Signup Thread for The Slippery Elm Boys

[No Pepper]

Now is your chance to create a fictional character that will play a role in the days when the spitball was legal, chronicled in my current dynasty The Slippery Elm Boys. It is currently spring training in 1906 and a number of great spitballers have already made their mark on the baseball world. Clark Griffith, Earl Moore, Jack Chesbro, and the young Ed Walsh have dazzled hitters and have made the spitball the latest craze.

Following this year, I'll be creating two feeder Class D leagues, the Central and Carolina Associations to join a minor league system that already includes the affiliated American Association and Eastern League, and the independent Pacific Coast League.

I will be using Syd Thrift's Training Matrix to help or harm your player's development in his quest to reach the majors. If you care to enter a fictional player into my dynasty, it is imperative that you read the above thread for details on how it works. In brief, random numbers are generated and coupled with your player and their coaches attributes in an attempt to learn a certain skill. One such skill that your player must train for is the spitball, as described here. As commissioner of my universe, I'll perform the duties of the Matrix but it will be up to you when and what skill you wish to enact. You will have the opportunity to acquire two new skills during your player's career, so choose wisely.

As for player creation, I will be accepting 3 fictional players per year starting in 1908. You will be allowed one player every 5 years. Signup will be a first-come-first serve procedure. Specific player attributes will be determined by the OOTP engine. However, upon creation you have the ability to choose the initial skill level of your player (everyone is a pitcher):

1) Established player - Any age equal to 25 and older, your player will be signed by the PCL team of your choice or entered into the player draft.

2) Young and Slightly Established - 23 year old placed on a random minor league squad and optioned according to the AI. Two years must pass before you reach "free agency" when you can then join a major league team of your choosing.

3) Very Young and Raw / Draft Eligible Prospect - 18 to 20 year old placed on a Class D feeder team of your choosing. At the age of 21, you will enter the player draft. At age 25, you can become a minor league free agent.

I will open signups for 1908-1910 until each year's entries are filled. To sign up, please provide the following information:

Player's Name
Player's Hometown
Year of Debut
Player's Skill Level (as noted above, with choice of team, if applicable)
Player's Age
Throws Left or Right?
Select one Player Attribute that has a rating in OOTP that describes your player (this will get a random boost). For example, Work Ethic.

Please note that when creating a player, you will be asked to provide important decisions that could affect your player's career. If no response is given, I'll take action myself and continue the story. Remember, players have until 1920 to throw the spitball legally. When that year rolls around, your player will be subject to a vote on whether or not they will be allowed to continue throwing...the wet one!

1908 - Chuck Carpenter (Waterloo)
1909 -
1910 -
1913 - Moses "Mule" Wright (Winston-Salem)

[Carplos]

Player's Name Chuck Carpenter
Player's Hometown Des Moines, IA
Player's Skill Level (as noted above, with choice of team, if applicable) Very young and raw
Player's Age 18
Throws Left or Right? Right
Select one Player Attribute that has a rating in OOTP that describes your player (this will get a random boost). For example, Work Ethic. GREED

DEBUT: 1908
TEAM: Waterloo (Central Association)

[No Pepper]

I should mention that the teams are:

MLB - historical 1908

PCL - Oakland Oaks, Portland Beavers, Los Angeles Angels, Sacramento Sacts, Vernon Tigers, San Francisco Seals

Carolina Association - Charlotte Hornets, Greensboro Champs, Winston-Salem Twins, Anderson Electricians, Greenville Spinners, Spartanburg Spartans

Central Association - Keokuk Indians, Ottumwa Packers, Burlington Pathfinders, Quincy Gems, Kewanee Boilermakers, Oskaloosa Quakers, Jacksonville Lunatics, Waterloo Lulus

[No Pepper]

Thanks for trying out Carplos. I've made some changes to the requirements, so please add in your debut year from 1908-1910 if you want and team within the Carolina or Central Association.

[Carplos]

Added them in an edit.

[Left-handed Badger]

Can you hold a spot for my grandpa (born 1893) for 1913 or so?

I'll get to creating him in an hour.

[Left-handed Badger]

Ok I'll try this now

Name: Moses "Mule" Wright
Hometown: Hillsville, VA
Skill Level: whatever for 20 years old
Age: born June, 29, 1893 will turn 20 in 1913.
Throws/Bats: Righty both ways
Attribute: Well my grandpa had 11 kids many of which grew up in Depression Era, and he was a very hard worker, so work ethic, very loyal too. Just dont let him have minimal loyalty at least if you can (Grandpa might come back and haunt me. )

If possible: Let him start out with a pitch selection including a sinker, and a curve, dont even care if nothing else even. Oh and only average velocity (which is why he'll need to learn that spitter, though grandpa is probably going to haunt for letting him be a deceitful spitballer. )


Hey, if you want me to, if I am keeping up with it at the time, I can fill in when he gets married or when a kid is born. To add flavor.

[No Pepper]

Thanks for signing up Badger!

The 1907 season is over so if you want a fictional player, there are slots still open!

[Left-handed Badger]

Well, I cant think of anymore relatives. (my other gandpa wasnt born till Leap Year 1908). I guess I could go back in time. There are legends that I dabbled with the KY and Vaseline balls on the sidelines in my youth. But, I can not confirm or deny these allegations, of course.