THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, November 17, 2051

IPA SECOND ALL-DECADE TEAM 2011-2020

3B FLASH DEVLIN (2013-2031)
Flash Devlin starred for 19 seasons at third and shortstop with the La Claire Lynx in the Tycobbian West Division and compiled a lifetime .317 BA with 559 HRs, 1799 RBIs and 1995 runs. Devlin ranks 17th in homers, 14th in RBIs and 13th in runs scored. He was a 13-time All-Star. Devlin was 37 when he retired in 2032 with 3261 hits, ranking 19th on the all-time list. The star infielder was finally an inductee into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2038. Devlin stood out on a mediocre team. The Lynx were usually a second-division club and only made the postseason one time in Devlin's career. His club's lack of success had a detrimental effect on the Hall of Fame voting, but the media finally realized how good a player Devlin was and placed him among the IPA icons in '38. He also had a reputation of cockiness and self-importance. Devlin was not one of the media favorites during his playing days.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Saturday, November 18, 2051

2011-2020 ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE SECOND ALL-DECADE TEAM

SS DON NICHOLS (2001-2024)
The great Far Mountain shortstop and Hall-of-Famer Don Nichols also was voted number one at his position on the second All-Decade team. During his superb career, Nichols had 386 home runs and batted .310. He was near the top in all-time IPA stats, ranking 8th in games (3253), 4nd in hits (3760), 15th in RBIs (1773), 4th in runs (2164) and 8th in stolen bases (668). In postseason play Nichols hit an even .300 with 9 homers , 51 RBIs, 53 runs and 17 stolen bases in 95 games. He retired in 2024 at the age of 43 and went into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2027.

Nichols played for 24 years, starting off with the Marston Nine for his initial 7 seasons and finishing up with the Far Mountain Redhawks for the final 17. He made the playoffs with the Nine 3 times and 5 times with the Redhawks. Nichols picked up three Pro Cup rings in '11, '12 and '13 as Far Mountain had an unprecedented three-peat. He was an 11-time All-Star and 2-time Golden Glover. In 2018 Nichols won the Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player Award and the Golden Bat.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, November 19, 2051

IPA SECOND ALL-DECADE TEAM 2011-2020

LF ROCCO BELASARIO (2005-2026)
Arlon's fabulous center fielder Rocco Belasario was one of the best player ever in the IPA. In a career spanning 3023 games, Belasario batted .301 with 3076 hits, 508 home runs, 1658 RBIs, 2116 runs scored and 1840 walks. He is 8th in walks all-time, 5th in runs scored, 18th in games played and number one in stolen bases.

For most of his career Belasario played in obscurity, but brilliantly. Arlon went to the postseason only 3 times and never come close to winning the Pro Cup in his tenure. But Belasario excelled with 9 All-Star selections and 5 Golden Gloves. The swift Belasario holds the all-time IPA mark for stolen bases with 1023, almost 200 better than second place Jet Kazmarek. 7 times Belasario led the Tycobbian Union in thefts. In limited postseason action he hit .263 with an impressive on-base percentage of .404, 2 homers, 6 RBIs and scored 15 runs in 23 games, while stealing 11 bases.

Belasario was 40, when he retired. He played 19 seasons with Arlon and 22 years in the league. The gifted outfielder gained entrance into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2027.

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, October 16, 2028

Waleska's Hobbs Pro Cup MVP
Waleska's splendid outfielder Roy Hobbs hasn't missed out on many awards and accolades in his legendary 16-year IPA career. The 13-time All-Star, 6-time Golden Bat winner, 4-time batting champ and Gold Glover this year filled in two missing items: Pro Cup ring and Pro Cup Most Valuable Player. The IPA announced Hobbs has been selected the most outstanding player in the 2028 IPA Pro Cup playoffs. Hobbs showed he is still quite a ballplayer at age 35.

