Tiger Fan's Fictional Universe Dynasty

[Tiger Fan]

Taking a little break from the allsports replay I thought I would create my own fictional world. This is inspired first by Dreamteams great fictional league and also by Eugene Church's talk of his fictional worlds of Ruthlandia and Tycobbia.

After checking out Eugene's site and some other posts on league's taking place in a fictional country I did a quick search and came up with a great fictional map of a country called Breda that someone had painstakingly created. I decided to "borrow it" as the basis for my new fictional league.

I am not sure how detailed I will get on my reporting with this league. I more wanted it just to be something I could quick sim many seasons in contrast to the day-to-day detail that is my All-Sports Replay. I use the article writing primarily as a way to immerse myself further into my league but if some of you wish to follow along all the better. However, I do expect updates to be sporadic.

It is a bit of a move from my comfort zone of writing dynasty's strictly in a newspaper style format. This time I am telling the story from the point of view of a character within the story. He is not an athlete but rather a person doing the research on the league. It is quite a departure from my normal style but hopefully some of you find it interesting.



<b>January 1, 2030</b>
I still can't believe how quickly life flew by. I am amazed that just 4 short months from now I will be 65 years old. My two boys are done school and the eldest, at age 29 has decided to purchase my financial planning business leaving my wife and I with enough money to retire to wherever we please.

"I just don't want to live in Florida," she says. "But I have had enough of the Canadian winters. How about Hawaii or somewhere in the Pacific?"

That is how we discovered the island country of Breda. Actually what caught my wife's eye was the gorgeous weather but what caught my eye was a small ad in the back of the Baseball Weekly.

Small Professional baseball league seeks media relations director.

Before I got into the financial business I had dabbled in radio and print journalism, even spending a little time broadcasting junior hockey and baseball games. I couldn't picture myself sitting on the beach doing nothing in retirement and this seemed like a perfect opportunity. My wife and I were both thrilled when the job offer came.



<b>January 5, 2030</b>
"I hate flying," I said as I gripped my seat during the landing.

"Relax," said my wife. "We are here."

She was right. I could see out the window of the plane the big sign welcoming us to St. Paul, the capital and largest city on the Isle of Breda. The country of Breda is actually composed of several islands with the Isle of Breda being by far the largest. Nearly all of the country's 5 million residents live on Breda and the vast majority are crowded into 4 metropolitan areas.

St Paul on the northeast tip of the island is the largest and also includes the neighbouring community of Ellsborough. On the southside of Ellsborough is the Bay of Breda and below it is the fourth largest population area. The cities of London and Perth are the largest centres on the southeast penninsula.

On the far west side of the island are the communities of Aberdeen, Oxford, Portsmouth, and Southampton with neighbouring Chester and Cahill just to the north. The final large metropolis area is the southern city of Port Windsor, the only community that is home to two teams in the Breda Baseball League.

About 5 miles south of Port Windsor is Bruce Island, the second largest island in the nation. Nearly half of Bruce Island is covered by Mt. Cleary, a long inactive volcano and range of mountains but on the west side of the island is the community of Wellington and many smaller seaside towns.

There are also several smaller islands but none are home to any sort of a population base.

[Tiger Fan]

<b>January 6, 2030</b>
We have settled in to our house on the beach. My wife and I agree the view is wonderful but I am sure she was referring to the Pacific Ocean from our beachfront home while I was thinking of beatiful Seals Stadium, home to the Essex Seals, who's park we visited earlier today.

It was at the Stadium where I learned from BBL commissioner Duncan People the full scope of what they wanted from me.

The purpose of my hiring was not so much to promote the game - it was well ahead of basketball as the number one passsion of Breda natives - but instead the league wanted me to compile a comprehensive history of the league.

I had tried to do a little research on the net to discover what I could about the BBL prior to our arrival but I was frustrated by the lack of data available. Aside from the fact the league had been in existance since 1921 and was composed of the same 12 teams for nearly 60 years before expanding to its present 16 clubs I knew nothing about the BBL.

