The History of NABA (A Promotion and Relegation League)

[NYY #23]

January 15, 1882

The birth of professional baseball took place twelve years ago when fourteen teams formed the first professional baseball league. Those teams agreed to play 26 games that first year, and adopting Saturday as game day. It was the Brooklyn Atlantics that dominated that first year with a 19-7 record, but they found out how tough life can be in the playoffs when they were upset in the postseason by the Milwaukee Bisons, who went on to win the inaugural Turner Cup.

The Atlantics success would continue to this day, but professional baseball would continue to evolve, with the introduction of limited promotion/relegation introduced for the 1875 season. As baseball's popularity throughout the country continued to grow, Commissioner Elliot reached out beyond the borders of the National League to form a new professional baseball association, the North American Baseball Association.

The North American Baseball Association, or NABA for short, would officially open its doors in 1879 with 18 teams at the top level, and leagues structured from A to E. Each year the three bottom teams of League A would be forced to play the three top teams in League B in a promotion/relegation game where the winner would remain in League A, and the loser would play in League B.

Promotion/relegation would exist through all of the Leagues (A through E), giving smaller teams a fighting chance to move up until they reach League A, and have the opportunity to compete for the Turner Cup, or the NABA Championship. In 1879 the Washington Senators would become the first team from League B to win a promotion/relegation game, sending the Portland Beavers from League A to League B.

In the two years that followed three more teams would leave League A, replaced by teams from League B. The popularity of the promotion/relegation games would rival the popularity of the NABA Championship games, and Commissioner Elliot and the National Baseball Association wanted to capitalize on the growing popularity of the game.

Travel between cities was a costly proposition, and there was growing discontent among teams having to travel cross country to play a single game against either San Diego or Oakland, eating into the owner's profits. The concerns were addressed during the winter meetings when the league would announce that beginning with the 1882 season teams would play their opponent on both Friday and Saturday, trying to balance the costs of travel with increased gate receipts.

The association also announced that both the NABA Championship games and the promotion/relegation games would require the team to win two games to win the "series". It was a radical shift in thinking that will change how teams are built. Teams would no longer be able to rely on a single pitcher to pitch every single game, but would be required to play two starters.

1882 would be used as a test case for those rule changes, and discussions would take place during the 1883 winter meetings to determine if those changes will be permanent.

[NYY #23]

Just some notes on the planned changes. I originally planned this league as round two of my Any Given Sunday dynasty to play games weekly, and I started Any Given Saturday. Things have evolved past the original vision of 16 games per season, and I'm already pushing the limits of acceptable with a 34 game season. But I feel like things have evolved in a good way since promotion/relegation started.

That's added a dimension to the league that I've enjoyed, but I feel like I've gotten away from my original intent. Because of that I've resumed playing the Any Given Sunday league, and I'm going to focus on promotion/relegation for this league, with the players and teams continuing forward from http://www.ootpdevelopments.com/boar...-saturday.html

There is a part of me that wishes I never started this, but I've gotten addicted to the players and the teams, and don't want to let this die. There are two time consuming parts to it though, the scheduling of the playoffs and the promotion/relegation. The changes this year and the changes that I have planned moving forward should at least allow the playoffs to be scheduled, and I'll just be able to handle the promotion/relegation.

I feel like I can't make up my mind with what I like to do, but I'm happy with the changes enjoying promotion/relegation for the first time.

[NYY #23]

I'll leave with this teaser of the standings through the first month following the changes, and I'll be back in town later this week to continue:

[MarkInCincy]

Just frigin wonderful, I get sucked into another one of your dynastys.....

[NYY #23]

Originally Posted by MarkInCincy

Just frigin wonderful, I get sucked into another one of your dynastys.....

Thanks. I should have waited to start until I got back in town, but I'll pick this back up tonight.

[NYY #23]

Pitching always seems to be at a premium, but as team's adjust to two games per week instead of one for the 1882 season any pitching problems are definitely compounded. While the Virginia Beach Colonials have the luxury of two solid starters - Victor Casanes (6-1, 1.75) and Bo Brown (8-1, 1.80) other teams like the last place Columbus Explorers are struggling fielding just one solid starter - Junior Hardy (1-5, 4.11) and Dwight McDaniel (2-6, 6.52). Scoring just 2 1/2 runs per game doesn't help the Explorers, but at 4-14 their pitching is struggling.