Hobbs led the Waleska Westerners to the first Pro Cup title in the club's history. He topped the team with 18 RBIs and 4 homers, while batting .333 in 18 games. Running second in the MVP poll was Waleska's Loco Dillinger, who batted .385 with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 13 RBIs and 16 runs scored. Third in the balloting was Tuckanarra's fine shortstop Jed Turchin. He hit .405 with 10 doubles and 3 homers, drove in 21 runs and scored 19 times in a great postseason. Finishing fourth was Waleska's bullpen ace Jarred Laclair, who registered a 2-1 record with 2 saves and a 0.96 ERA, while appearing in 10 games and working 18 innings. The number five votegetter was the Blue Jays third sacker Koora Nawajuk. He led Tuckanarra with 5 roundtrippers, while batting .319 with 15 runs batted in and scored 16 runs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, November 20, 2052

IPA SECOND ALL-DECADE TEAM 2011-2020

CF ROY HOBBS (2013-2031)
Roy Hobbs stood out for the Waleska Westerners for 19 years, finally calling it a career at age 38. Hobbs was a splendid center fielder with a .345 lifetime batting average, second-best in history, topped only by Valmara's Jet Kazmarek, who posted a .350 career average. Hobbs was a 15-time All-Star, won 7 Golden Bats, 2 Golden Gloves and 2 MVP Awards ('26 and '30). He collected 3793 hits, 587 homers, 594 doubles, 142 triples, 2026 runs and 2037 RBIs. Hobbs led the Ruthlandian Union 4 times in batting and hits 10 times. Overall in his terrific career Hobbs ranked 3rd in the IPA all-time in hits, 13th in doubles, 8th in triples, 11th in homers, 6th in RBIs and 11th in runs scored... when he retired in 2031 Hobbs could still hit, posting a .304 batting average in 85 games, but he said he was too much of a defensive liability to stay in the lineup... he was made a member of the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2032.

Hobbs led the Westerners to their first-ever Pro Cup title in 2028 and was acclaimed the Pro Cup Most Valuable Player. He hit .333 in 18 games in the playoffs that season with 4 homers and 18 RBIs. Waleska won a thrilling seven-game series with the Tucknarra Blue Jays. Hobbs only played in two postseasons, batting .324 in 27 games with 5 home runs, 24 RBIs and 19 runs.

YESTERDAY IN THE IPA

The Islandian Times
Sunday, October 11, 2015

Marshall and Kennedy Pro Cup MVPs
The 2015 IPA Pro Cup Series was a hitter's delight. Consequently the Most Valuable Player Award went to a pair of prolific hitters: Augie Marshall and Arnie Kennedy of the champion Taranto Tars shared the award. The two sluggers demolished Bay St. Clair pitching and sparked the Tars to the IPA crown in five games.

Marshall, the 21-year-old right fielder, hit .375 in the playoffs with 5 home runs, 18 RBIs and 18 runs scored, while 27-year-old left fielder Arnie Kennedy rapped 5 out of the park, drove in 20 runs, scored 16 times and posted a .304 batting average. Each one of them delivered crucial hits at various times in the postseason. Chazzie DiBartolo played a big part in the Tars title run with a fine 4-0 record and was the only other votegetter in the poll.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Tuesday, November 21, 2051

IPA SECOND ALL-DECADE TEAM 2011-2020

RF AUGIE MARSHALL (2013-2033)
Augie Marshall played right field for six teams in his 19 years in the IPA, but played primarily for the Taranto Tars, where he enjoyed his most success from 2013 to 2022. Marshall led the Ruthlandian Union in homers and RBIs in 2014 and 2015. He was the RU Rookie of the Year in 2013 and a 9-time All-Star. Marshall hit 504 home runs and drove in 1791 runs, while batting .287. He helped two clubs win Pro Cups. Taranto won in 2015 and Crystal Lake took it in 2022. Marshall played until 2033 when he retired at age 39. He was inducted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2049. Marshall batted .283 in 59 postseason games with 10 homers, 38 RBIs and 39 runs scored. He was voted the Co-MVP in the 2015 Pro Cup Finals along with teammate Arnie Kennedy. In 17 playoff games Marshall hit .375 with 5 homers, 18 RBIs and 18 runs scored.

The Third Decade All-Decade Team will be coming up soon.

I'm ready now for the 2052 season.

Got beautiful new jerseys and caps for all 64 teams... and lots of new team logos, too.

Several ballclubs have new nicknames.

In the Ruthlandian Union, the Beechwood Bobcats are now the Beechwood Blues... the Forest City Lumberjacks are now the Forest City Firebirds... the Crystal Lake Crushers are now the Crystal Lake Skippers... and the Eastshore Elegants are now the Eastshore Cotton Kings.