"That is the problem," said Mr People. "No one, not even the islanders themselves know much about the great history of this league. Heck, we don't even have a Hall of Fame. But together, I want us to change that. We need to recognize the greats of the past and celebrate their accomplishments."

My job will be to pour over old newspaper clippings, interview living veterans of the league and come up with some kind of format to document the great history of over 110 years of Breda Baseball.

"It does not sound like an easy task," I sighed. "So much for retirement."

"I have something that will help you," the commissioner mentioned as we parted ways. "It will be couriered to your home tomorrow."

JANUARY 7, 2030
"Did you get it?" was the first thing Commissioner People asked when I answered the videophone.

"Yes, but what is it," I said as I looked at the hundreds of yellowing pages of paper that arrived this morning."

"I call it Catobase." said People.

What it was quite simply was a detailed statistical history of the first 70 years of the BBL. A godsend. Something I could spend months pouring over as I begin my historical account of the league.

"Catobase?" I asked unsure of the reason for the name.

"A great league historian by the name of Jeff Cato began compiling league stats of every season of the BBL shortly after his son Jeff Jr was drafted by Port Windsor in the early 1950's."

"Did Jeff Jr. ever play in the BBL?" I inquired?

"I don't know," replied the commissioner. "But I am sure the answer is in that pile of paper I sent you. Good luck."

Well, at least I would not be at a loss for reading material as I sat out on our patio and watched the Pacific waves roll in.

[Tiger Fan]

January 8, 2030
While I am busy pouring through the Catobase records I thought I would bring you up to speed on the 16 teams in the league and a look at the map of Breda. I envision this mythical country to be in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, perhaps if you were to fly in a straight line you would find it about halfway between Seattle and Hawaii.

The league began in 1921 with 2 divisions of 6 teams each. They layout would remain the same until 4 teams were added in the 1970's. Originally the 12 teams played a 136 game schedule with some interleague play. After expansion the schedule was expanded to 144 games.

Here are the league layouts

MOUNTAIN LEAGUE

1-ABERDEEN Giants
2-OXFORD Sharks
3-PORTSMOUTH Mariners
4-CHESTER Clippers
5-WELLINGTON Volcanoes
6-PORT WINDSOR Pirates

1970's expansion added
7-Cahill Cardinals
8-Abbotsford Anchors

BAY LEAGUE
9-ST PAUL Sailors
10-LONDON Stars
11-ABERSWYTH Aces
12-PERTH Blue Sox
13-PORT WINDSOR Robins
14-ELLBOROUGH A's

1970's expansion added
15-Essex Seals
16- New London Lions

Here is a map of the country with the location of each team. Mountain League teams are numbered in green while Bay League teams are in red.

[Tiger Fan]

Thanks to Cooleyvol's outstanding work. Here are the team logos.

First the Mountain League clubs.

[Tiger Fan]

And now the Bay League

[Jestor]

Excellent start you have here, TigerFan. I don't think anyone else on the Dynasty boards is as comprehensive and concentious in your reporting of the leagues and sports in their dynasties are you are

I'm really looking forward to this one. Put me down as a Port Windsor Pirates fan.

[Tiger Fan]

Thanks Jestor.

As I mentioned above this league will just be a diversion when I want a break from the All-Sports replay. I also have this league set up to run concurrently with the Breda Islands high school and pro basketball league but I will hold off on the basketball for a while.

I have simmed about 35 seasons so far so I believe I will start a year by year recap as our narrator flips through the yearly pages of his catobase report.

I wish your Port Windsor Pirates well. As our writer lives on the northshore near Essex I am sure he will become a Seals fan eventually but since they are a 1970's expansion team he will also be choosing the Pirates as his team to follow in the early days...for reasons that will become apparent shortly.

[Tiger Fan]

<b>January 11, 2030</b>
"How is your research coming?" asked Commissioner People.

"It is amazing how much information this Jeff Cato fellow stored in his database. I have been reading it for two days straight and I have just barely scratched the surface."

