OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Federal Baseball League: Rebirth of a Franchise

ifspuds · 03-20-2008, 04:24 PM

1940: An Inauspicious Beginning

Top Pitcher: Kevin Schroeder (11-8, 4.15 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 5.04 K/9, 3.96 BB/9)
Top Hitter: Brooks Gilbert (.270/.362/.593, 36 HR, 77 RBI)
Awards: Gold Gloves: Matt Ward (1B, 1st award), Allen Reid (2B, 1st award), Curtis Joseph (3B, 1st award), Nelson Jackson (SS, 1st award)

With high hopes, the Rainiers took the field for the first season of the Pacific Ball Players League. Those high hopes would certainly not last the season. While the fans were entertained by an offense that scored the 2nd most runs in the league, the pitching was, quite simply, atrocious. Baserunners circled the basepaths like the planets orbiting the sun. One wag in the local newspapers commented, "I wouldn't be able to pitch either, as dizzy as those fellows must be, watching the opposition run around and around and around." Every ball that touched a bat seemed to find a hole somewhere between fielders -- or over the wall completely. Amusingly, the entire Rainiers infield won fielding awards for the season. One league manager chuckled when the awards were announced, "Well, you have to feel for those boys. Their pitching staff kept them awfully busy. I think they must've had twice as many chances as any other infield in the league."

While plenty of fans came out to see the Rainiers ply their trade -- haplessly or otherwise -- the team suffered real financial losses, and it led to some difficult decisions. For example, 27-year old outfielder Joel Branch, one of the offensive stalwarts of the team, wasn't brought back for a second season in Rainiers red. Another outfielder, 32-year old Dale Hinman, was dealt at the end of the season for 40-year old pitcher Marvin Blackburn. This in particular was clearly a way to cut expenses for the following season, as Blackburn had made his intentions not to pitch in 1941 very clear and very public in the weeks leading up to the trade. The Rainiers had neatly sold Hinman and taken his salary off the books.

03-20-2008, 04:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
ifspuds Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 2,091	1940: An Inauspicious Beginning 1940: An Inauspicious Beginning Top Pitcher: Kevin Schroeder (11-8, 4.15 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 5.04 K/9, 3.96 BB/9) Top Hitter: Brooks Gilbert (.270/.362/.593, 36 HR, 77 RBI) Awards: Gold Gloves: Matt Ward (1B, 1st award), Allen Reid (2B, 1st award), Curtis Joseph (3B, 1st award), Nelson Jackson (SS, 1st award) With high hopes, the Rainiers took the field for the first season of the Pacific Ball Players League. Those high hopes would certainly not last the season. While the fans were entertained by an offense that scored the 2nd most runs in the league, the pitching was, quite simply, atrocious. Baserunners circled the basepaths like the planets orbiting the sun. One wag in the local newspapers commented, "I wouldn't be able to pitch either, as dizzy as those fellows must be, watching the opposition run around and around and around." Every ball that touched a bat seemed to find a hole somewhere between fielders -- or over the wall completely. Amusingly, the entire Rainiers infield won fielding awards for the season. One league manager chuckled when the awards were announced, "Well, you have to feel for those boys. Their pitching staff kept them awfully busy. I think they must've had twice as many chances as any other infield in the league." While plenty of fans came out to see the Rainiers ply their trade -- haplessly or otherwise -- the team suffered real financial losses, and it led to some difficult decisions. For example, 27-year old outfielder Joel Branch, one of the offensive stalwarts of the team, wasn't brought back for a second season in Rainiers red. Another outfielder, 32-year old Dale Hinman, was dealt at the end of the season for 40-year old pitcher Marvin Blackburn. This in particular was clearly a way to cut expenses for the following season, as Blackburn had made his intentions not to pitch in 1941 very clear and very public in the weeks leading up to the trade. The Rainiers had neatly sold Hinman and taken his salary off the books. __________________ Jeff Watson TWB (co-commissioner): Pittsburgh Pirates GM (team dynasty here, #5 Dynasty of 2005!) (TWB Champs 1966, 1967, 1973, NL Champs 1968, NL East Champs 1969, NL Champs 1970, 1971 NPBL: Illinois Jethawks GM Outpost League: A Fictional World Dynasty (#9 (tie) Dynasty of 2005!)