The Portland Beavers are in a similar predicament with Marshall Graham (3-5, 5.91) and RJ Jones (1-8, 5.32). Looking at the top pitchers in the league teams the top teams have two of the top 20 pitchers in the league, while both Cleveland and Virginia Beach should be lobbying for additional games with 3 pitchers in the list each.





27 year old Chris Bell of the St. Louis Terriers is coming into his own this year, hitting .433 for the year and winning the Batter of the Month in April after hitting .485 with 2 home runs, 9 RBI, and 10 runs scored.

Pitcher of the Month honors went to Bo Brown of the Colonials who was 5-0 with a 1.00 ERA. Brown struck out 32 batters in 45 innings.

[NYY #23]

While the Brooklyn Atlantics have been one of the most dominant teams in the league, the Washington Senators have been one of the most interesting. The Senators were crowned champion of the National League in 1871, and in 1873 the Senators finished with the best record in the league (20-6), one of only two years where a team finished with a better record than the Atlantics, the other being the Colonials in 1878.

But the Senators fell on hard times in 1876 when their "ace" Brad Frost got old, going from a 3 time Pitcher of the Year, to a pitcher with a 7-18 record. The Senators were forced to play in a relegation game for the first time, but Frost had a little bit left in his tank as the Senators defeated the Newark Trotters 3-1 to remain in the National League.

But 1879 came around and the National League completed its transformation to NABA, and the Washington Senators were placed in League B, on the outside looking in. The Senators didn't last long in League B, becoming the first team to earn promotion into League A with a 4-2 victory over the Portland Beavers.

Their return to League A resulted in a 16-18 record their first year back, but the Senators finished with a 21-13 record last year, and made it all the way to the NABA Finals before losing to the Atlantics 5-2 in the finals.

This year the Senators are 14-12, but the Senators have the top two hitting prospects in League A, 18 year old CF Esteban Gomez and 17 year old C Fernando Cortez. With three other players in the top 50 prospects, including SP prospect Luis Mata, the Senators appear to have a bright future.

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Fernando Jimenez signed with the Cleveland Lakers in 1876, but Jimenez has been under the shadow of teammate Ken Kaufman since. In five years with the Lakers Jimenez didn't throw one pitch in a professional game, which must make his Pitcher of the Month win in May even more satisfying. Jimenez was 4-0 with a 0.98 ERA in May with 17 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings to win the award.

Dallas Echevarria of the Atlantics captured the Batter of the Month Award after hitting .423 with 4 home runs, 11 RBI, and 13 runs scored.

[NYY #23]

With the increased number of games the offensive season record books are expected to be shattered. Let's take a look at the records that remain, and the current leader -

Runs scored - Dallas Echevarria, Brooklyn - 42 (1879)/ Dallas Echevarria, Brooklyn - 34
Hits - Greg Wallace, Brooklyn - 60 (1880) / Mark Giles, Wichita - 56
Total Bases - Dallas Echevarria, Brooklyn - 97 (179) / Rory Sears, San Antonio - 80
Singles - Greg Wallace, Brooklyn - 51 (1880) / Mark Giles, Wichita - 49
Doubles - Simen Monstad, Detroit - 14 (1880) / Chris Howard, Cleveland - 13
Home Runs - Dallas Echevarria, Brooklyn - 9 (1879) / John Abrams, Brooklyn - 8
RBI - Travis Inches, St. Louis - 37 (1881) / Dallas Echevarria, Brooklyn - 32
SB - Jeremy Soto, St. Louis - 17 (1880) / Mark Giles, Wichita - 16WAR - Dallas Echevarria, Brooklyn - 3.8 (1879) / Jeremy Soto, St. Louis - 2.5

Looking ahead to the promotion/relegation games six teams are in the running for the top three spots -

Baltimore Silver Moons 24-11
Albany Woodcutters 21-14
New Orleans Crescents 21-14
Newark Trotters 21-14
Dayton Dragons 20-15
Sacramento Bees 20-15



The transformation from top prospect to top player is complete for Jeremy Soto of the Terriers. After breaking out with a .343 season last year Soto is hitting .400 with 2 home runs, 25 RBI, and 22 runs scored for the Terriers. Soto added a Batter of the Month award to the trophy case last month with a .417 batting average, 2 home runs, 13 RBI, and 7 runs scored.