"No one has ever taken the time to sort it into anything useful." the commissioner answered.

"I think I will just take it year by year and see what I can put together. By the way," I added. "I noticed a lot of players with the same last name as yourself. Are you related to Anthony People or any of the others?"

"Yes, I am," Commissioner People beamed. "Anthony People is my great-grandfather. Four generations of my family have played in the BBL."

"Amazing," I muttered. "You guys are like major league baseball's Bell family or the Patrick's or Conacher's of the NHL."

"That's nothing," laughed the commissioner. "Nevermind researching my family. If you really want to be amazed start with the Bengston family out of St Paul. Now that is a family with some baseball history."


January 12, 2030
Another Bengston. The commissioner was right. These guys were amazing. But his family (the People clan) had quite a history in the game's early days as well.

The Bengston family sent 5 brothers to the majors in the 1930's. A cousin also made the big leagues. 8 sons of the 5 brothers and 1 son of the cousin are also listed in this Catobase...and that is just volume one which goes until 1955.

But before I look at them let's see how the commissioner's family did.


<b>ANTHONY PEOPLE</b> 25 years old when the league debuted in 1921, the commissioner's great grandfather spent his entire 8 year career with the Port Windsor Pirates and won an Island Series title. Not a bad career, played nearly 900 games and was selected for two all-star games. A solid leftfielder, he won a gold glove in 1927.

<b>ANTHONY PEOPLE Jr</b> Like his old man, the kid was an outfielder and he won a pair of gold gloves. He was also Mountain League MVP twice, made 10 allstar teams and helped Portsmouth win a pair of Island Series. He led the Mountain League in batting 3 times and had over 2000 hits in 1818 career games.

<b>JAMES PEOPLE</b> Anthony Jr.'s younger brother was also first round pick. He was selected by Perth second overall in 1940 but because of a number of injuries never had much of a career. He played for over half a dozen teams in his career but could never escape his brother's shadow.

<b>TREY PEOPLE</b> Anthony Jr's son Anthony III was better known as Trey. He was taken third overall by the Port Windsor Robins in 1951. Once I get into the second section of the catobase report (1955-85) it will be interesting to see how Trey's career panned out.

<b>MIKE PEOPLE</b> Two years younger than his brother Trey, Mike is an outfielder like the rest of the family and also a first round pick. Ellborough selected him second overall in the 1955 draft. He is also a player to follow when I get to the second section of Catobase.


From what I understand Mike's son Mike Jr and Trey's sons Anthony IV and Duncan (our current league commissioner) will also appear in the league in the 1980's.


Next up I have to start taking a year by year look. Should be interesting to see how the inagural season panned out.

[UngratefulDead]

Very cool. I have a similar fictional league that I've been simming for history off-and-on for a while now, hopefully I'll get it off the ground like this one.

[Tiger Fan]

<b><font size="3">1921 - THE YEAR THAT WON OVER THE NATION</b></font>
You could not have asked for any more excitement than was delivered in the first season of the Breda Baseball League. Not so much in the east where the Perth Blue Sox eliminated any suspense in the Bay League by pulling away from the pack in September but even with their hot streak just 7 games seperated the top 4 clubs in the league at season's end.

It was the Mountain League that provided all the in-season suspense as Port Windsor, Wellington and Oxford battled it out all season. With just 2 weeks remaining the Pirates and Sharks were tied for first a game ahead of the Volcanoes. A week later the Volcanoes had a 1 game lead on the other two teams. Oxford fell out of contention early in the week but Port Windsor and Wellington entered the final weekend tied for first place with a season-ending series between the two at Pirates Stadium. The visiting Volcanoes took the opener 4-3 thanks to homerun king Jason Burkhalter's 39th and 40th round trippers of the season but Port Windsor evened things up with a 3-2 11-inning win on Saturday. The final game of the season would decide the pennant and it would go to extra-innings. Wellington would take a 4-3 lead in the top of the 10th only to see Pirates outfielder Anthony People win the game and the pennant with a 2-out, 2-run homer in the bottom of the ninth. People, who's great-grandson Duncan would become BBL commissioner many years later, was the toast of Port Windsor that evening but the excitement was just beginning.