Only one change in the Tycobbian Union. The High Mesa Cowboys switched to the High Mesa Mustangs.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, March 1, 2052

NORTH HILLS STAR NAMED TO IPA HALL
In his 16 years in the Islandian Pro Alliance star outfielder Adam Thurgood propelled his North Hills Hawks to 11 pennants and 4 Pro Cup crowns. Credentials like this made him an easy choice for the IPA Hall of Fame. Thurgood will be inducted this summer at the annual All-Star Game. He is the 76th player to be installed in the elite group.

In his career Thurgood batted .311 and made the All-Star team 9 times. He was the Tycobbian Rookie of the Year in his first season 2033 and won the 2041 Pro Cup Most Valuable Player trophy. In that series this year's honoree posted a .355 mark with 5 roundtrippers, 14 runs and 14 RBIs. Thurgood played his entire career in North Hills and retired at age 37 in 2048.

Lifetime Thurgood slammed 2860 hits with 506 home runs, 1613 RBIs and scored 1338 runs. In the playoffs he hit .294 in 123 games, collecting 30 homers, 79 RBIs and scoring 82 runs.

While I work on updating the rosters for the 2052 season, I thought you might like to see the all-time IPA Leaderboards.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 1, 2052

TURON, VALMARA, NORTH HILLS PRO CUP WINNERS
As the Islandian Pro Alliance begins its 52nd campaign, a review of IPA history shows that the Valmara Vipers, Turon Typhoons and the North Hills Hawks have won the most Pro Cups with four each... the Vipers have appeared in the Pro Cup Finals on nine occasions, the Typhoons six times and the Hawks five times... the Ozarka Naturals went to the IPA Finals five times and came away empty each time.

Five clubs have captured the IPA crown three times apiece: the Far Mountain Redhawks, Tuckanarra Blue Jays, Southport Sun Sox, Waleska Westerners and Rolling Hills Reds... the Redhawks won it three years in a row... in '11, '12 and '13... only 28 of the league franchises have won the Pro Cup trophy... 36 of them are still waiting in the wings for their first.

TYCOBBIAN UNION 27 PRO CUPS
RUTHLANDIAN UNION 24 PRO CUPS

Turon 4
North Hills 4
Valmara 4
Tuckanarra 3
Southport 3
Waleska 3
Rolling Hills 3
Far Mountain 3
Crystal Lake 2
South Fork 2
Eastshore 2
Sugar Valley 1
Taranto 1
Volusia 1
Middlefield 1
Oxford 1
Ranford 1
Red Bluff 1
Rocky Rapids 1
San Alejo 1
Sligo 1
Blue Lake 1
Colfax 1
Elnora 1
Hartsdale 1
High Mesa 1
Kenwood 1
Arlon 1
Wynnamac1

Islandian Pro Alliance Pro Cup History

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 1, 2052

IPA THIRD ALL-DECADE TEAM 2021-2030
Who were the best baseball players in the Islands in the 2020's. Who will be represented on the Islandian Pro Alliance All-Decade team for the years 2021 to 2030? Two All-Decade Teams have been released so far. This will be number three.

Three members of the Third All-Decade are repeat performers. IPA legends Nicky Engstrom, Jack Elliott and Roy Hobbs were selected again for the second decade in a row.

SP Duncan Welch (2017-2036)
Heading up the Third Decade pitching rotation is Duncan Welch, who chalked up 350 wins and 255 losses in his 20 seasons in the IPA and compiled an impressive 2.78 career ERA... four times he was an All-Star, winning the RU Most Valuable Player trophy twice, in 2020 and 2023... three times he garnered the Golden Arm, in 2019, 2020 and 2023... six times the Crystal Lake Crushers won pennants and hauled in two Pro Cups (2020 and 2022)... beginning this year 2052, the team will have a new name: Crystal Lake Skippers.

Welch, the 6' 7" southpaw, ranked fifth in the Islandian Pro Alliance in wins with 350... the stringbean lefty also was brilliant in the postseason with a marvelous 17-5 mark in 28 games with a fine 2.50 ERA. Twice Welch was named the Pro Cup MVP in 2020 and 2022.

