Soviet Baseball Federation

SaoMagnifico · 03-07-2016, 12:00 AM

The year is 1980. The USSR has been humiliated in what is being hailed as the "Miracle on Ice", with an insurgent American team besting the Soviets at their national sport, ice hockey. There are rumblings of discontent going up to the highest echelons of Soviet leadership.

To the amazement of Kremlinologists in the West, the Red Army in Afghanistan turns around in its tracks. Mysterious construction activity is observed in ten major Soviet cities, as well as at complexes on the balmy Black Sea coast. Top officials from Cuba are reported to be making secret visits to the dig sites. The Communist Party leadership is as tight-lipped as ever. No one knows what they're up to...

But on the eve of the World Series, as the Philadelphia Phillies prepare to take on the Kansas City Royals, a spokesman for the Soviet Ministry of Culture makes a stunning announcement. The Americans may have bested us at hockey, he says, but two can play their game. Young men of the Soviet Union won't be sent to the battlefields of Africa and South Asia, but instead they will begin a rigorous training program. He ends his address with a direct challenge to the United States: In 10 years' time, we will match our best athletes against yours...in the American sport of baseball. Then we shall see who is the true sporting superpower.

In the United States, the Soviets' announcement is greeted with befuddlement and not a little amusement. There is no tradition of baseball, or any sport very much like baseball, in the Eastern Bloc. How can the Reds possibly hope to avenge their hockey defeat by challenging America at its national pastime? President Jimmy Carter wonders, with apologies to the baseball team from Cincinnati.

But ill-advised or not, the Soviet baseball program is no joke. In January 1981, weeks before Ronald Reagan takes the oath of office in Washington, D.C., the Soviet Baseball Federation is formed, 10 teams are organized, and a schedule is announced for the first-ever spring training in southern Russia and Georgia, to be followed by a 90-game season, after which the top four ballclubs will compete in playoffs.

The flagship team of the SBF (СБФ) is the Moscow Bears...

In the inaugural season of Soviet baseball, the Bears will take on teams like the Kiev Interceptors, the Leningrad Revolution, the Tashkent Tigers, and more for sporting glory and the chance to begin building a dynasty that will eventually challenge the mighty American Empire...well, assuming perestroika doesn't bring the USSR crashing down first.

Isedelyod · 03-07-2016, 12:17 PM

This looks pretty awesome. I have done a few sets for my European Baseball Federation, based off KHL teams. Not sure if any would appeal to you or not, but feel free to have a look and incorporate them if you want. If not, I look forward to seeing your creations and maybe I will have the Russian League break off into it's own superleague!!!

CONN CHRIS · 03-07-2016, 12:27 PM

Too bad Victor Starffin died in the fifties.

nutt · 03-08-2016, 02:46 AM

I'm actually digging this. Gives me the opportunity to expand my Russian and Kyrgyzstan leagues if it comes about

tysnkole6 · 03-09-2016, 01:09 AM

Likewise...allows me to expand my Euro League, or my Asia League depending on where the team is based at in Russia. The Moscow jerseys are very well done. Easily readable, while maintaining strong accents and wordmark.

hfield007 · 03-10-2016, 11:46 PM

I have a lovely diverse first and last name russian name set that expands upon the amount and distribution that comes with the game if needed.

SaoMagnifico · 03-12-2016, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hfield007

I have a lovely diverse first and last name russian name set that expands upon the amount and distribution that comes with the game if needed.

That would be great! Thanks!

Here are a couple of uniform sets -- the idea behind them is that because of the Soviet Union's command economy and centralized planning, they all basically look the same but with different accent colors. Individual expression in the Motherland? Nyet!

Leningrad Revolution:

Novosibirsk Wolverines:

And the aforementioned Moscow Bears:

Enjoy...

03-07-2016, 12:00 AM	#1
SaoMagnifico Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 144	Soviet Baseball Federation The year is 1980. The USSR has been humiliated in what is being hailed as the "Miracle on Ice", with an insurgent American team besting the Soviets at their national sport, ice hockey. There are rumblings of discontent going up to the highest echelons of Soviet leadership. To the amazement of Kremlinologists in the West, the Red Army in Afghanistan turns around in its tracks. Mysterious construction activity is observed in ten major Soviet cities, as well as at complexes on the balmy Black Sea coast. Top officials from Cuba are reported to be making secret visits to the dig sites. The Communist Party leadership is as tight-lipped as ever. No one knows what they're up to... But on the eve of the World Series, as the Philadelphia Phillies prepare to take on the Kansas City Royals, a spokesman for the Soviet Ministry of Culture makes a stunning announcement. The Americans may have bested us at hockey, he says, but two can play their game. Young men of the Soviet Union won't be sent to the battlefields of Africa and South Asia, but instead they will begin a rigorous training program. He ends his address with a direct challenge to the United States: In 10 years' time, we will match our best athletes against yours...in the American sport of baseball. Then we shall see who is the true sporting superpower. In the United States, the Soviets' announcement is greeted with befuddlement and not a little amusement. There is no tradition of baseball, or any sport very much like baseball, in the Eastern Bloc. How can the Reds possibly hope to avenge their hockey defeat by challenging America at its national pastime? President Jimmy Carter wonders, with apologies to the baseball team from Cincinnati. But ill-advised or not, the Soviet baseball program is no joke. In January 1981, weeks before Ronald Reagan takes the oath of office in Washington, D.C., the Soviet Baseball Federation is formed, 10 teams are organized, and a schedule is announced for the first-ever spring training in southern Russia and Georgia, to be followed by a 90-game season, after which the top four ballclubs will compete in playoffs. The flagship team of the SBF (СБФ) is the Moscow Bears... In the inaugural season of Soviet baseball, the Bears will take on teams like the Kiev Interceptors, the Leningrad Revolution, the Tashkent Tigers, and more for sporting glory and the chance to begin building a dynasty that will eventually challenge the mighty American Empire...well, assuming perestroika doesn't bring the USSR crashing down first.

03-07-2016, 12:17 PM	#2
Isedelyod Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: PEI, Canada Posts: 6,129	This looks pretty awesome. I have done a few sets for my European Baseball Federation, based off KHL teams. Not sure if any would appeal to you or not, but feel free to have a look and incorporate them if you want. If not, I look forward to seeing your creations and maybe I will have the Russian League break off into it's own superleague!!! __________________ "Don't try to be a hero. Be a soldier." - George Brett My newer mods (updated logos) https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...Fg?usp=sharing Zipped Files of Recent Mods https://drive.google.com/drive/folde...WM?usp=sharing

03-07-2016, 12:27 PM	#3
CONN CHRIS Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 29,005	Too bad Victor Starffin died in the fifties. __________________ Check Out My Cards!

03-08-2016, 02:46 AM	#4
nutt OOTP Roster Team Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 2,212	I'm actually digging this. Gives me the opportunity to expand my Russian and Kyrgyzstan leagues if it comes about

03-09-2016, 01:09 AM	#5
tysnkole6 Major Leagues Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 364	Likewise...allows me to expand my Euro League, or my Asia League depending on where the team is based at in Russia. The Moscow jerseys are very well done. Easily readable, while maintaining strong accents and wordmark.

03-10-2016, 11:46 PM	#6
hfield007 All Star Starter Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,713	I have a lovely diverse first and last name russian name set that expands upon the amount and distribution that comes with the game if needed.