The Breda Island Series, as it would come to be known, had Kent Bay rivals Perth and Port Windsor meeting in a 7-game set that would be remembered forever.

<b>GAME 1</b>
The series opener would see the hometown Pirates open a 5-2 lead before outfielder David Russell would bust the game open with a grandslam in the top of the ninth to give Perth a 6-5 victory.

<b>GAME 2</b>
Thomas Dong, who won 22 games for the Blue Sox and would be named the Bay League's top pitcher, shut down Port Windsor in game 2 as the Blue Sox built a 6-1 lead and hung on for a 6-4 victory.

<b>GAME 3</b>
The series shifted to Perth and the Blue Sox took complete control of the series with a 6-5 victory. Perth led 6-0 after 3 innings and although the Pirates rallied to make it close it was clear to Perth fans that a sweep was immenient. Unfortunately someone forgot to tell that to the Port Windsor Pirates.

<b>GAME 4</b>
The game that turned the tide of the series. Perth was leading 3-2 and one out away from claim the League Trophy when Anthony People doubled. The next batter, outfielder Ronald Childs delivered a sharp single that scored People and sent the game into extra innings. It would be the top of the 14th before anyone scored and once again it was Anthony People to the rescue, his rbi single scored Archie Carwile with what would be the game winning run.

<b>GAME 5</b>
22 game winner Sammy Dorsch dominated game 5, allowing just 4 hits as he pitched a complete game shutout for Port Windsor. Larry Arispe's 2 run homer in the top of the 3rd was more than enough offense for the Pirates, who won by a 3-0 score.

<b>GAME 6</b>
Back to Port Windsor for the only blowout of the series. Pirates 3B Levi Swinford had 3 hits including a homer and drove in 3 runs as Port Windsor spanked Perth 10-2 to even the series at 3 games each.

<b>GAME 7</b>
In a series that saw the momentum shift from Perth to Port Windsor and excitement at every corner, the best was saved for last. When the Pirates built a quick 4-0 lead it looked like we were headed for another blowout but Larry Arispe delivered a 3-run homer for the Blue Sox in the 6th and before you knew it the game was tied at 4.

In the bottom of the 8th the Pirates left the potential winnning run stranded at third and in the top of the ninth the Blue Sox had runners on first and second with one out and failed to score. Finally in the bottom of the 10th Port Windsor's season of miracle comebacks pulled it's final trick out of the bag. Catcher Scott Lock led off with a double and after Aubrey Kohan was intentionally walked Pirates outfielder Ronald Childs ended the series with an rbi single giving the Bucs a 5-4 victory and completing a dramatic comeback from a 3-games to none deficeit.

<b>
Mountain League Standings				
Team		 W	 L	 PCT	GB</b>
Port Windsor(M)	74	62	.544	 -
Wellington	73	63	.537	 1
Oxford		71	65	.522	 3
Chester		65	71	.478	 9
Portsmouth	65	71	.478	 9
Aberdeen	61	75	.449	13
<b>
Bay League Standings				
Team		 W	L	 PCT	 GB</b>
Perth		75	61	.551	 -
St Paul		69	67	.507	 6
London		68	68	.500	 7
Port Windsor(B)	68	68	.500	 7
Aberswyth	65	71	.478	10
Ellborough	62	74	.456	13
				
<b>Breda Islands Series:</b>				
Perth (3) against Port Windsor(M) (4)	

MOUNTAIN LEAGUE MVP 		 Larry Morgan Chester
MOUNTAIN LEAGUE TOP HURLER 	 Sammie Dorsch Port Windsor

BAY LEAGUE MVP			Eugene McDowell St Paul
BAY LEAGUE TOP HURLER		Thomas Dong Perth