Yesterday in the IPA

The Islandian Times
Monday, October 12, 2020

CL's Welch Pro Cup MVP
To no one's surprise Crystal Lake's sensational southpaw Duncan Welch has been named the IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player this year. Welch sparked the Crushers to the Islandian championship with a superlative 6-1 record in the postseason. Welch made 7 starts and completed 4 of them with a 2.36 ERA against the best teams in the IPA. He worked 58 innings, allowed 45 hits, fanned 41 and walked only 15. During the regular season Welch was 24-12 with an IPA-leading 2.00 ERA.

Coming in second and third in the MVP balloting were two of Welch's Crusher teammates, 2B Greg Murphy and 1B Phil Gravelli. Murphy led the team with 4 homers and 14 RBIs, while batting .338. Gravelli topped team with a .356 batting average. He had 2 homers and 13 runs batted in.

Yesterday in the IPA

The Islandian Times
Saturday, October 15, 2022

Crushers Welch Pro Cup MVP Again
Almost hands down, Crystal Lake's brilliant 28-year-old southpaw Duncan Welch has been chosen the Pro Cup Most Valuable Player. Only one other player received support in The Islandian Times poll. Finishing a distance second was Midway standout Bobby Dorignac. Welch sparked the Crushers to the Pro Cup crown with a perfect 6-0 record in 6 starts with 4 complete games and a superb 1.03 ERA. The 22-year-old Dorignac was even better, but his Wolves didn't win the title, losing in six games. Dorignac was 5-0 with a microscopic 0.64 ERA. Welch was 23-12 in his sixth season and posted a 2.18 ERA, while second-year man Dorignac compiled a 19-14 mark and a 2.74 ERA.

This is the second time the lanky 6' 7" Welch has copped the Pro Cup MVP award. He also led Crystal Lake to the Island championship two years ago when they pulled a big upset by beating favored Ozarka. Welch was 6-1 in that series, notching a 2.36 ERA. He is 12-1 in the postseason with an outstanding 1.71 ERA. Lifetime Welch is 117-72 with a great 2.25 ERA.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 1, 2052

IPA THIRD ALL-DECADE TEAM 2021-2030

SP Eric Gaudet (2019-2034)
The number two starter on the Third All-Decade squad is Rolling Hills' masterful right-hander Eric Gaudet... the 6' 5" hurler played 14 of his 16 seasons with the Reds, helping them win 8 pennants during that time and two Pro Cup trophies... Rolling Hills captured the IPA crown in '29 and '31... Gaudet made big contributions in both titles and won the Pro Cup MVP in '29, going 7-0 with an excellent 1.71 ERA in 8 starts... in 2031 he was 3-2 in 7 starts with an impressive 2.82 ERA.

Lifetime Gaudet notched a fine 283-193 record with a rock-solid 2.97 ERA... in the postseason he was the Reds' big-game ace and rarely failed to come through in crucial games... in the postseason Gaudet was 16-9 in 31 starting assignments with strong 2.49 ERA... in 2036 Gaudet retired at age 40, closing out his career with two seasons for the Turon Typhoons... the rangy right-hander was voted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2036... 8 times Gaudet was an All-Star and won 20 games on 6 occasions.

Yesterday in the IPA

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Friday, October 12, 2029

2029 IPA Pro Cup Final Series
(best-of-seven)

Rolling Hills Sweep Stoner In Pro Cup
Dominant pitching and timely hitting combined to bring the Rolling Hills Reds their first Pro Cup in history and they did it in grand style, going unbeaten in the Finals... the Reds swept Stoner in four straight... finishing the Stars off 6-3 in game four at historic Midtown Base Ball Grounds in Rolling Hills.

The Reds ace Errol Gaudet set an IPA Pro Cup record with his 7th postseason victory... Gaudet (7-0/1.71) stopped Stoner on one run and 6 hits in his 7 innings, fanning 3 and issuing no walks... He turned it over to his bullpen with a 5-1 lead... Tom Pierson was the only effective reliever out of three... Pierson came on in the ninth after Alfonso Gonzales and Bobby Morris were tagged for 2 runs and 4 hits in the eighth... Pierson blanked the Stars in the ninth and got his first save of this postseason.