[NYY #23]

An 8-1 month saw the Colonials move into a second place tie with the Cleveland Lakers in League A, one game behind the Brooklyn Atlantics. The Colonials also swept the monthly awards with Bennett Froehlich (.577, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 12 runs) capturing the Batter of the Month, Bo Brown (5-0, 3.20 ERA) capturing the Pitcher of the Month, and Walt Harris (.478, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 5 runs) capturing the Rookie of the Month.

After a solid 20-14 season last year the San Diego Sun Devils are falling dangerously close to the relegation line with a 17-27 record. Pitching has been a big problem for San Diego with a formerly dominating Fernando Valdes struggling with a 8-9 record and 4.36 ERA, and new starter Josh Thomas starting out 6-12 with a 5.63 ERA.

It's been three years since the Boston Trolleys were relegated from League A, but the Trolleys may finally be putting things together in a bid to return this year. 30 year old Dirceu Cajado is pitching well as the second starter (11-7, 3.69) and the Trolleys have built up a solid offense. They currently sit in fourth place in League B, and will need to leapfrog either the New Orleans Crescents or Albany Woodcutters to play for a chance to return to League A.

[NYY #23]

The red hot St. Louis Terriers didn't lose during the month of August, and have moved into fourth place in League A. Jeremy Soto captured the Batter of the Month after hitting .448 with a home run and 13 RBI for the Terriers and their second ranked offense. 27 year old Daniel Jones is enjoying success in his first year as a starting pitcher for the Terriers going 15-8 with a 2.94 ERA. Combined with Hector Franco (14-8, 3.32) the Terriers will be a team to watch as the 1882 season wraps up.

Jesus Caraballo captured his sixth Pitcher of the Month award for the Atlantics. Caraballo was 4-0 in August with a 0.64 ERA and is now 17-2 on the season.

While the top professional baseball teams are playing in America, the Winnipeg Thunder are turning heads in Canada. Founded four years ago the Thunder have gotten better each year (27-7 in 1879, 28-6 in 1880, 31-3 in 1881, and 47-5 this season).



The Thunder feature perhaps one of the best pitchers in the game, 34 year old Kent Williams, who is 16-2 with a 1.99 ERA this year. The Thunder feel like they are capable of playing with any team right now, but Winnipeg, like the other teams in Canada have been largely ignored by the NABA so far. Their continued success is making it harder and harder to ignore them though.

[NYY #23]

As the 1882 seasons begins to wind down to its conclusion the Brooklyn Atlantics are once again sitting in a familiar place, first place of League A, just one game away from clinching another Turner Cup.

Both the Cleveland Lakers and Virginia Beach Colonials are tied for second place and both appear headed for the NABA Championship. The fourth and final playoff spot remains up in the air with the St Louis Terriers and Washington Senators tied at 38-24.

A the bottom of the league the Detroit Wolves and Columbus Explorers appear heading for a promotion/relegation series, with the Durham Eagles (23-39) trying to overtake the Portland Beavers (24-38) or San Diego Sun Devils (25-37).

If the season ended today they'd be playing the Baltimore Silver Moons (39-23), New Orleans Crescents (39-23), and Boston Trolleys (38-24), with the Newark Trotters (36-26) on the outside looking in.



Josh Frazier of the Sun Devils captured the Batter of the Month Award after hitting .487 with 2 home runs, 8 RBI, and 6 runs scored. Frazier is hitting .345 for the season with 5 home runs and 37 RBI.



Phillip Hardin has certainly had an interesting career. Hardin was signed and released by two teams (Philadelphia Patriots and Brooklyn Atlantics) before the 1871 season, but the third team was key, and Hardin was one of the original starters for the National Leagues' Cleveland Lakers, finishing third place in the Pitcher of the Year voting in 1872 when he went 13-7 with a 3.11 ERA, and followed that up with a solid season (13-11, 3.31). A down season and the emergence of Ken Kaufman in Cleveland cost Hardin his job in Cleveland, and over the next five years Hardin pitched just 79 innings out of the bullpen for Cleveland.

During the offseason Hardin was sent to Brooklyn in exchange for 3B Mike Gibson and C Keith Holder, and Hardin became the Atlantics second starter. Hardin was named Pitcher of the Month in September after going 5-0 with a 1.73 ERA. Hardin improved to 22-6 on the season with a 3.29 ERA, and leads League A in wins. Run support definitely plays a factor in Hardin's success as the Atlantics have scored 7 or more runs 19 times this year.