MOUNTAIN LEAGUE LEADERS		BAY LEAGUE LEADERS
			 AVG				 AVG
D. Prada (PWP)		.348	K. Toothman (PER)	.341
L. Arispe (PWP)		.347	T. Clewis (PER)		.334
L. Morgan (CHS)		.334	M. Schuster (StP)	.327
O. Hudson (CHS)		.321	J. Overby (LON)		.325
A. Gardener (OXF)	.317	E. McDowell (StP)	.321
A. Rabin (ABD)		.316	T. Sprouse (PWR)	.320
M. Galan (OXF)		.314	B. Knapp (ELL)		.308
A. Patterson (OXF)	.311	D. Bane (LON)	 	.304
E. Talmadge (PWP)	.309	F. Tsan (ASW)		.302
J. Cardoza (POR)	.307	D. Largent (ELL)	.301

			HR				HR
J. Burkhalter (WEL)	40	E. Monsour (PWR)	38*	
L. Morgan (CHS)		35	A. Smith (StP)		34
D. Prada (PWP)		23	E. McDowell (StP)	30
H. Gazaway (WEL)	23	T. Sprouse (PWR)	29
L. Arispe (PWP)		22	F. Tsan (ASW)		29
J. Cardoza (POR)	22	J. Brown (PER)		28

			RBI				RBI
J. Burkhalter (WEL)	108	J. Brown (PER)		95
L. Morgan (CHS)		 91	E. Monsour (PWR)	92
H. Gazaway (WEL)	 84	E. McDowell (StP)	89
D. Prada (PWP)		 81	D. Bane (LON)		82
E. Talmadge (PWP)	 81	T. Sprouse (PWR)	78
J. Cardoza (POR)	 80	R. Bongiorno (PWR)	77

			WINS				WINS
S. Dorsch (PWP)		22	T. Dong (PER)		22
J. Griego (OXF)		20	S. Ryan (ASW)		21
J. Binford (WEL)	19	L. Rogers (LON)		20
K. Ochs (POR)		15	A. Hester (StP)		19
V. Thompson (ABD)	15	A. Best (PER)		17
J. Blouin (OXF)		15	R. Ford (LON)		17
M. Tompkins (CHS)	15	D. Fifield (ASW)	16

			ERA				ERA
S. Dorsch (PWP)		2.87	M. Mikkelson (PWR)	2.27
J. Czech (PWP)		2.98	D. Fifield (ASW)	3.41
V. Thompson (ABD)	3.10	A. Best (PER)		3.42
J. Binford (WEL)	3.10	J. Highsmith (PER)	3.44
J. Blouin (OXF)		3.13	S. Ryan (ASW)		3.47
	
			K's				K's
S. Dorsch (PWP)		319	T. Dong (PER)		289
M. Tompkins (CHS)	295	R. Randall (ELL)	287
J. Binford (WEL)	286	R. Ford (LON)		287
J. Griego (OXF)		268	L. Rogers (LON)		281
K. Ochs (POR)		210	A. Best (PER)		274

Wow, I thought as I closed up the pages upon pages of faded boxscores and game logs. I would have loved to have been in Port Windsor for that series. I also wondered if the commissioner ever realized just how great an impact his great-grandfather had on that first season of the BBL. One thing is for sure. Even though I have never seen a BBL game live and all the players I just read about died long ago, the Port Windsor Pirates have just won over a new fan. I can't wait to see what 1922 has to offer.

[ifspuds]

I love the way you've set this up, Tiger Fan. Just the frame for the story alone gives it a nice dramatic touch. I'll look forward to your updates, whenever they come.

[Tiger Fan]

<b>THE FIRST FAMILY OF BREDA ISLAND BASEBALL - THE BENGSTON'S</b>
I talked earlier about the commissioner's ancestors and their role in the development of baseball in Breda but no family made more of an impact on the game than the Bengston's.

