of 4 teams each face off over a long season that spans from May-October. There has never been interleague play at the college level; teams from one league would only face a team from the other in the Championship Series. This will change for the 1973 season, as the Collegiate Athletics Council was swayed by arguments from players and coaches who had grown tired of facing the same 3 opponents all season, every year. NH Collegiate League 1 Catalina College Conquistadors http://www.nhbbl.com/game/lgreports/...s/team_87.html King's College Royals http://www.nhbbl.com/game/lgreports/...s/team_89.html Wabana Tech Engineers http://www.nhbbl.com/game/lgreports/...s/team_88.html Pasadena University Pilots http://www.nhbbl.com/game/lgreports/...s/team_90.html NH Collegiate League 2 St. Patrick's University Bishops http://www.nhbbl.com/game/lgreports/...s/team_92.html Gambo University Bulldogs http://www.nhbbl.com/game/lgreports/...s/team_98.html Musgrave Harbour University Tigers http://www.nhbbl.com/game/lgreports/...s/team_94.html Queen's College http://www.nhbbl.com/game/lgreports/...s/team_91.html Last edited by jotro; 08-20-2012 at 04:56 PM. |
08-21-2012, 12:39 PM | #17 |
Minors (Double A)
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A note on Finn Garrity -
Things haven't worked out as well as Finn would have liked, so far. He turned down the position of League Commissioner to skipper the Carbonear Caribou. There he butted heads with ownership over scouting, bullpen roles, and everything inbetween. Garrity was fired after the 1966 campaign, going 131-169 (.437) overall. Distraught and fearing his career in baseball was over (again), Garrity returned to the classroom at Bishop Troy HS in 1967, where he once again taught and helped coach the Trojans baseball team. One day, he received a phone call from an old friend, Dick McGlone. McGlone had been Garrity's baseball coach in high school, and, thanks to his recent success in the oil business, was now the owner of the Gambo Dolphins, After exchanging pleasantries, McGlone got to the point of the call. He began to tell Finn of the Dolphins' pitching woes and that they intended to replace their current pitching coach during the offseason. He asked the former manager for recommendations, to which Garrity could only think of one -himself. |
08-23-2012, 04:05 PM | #18 |
Minors (Double A)
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Garrity spent the seasons of 1968 - 1973 as the pitching coach for the Gambo Dolphins. During his six seasons with the team, the Dolphins finished in first place 3 times ('70, '72, '73), and made it to the King's Cup Championship once in 1970, losing to the Botwood Sailors.
With the expiration of his contract at the close of 1973, Garrity felt that his managerial stock had risen a bit since his early days with the weak Carbonear squads of '65/'66. McGlone had tried to extend Finn's contract once during the season, and then again at the outset of the playoffs - Garrity politely declined both times, stating a desire to get back behind the bench in a decision making role. His stubbornness would lead to an inactive 1974 spent staring at the phone. In a puzzling move, Cornerbrook manager Bruno Gilder's contract was not renewed following a 1974 campaign that saw the Royals take home their second King's Cup in 4 years. Bench coach Les Lapointe was promoted to fill his shoes, having never been in this position before. As the news of the vacant position caught steam amongst NH baseball circles, Garrity saw an opportunity. He called longtime friend Dooley McQuhenzie, who happened to be the GM of the Royals, and asked about the position. Two weeks later, Garrity was shaking hands with McQuhenzie for the cameras at the press conference they called to announce Garrity's new 5 year contract. The contract was a good one, $85,000 a year to assist Lapointe, who would make a paltry $19,000 per year to manage the team for the next 4 seasons. Many in the press wondered if this would be the cause of tension on the bench, or if there might be a power struggle to follow. Others assumed that this was a sign that Lapointe was on a short leash, and would be replaced by Garrity at the first signs of failure. But, if the team keeps winning, will it matter? Coach Report for Finn Garritty Last edited by jotro; 08-23-2012 at 04:18 PM. |
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