[NYY #23]

The Washington Senators(41-27) edged out the St. Louis Terriers (40-28) for the fourth and final playoff spot in the NABA Championship and they'll take on the Turner Cup Champion Brooklyn Atlantics (51-17) in the first round of the playoffs with the Cleveland Lakers (45-23) taking on the Virginia Beach Colonials (46-22) in the other matchup.

For the first time the teams will play a best of 3 series. The lower seed will host the first game, and the higher seed will host the second and third games.

Washington Senators (41-27) vs. Brooklyn Atlantics (51-17)
Game 1: Jesus Caraballo (20-3, 2.43) @ Duane Banks (16-8, 3.20)
Game 2: Drew Henderson (11-15, 3.62) @ Phillip Hardin (24-7, 3.34)

Cleveland Lakers (45-23) vs. Virginia Beach Colonials (46-22)
Game 1: Victor Casanes (18-9, 2.11) @ Ken Kaufman (20-7, 2.07)
Game 2: Fernando Jimenez (14-12, 2.92) @ Bo Brown (23-5, 2.64)

While the NABA Championship takes center stage, the teams at the bottom of League A will prepare to fight for their lives in the top league. The Detroit Wolves will officially earn the 17th position in League A after they beat Columbus all four games the two teams played, while San Diego will host Durham in a one game playoff to determine the final team in danger of relegation.

In League B it will be the Baltimore Silver Moons, New Orleans Crescents and Boston Trolleys who will be fighting for a chance to return to League A. Let's take a look at the matchups:

Boston Trolleys (41-27) vs. Durham Eagles (26-42)/San Diego Sun Devils (26-42) winner

New Orleans Crescents (43-35) vs. Detroit Wolves (22-46)

Boston Trolleys (41-27) vs. Columbus Explorers (22-46)

[NYY #23]

Cleveland Lakers (45-23) vs. Virginia Beach Colonials (46-22)

In playing one of the first playoff series, the Cleveland Lakers and Virginia Beach Colonials set the bar really high for drama and excitement. While the Colonials swept the series the two games played 31 innings. Pitching was on display as the two teams combined to score just 5 runs.



In Game 1 after a pitching battle between Victor Casanes and Ken Kaufman it was the bullpens who would be key to success. Enrico Espinoza turned in a dominating performance for the Colonials with 5 innings of 1 hit ball. The offensive hero for game one would be Ron MacKnight, who after hitting just .198 this season picked up a big two RBI single in the top of the fifteenth.



Game 2 was defined by a 13 inning pitching gem by Bo Brown, who struck out 11 while not allowing a run. The game would remain scoreless until the bottom of the sixteenth when Bennett Froehlich hit a walk off home run. On the mound for the Colonials was Enrico Espinoza, who turned in a hitless inning to win his second game of the series.

The Colonials will advance to the NABA Championship after a thrilling series win in which they got big performances from their stars, Bennett Froehlich and Bo Brown, and unexpected contributors, Ron MacKnight and Enrico Espinoza.

[NYY #23]

Washington Senators (41-27) vs. Brooklyn Atlantics (51-17)



The series started with a game which showed what the Atlantics did best when the Atlantics scored 9 runs to defeat the Senators. Bob Moore connected on a two run homer for the Atlantics while Dallas Echevarria drove in a pair of runs and Rich Peterson drove in 3. Jesus Caraballo won his fifth postseason game of his career with 6 2/3 innings of 2 run ball.



Game 2 was a different story though as Drew Henderson pitched 7 shutout innings to earn the win, as the Senators held the high powered Atlantics offense scoreless in the 1-0 shutout. Bryan Jones hit a solo home run for the Senators to score the games only run.



In the final game of the series the Atlantics completed a come from behind win when Dallas Echevarria hit a two run homer to tie the game at two, and Joe Thompson and Greg Wallace had back to back singles to send the Atlantics to the NABA Championship.

Jesus Caraballo picked up his second win of the series with 7 strong innings, allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits while striking out 5.

[NYY #23]

Durham Eagles (26-42) vs. San Diego Sun Devils (26-42)



Just last year the Sun Devils finished in fourth place with a 20-14 record, but poor pitching and bad defense caused the Sun Devils to finish in a tie with the Durham Eagles and playing a one game playoff that will determine who will remain in League A, with the loser being forced to play a promotion/relegation game.