Family patriarch Montgomery Bengston was born in St Paul in 1891. Like his father before him, Bengston would take a job in a fishery when he turned 15. He also displayed rare skill at a new sport that was sweeping the island. This game, called baseball, came naturally to Monty and he would earn some extra money playing for the Purdy Fishery semi-pro team. He and his wife Helen would have 7 children including 6 boys. While the oldest would follow his father to work in the fishery, the other 5 boys would all make quite a living playing baseball full-time.

<b>JOHN BENGSTON</b>
Despite a shoulder injury that ended his career at age 36 many consider John to be the greatest pitcher in league history. He would win 5 pitcher of the year awards, including 4 straight from 1945-48 and make the allstar team every year from 1941-49. John was also a member of 5 Breda Island Series winning Aberswyth teams.

Despite being drafted second overall in 1936 by Aberswyth, it would be four years before he would wear an Aces uniform. In 1936 John's twin brother Bill, also a pitcher, was taken immediately after John by the Port Windsor Pirates. The two brothers were adament they wanted to play together so Aberswyth reluctantly agreed to trade him to the Pirates.

John would make his major league debut in September of that season and would be in the Pirates rotation the following season. However, after a terrible 4-14 campaign for the last place Pirates John was dispatched to Portsmouth. A shoulder injury limited his effectiveness and after going 9-12 over a season and a half the Mariners released him when he suffered a second should injury. Ellborough claimed him but after going 0-2 he was dispatched to the minors for the remainder of 1939.

Fate would strike that offseason when Aberswyth took a chance on him in the rule V draft. Bengston was used mainly in the bullpen that season but his tender shoulder had fully healed and by spring training of 1941 the now 26 year old was at his peak.

Bengston would win his first pitcher of the year award in 1942 when he went 19-7 and then win 4 straight from 1945-48 going 103-26 over that period. He was 8-5 with a 3.30 era in postseason play as the Aces made 7 trips to the series, winning 4 of them. Shoulder woes cropped up again briefly in 1950 and in his final start of the 1951 season Bengston suffered another shoulder injury that ended his career.

<b>		JOHN BENGSTON
Year	Tm	Lg  W L	  G GS CG SHO  SV   IP	  H   ER  HR    BB   SO  ERA</b>
1936	PWP	ML  0-0	  1  0  0  0    0   0.7	  0    0   0     0    0	 0.00
1937	PWP	ML  4-14 24 23	0  0	0 124.3	 149  87  17	42   68	 6.30
1938	POR	ML  1-1	 10  0	0  0	2  10.3	  11   4   2	 1    9	 3.48
1939	POR	ML  8-11 19 13	3  1	0 122.7	 139  89  23    45  109	 6.53
	ELL	BL  0-2	  8  6	2  1 	2   8.7	  10   4   2	 4    6	 4.16
	TOT	    8-13 27 19	5  2	2 131.3	 149  93  25	49  115  6.37
1940	ASW	BL  3-4	 41  9	1  0   12  86.3	  84  43  10	35   84	 4.48
1941	ASW	BL 17-11 35 35 16  3	0 279.3	 216 102  18	62  307	 3.29
1942	ASW	BL 19-7	 29 29 20  2	0 248.0	 175  57  13	45  273	 2.07
1943	ASW	BL 16-13 34 34 14  1	0 271.0	 232 105  16	60  282	 3.49
1944	ASW	BL 14-13 37 37 16  1	0 302.0	 254 112  24	74  321	 3.34
1945	ASW	BL 27-7	 35 35 21  6	0 294.0	 226  82  18	70  314	 2.51
1946	ASW	BL 23-8	 33 33 18  6	0 261.7	 201  88  12	73  279	 3.03
1947	ASW	BL 25-5	 32 32 13  2	0 261.0	 208  91  18	70  270	 3.14
1948	ASW	BL 28-6	 38 38 19  7	0 317.3	 207  85  15	80  343	 2.41
1949	ASW	BL 18-12 37 37 12  1	0 300.3	 258 126  32	95  285	 3.78
1950	ASW	BL  9-15 34 34	9  2	0 261.0	 255 166  35   107  277	 5.72
1951	ASW	BL 15-12 35 35 14  1	0 282.3	 236 108  35   108  274  3.44
              -------  --- --- --- --  -- ----  ---- ---- ---  --- ----  ----
16 Years Sim  227-141  482 430 178 34  16 3431	2861 1349 290  971 3501	 3.54