Rolling Hills racked up 12 hits in the win, led by RF Bobby McConnell (.294) with a homer and a double... McConnell hit a 2-run blast in the 4-run first, which the Stars never recovered from... 3B Jeff Booker (.314) added in 3 hits for the Reds... topping the Stars were 2B Norm Murdoch (.224) with 3-5 and RF Neil Mooney (.286) with 2 RBIs.

Reds manager Matty Christianson was estatic after winning his first Pro Cup. "Gaudet was beyond compare in the playoffs... what a postseason he had...Errol carried us pitching-wise... offensively it was everybody... we had a different hero everyday... it was a great team effort."

Losing skipper Benny Stern lamented, "Our offense was no match for the Reds pitching... Gaudet and Brown were outstanding in the Finals against us... we just ran up against a fine team... but I'm not gonna hang my head in shame... my Stars had a super run and with a few well-placed hits in the first three games we could still be playing... it really hurt to lose 2-1, 2-1 and 7-5."

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Sunday, October 14, 2029

Gaudet Unanimous Choice For Pro Cup MVP
No doubt about it, Rolling Hills 35-year-old ace Errol Gaudet is this year's IPA Pro Cup Most Valuable Player. The lanky 6 foot 5 inch soft-throwing right-hander sparked the Reds to their first Pro Cup crown in history and broke the record for playoff wins with a 7-0 record and a brilliant 1.77 ERA in 8 starts. Duncan Welch of Eastshore and Skeets Hobart of Wynnamac held the old record with 6-0. Welch did it in 2022 and Hobart in 2008. Gaudet got all the first place votes and was elected unanimously. During the regular season Gaudet was 21-13 with a 3.38 ERA. An 11-year IPA veteran, he has posted a career 217-127 mark and a splendid 2.80 ERA.

Four of Gaudet's teammates received votes in The Islandian Times MVP poll. Right fielder Bobby McConnell was a distant second in the balloting. McConnell batted .294 in the playoffs and led the Reds with 10 RBIs. Third baseman Jeff Booker came in third with a .314 batting average, 9 RBIs and 8 runs scored. Number four was catcher Tony Brinkerhoff with a .324 BA, 12 runs scored and 9 runs batted in. Finishing fifth was center fielder Scotty Yiska, who hit .284, drove in 9 runs and scored 9 times.

Today I had the most views ever... 305 is a new record for one day.

Thanks to all of you who continue to follow the IPA.

I'm continually amazed by your loyalty.

You are very much appreciated.

I wish I could personally thank each of you.

THE ISLANDIAN TIMES
Monday, April 1, 2052

IPA THIRD ALL-DECADE TEAM 2021-2030

SP Nicky Engstrom (2010-2029)
To even make an Islandian Pro Alliance All-Decade Team once is quite an accomplishment - to make it two decades in a row is just a remarkable achievement. That's exactly what iconic Hall of Fame pitcher Nicky Engstrom has done. The gifted right-hander for the Turon Typhoons didn't dominate the 2020's like he did in the previous decade, but his numbers were still at a superior level. Four times he racked up 20 or more wins and his ERA remained near the brilliant mark. Engstrom had one of his best seasons at age 37 when he posted the best ERA of his career. He was only 18-16 for a 71-83 seventh place team, but his ERA was a superb 1.87 and led the Tycobbian Union and was second in the IPA.

In his legendary career with the Turon Typhoons Nicky Engstrom sparked his club to 8 pennants and one IPA Pro Cup with a 387-218 career record and a superb 2.43 ERA. Engstrom has won more games than any other hurler in history and compiled the second-best ERA for a pitcher in history. He was a 12-time All-Star, won three Golden Arm Awards (2011, 2013, 2015) and copped the Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year trophy in 2010. In the Pro Cup playoffs Engstrom made 29 starts and compiled a terrific 14-5 mark with a superb 2.18 ERA. He retired at age 40 and was installed in the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2030. Engstrom was also selected for the IPA All-Decade Team 2011-2020.

I thought I would post some of the new team logos for the All-Decade players.

The logos will be next to the players' career stats.

No, all thanks go to you EC. Yours is one of the most enduring fictional dynasties on the board, and always a pleasure to catch up on. It's inspired me (and I'm sure many others) to dive into our own fictional baseball worlds.