Fernando Valdes took the game in his own hands for the Sun Devils with a complete game four hitter. San Diego scored their only runs of the game on RBI singles by Roy Cessford and Dave Harper.

The San Diego Sun Devils will return to League A next season while the Durham Eagles will host the Boston Trolleys with the winner playing in League A next year.

[NYY #23]

Virginia Beach Colonials (46-22) vs Brooklyn Atlantics (51-17)

Game 1



Victor Casanes pitched the Colonials to victory with 7 innings, allowing 2 runs on 7 hits as the Colonials defeated the Atlantics 5-2 in game 1 of the NABA Championship. Edgardo Morales got things going in the first inning with a two run homer for the Colonials with Walt Harris, William Baker, and Ron MacKnight each driving in a run.

Game 2



The Atlantics needed to win Game 2 or they would lose the NABA Championship to the Colonials. The Atlantics would head into the bottom of the first down 1-0 after Wally Graham homered for the Colonials in the first. The Atlantics would send 11 men to the plate and score 7 runs on 6 hits to blow open the game on their way to a 10-3 win to even up the series.

Greg Wallace, Dallas Echevarria, Ben Moore, Henry Day, and Jesus Caraballo would each drive in 2 runs in the win. Caraballo would also pick up his 3rd win of the postseason with 6 innings pitched allowing 3 runs on 5 hits.

[NYY #23]

Virginia Beach Colonials (46-22) vs Brooklyn Atlantics (51-17)

Game 3



With the series tied at one game apiece the Colonials jumped out to an early lead in the top of the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Luis Apodaca and an RBI single by Ron MacKnight, who after hitting .198 this season with 10 RBI in 227 at bats is now hitting .333 with 4 RBI in 21 post season at bats.

The Atlantics would come back and score in the bottom of the second with a Ron Getchell double before tieing the game in the bottom of the fifth on a single by Phillip Hardin.

The Colonials would get revenge on Phillip Hardin in the next half inning when they took the lead on a solo home run by William Baker, but again the Atlantics would battle back, tieing the game on a double by Ben Moore on a double in the bottom of the sixth.

The Colonials would take the lead again in the top of the eighth on four singles by Forest Tremblay, Walt Harris, William Baker, and Edgardo Morales with the Colonials going up 5-3.

The bottom of the eighth the Atlantics would strike back with a single by Greg Wallace, double by Shane McClure, and single by Tom Stevens to tie the game at 5, and after an intentional walk to Dallas Echevarria the Atlantics would take the lead with Ron Getchell and Rich Peterson drawing walks to put the Atlantics ahead 6-5.

David Coleman came on in relief of Phillip Hardin for the Atlantics to pick up the save as the Atlantics won their second straight NABA Championship and fifth overall Championship.

[NYY #23]

Boston Trolleys (41-27) vs. Durham Eagles (26-42)







With the Trolleys came out big with a 6-0 win in Game 1, it would be the Eagles who would win two straight games to remain in League A. Durham starter Earl Wade would pitch his best game of the season with 7 innings of shutout ball in game 2, and John MacDonald would pitch the Eagles to a 4-2 victory in Game 3.

[NYY #23]

New Orleans Crescents (43-35) vs. Detroit Wolves (22-46)





Gold glove winning shortstop Kelly Larson was 4-6 with a pair of home runs, 3 runs scored, and 5 RBI as the Crescents dominated the Wolves 17-4 in game 1. The Crescents won game 2 by a score of 6-1 to outscore the Wolves in the series 23-5 and return to League A just one year after being relegated.

The Detroit Wolves are relegated for the second time in their history.

[NYY #23]

Baltimore Silver Moons (44-24) vs. Columbus Explorers (22-46)







After being dominated by Columbus starter Junior Hardy in game 1 Baltimore came back to win Game 2 by a score of 8-3 and Game 3 by a 6-2 margin to return to League A after being relegated last season.

Ron Alston pitched out of the bullpen last year for Baltimore, but dominated as the second starter for Baltimore going 19-9 with a 1.95 ERA this season, and continued that in the playoffs winning Game 2. Dan Eaton and Steve Lopez each homered in Baltimore's Game 3 win.