<b>BILL BENGSTON</b>
John's twin brother lacked the blazing fastball of his sibling but Bill still managed to win 108 games and make 3 allstar appearances in his career. He would finish his career with a 108-122 record but spent most of his 11 seasons on a very bad Chester club during the 1940's. He never joined his twin brother John in the big leagues on Port Windsor but the two were major league teammates very briefly in 1950 when Aberswyth acquired Bill late in the season. He would get shelled in his second of just two starts with the Aces and would never pitch in the big leagues again.

<b>CHARLES BENGSTON</b>
4 years younger than the twins, Charles was born in 1918. A pitcher like his older brothers, Charles was drafted 5th overall by Aberswyth in 1937 after 2 minor league seasons he was dealt to Portsmouth. Charles would pitch three seasons for the Mariners before being dispatched to Port Windsor in 1942. In 1947 he became the only one of the 5 brothers to play for the hometown St Paul Sailors and he would enjoy his best seasons in St Paul. His career record was 153-185 with 3 all-star appearances but like Bill he would never make a postseason appearances. His career ended in 1954 with 3 innings work for Aberswyth, the only time he wore the major league uniform of the club that drafted him.

<b>WILLIE BENGSTON</b>
The final pitcher in the family, Willie was born a year after Charles and was selected in the first round of the 1938 draft by Perth. Willie was the youngest of the brothers when he made his major league debut...at 19 pitching 3 innings for the Blue Sox. The following season he was dealt to Ellborough and he would spend 12 seasons with the Athletics. His best year was 1945 when he went 20-11 but finished second in pitcher of the year ballotting to his brother John. Back problems plagued him in his late twenties and after being released by 3 teams in 1950 Willie retired at the age of 31. His career record was 150-158.

<b>ROBERT BENGSTON</b>
Only John received more notoriety than the youngest member of the Bengston clan. Unlike his brothers, Robert was a catcher and was drafted 7th overall in the 1939 draft at the age of 17. He would make the majors fulltime 4 years later with Portsmouth and would win the 1943 Mountain League rookie of the year. He would also begin a streak of 12 straight allstar game appearances that season. A 9-time gold glove winning catcher and a member of 2 Island Series winning teams, Robert said his greatest thrill was having his brother Charles on the hill for Portsmouth in his major league debut with the Mariners.

He led the Mountain League in homers twice and hit 40 or more round-trippers on 5 occassions including a career best 48 in 1954. Another thrill for Robert was homering off his brother John in the 1948 Island Series but John got the last laugh as Aberswyth won the title that year. John's Aberswyth club and Robert's Portsmouth team would meet in 4 Breda Series during the 1940's with Aberswyth winning three of them. Robert would hit just .222 (6 for 27) against his brother in those postseason matchups.


There was another member of the Bengston clan to play in the major leagues during the same time frame.

<b>AUGIE BENGSTON</b>
A cousin of the Bengston brothers, Augie, a first baseman, was drafted 3rd overall by the Port Windsor Pirates in 1941. He would appear in 43 games as a rookie and spend parts of 4 seasons in Port Windsor before being dealt to Chester where he spent most of the decade as a teammate of Bill Bengston. A 5-time allstar, Augie would stick around long enough to win a second Breda Series title with Chester in 1951 (after winning one as a 20 year old in Port Windsor) before ending his career with stops in Perth and his hometown of St Paul.



This is just the beginning of the Bengston story as all of the brothers except Robert would send at least one son to the major leagues in the fifties and sixties. Augie's son, Augie Jr. would also make the big leagues. More on the next generation of Breda's first family of baseball at a future time.