2067 Ruthlandian Union Final Team Statistics
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2067 Tycobbian Union Final Team Statistics
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Yeah, Marston is the ultimate underdog team for me. For them to get to the championship series, everything will have to go right; timely hitting, some guys pitching the games of their careers.

Rolling Hills is seriously flawed, too. That makes them a fun a follow, too.

:eatpop:

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Tuesday, September 27, 2067

ALL EYES ARE ON THE IPA PRO CUP PLAYOFFS BEGINNING THURSDAY
Coming up Thursday afternoon all around the Islands it's first-round action in the Islandian Pro Alliance playoffs... all eyes will be on the 8 clubs challenging for the glorious Holy Grail of Baseball -- the IPA Pro Cup trophy... 4 clubs will represent the Ruthlandian Union and 4 clubs will represent the Tycobbian Union in the best-of-seven series... three rounds of afternoon delight and drama on the diamond, finally decided with the Pro Cup Finals between the Ruthlandian champion and the Tycobbian champion... neither of the finalists from last year are back... defending titlist Southport and runner-up Valmara... two familiar names are most often mentioned by the prognosticating pundits, the Rolling Hills Racers and the Claxton Diamonds... they are the odds-on favorites to tangle for the Pro Cup trophy.

In the Ruthlandian Union action the Pro Cup favorite Claxton Diamonds (97-57) will welcome the 5th-ranked Far Mountain Redhawks (88-67) to beautiful Avalon Stadium and the #4 pick Marston Nine (90-64) will match up with the 8th-ranked Sligo Rovers (91-63) at Silver Mountain Park... in the Tycobbian Union the #2 Pro Cup choice Rolling Hills (100-54) will host the darling of the baseball world this season, the up-and-coming Hillsboro Blazers (88-66), at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds... the Blazers are given the 7th-best chance to cop the trophy... in the other TU series it will be #6 San Alejo (88-66) taking on the #3 White River Rascals (91-63) at White River Stadium...

Rolling Hills will trying to capture its record-setting 6th Pro Cup championship... only 5 of the teams have ever won a Pro Cup trophy... the Racers have snared 5, Far Mountain 3 and Claxton, Sligo and San Alejo have claimed it on one occasion... Marston, White River and Hillsboro are still chasing their dream -- their first IPA overall crown.

2067 IPA PRO CUP PREVIEW

1. CLAXTON DIAMONDS (97-57)
2. Rolling Hills Racers (100-54)
3. White River Rascals (91-63)
4. Marston Nine (90-64)
5. Far Mountain Redhawks (88-67)
6. San Alejo Montaneros (88-66)
7. Hillsboro Blazers (88-66)
8. Sligo Rovers (91-63)

1. Claxton Diamonds
Solid bats and very fine pitching give the Diamonds the edge in the Pro Cup playoffs... Claxton may be better than the '64 Pro Cup champion that upset mighty Rolling Hills in a dramatic 7-game series... they have added some good offense with newcomers Phil Beech, Kevin Walton and Eddy Caldwell... the Diamonds can score runs, have three impressive starters and a strong bullpen... they also handle the gloves very well (.980 FA)... Claxton looks to be the class of the Islandian Pro Alliance in 2067... Mark Meisner, Russell Krohn, Matt Goodman are three good starters and closer Alvie London is one of the best... the Diamonds have four fine veteran hitters in Paddy Garson, Karl Dornhauer, Fred Hahn and Scoops Dunn... they are pretty good at putting runs on the scoreboard.

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2. Rolling Hills Racers
The premier team in the IPA for the past decade is back again and more than capable of beating all comers in this year's IPA playoffs... the Racers have the bats and offense and they have fairly good starters... they just have to get some decent pitching from the bullpen and they can romp to the Pro Cup title... they are average defensively (.977 FA)... nobody in the playoffs can come close to Rolling Hills' top guns at the plate... Jimmy Brandini, Luca Palazzi, Hugo Sutton, Teddy Stonich and Jean-Luc Roubique are all serious threats... they are the best lineup the IPA has ever seen... top to bottom, there are nothing but rock-solid hitters in the Racers' batting order... the expected Claxton-Rolling Hills Pro Cup showdown could be a delightful donnybrook.

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3. White River Rascals
You might say the Rascals are sneaky good... teams with good pitching and a batting order that features a good hitter at every spot are known to be successful in the postseason... it might be the key to winning a Pro Cup title... White River fits the bill this year... up and down the lineup, the batters are pretty good, sparked by Jerald Wheeler, Stan Bowman and Danny Gosserand... on the hill the Rascals are quite good with Juliano Machado, Jackie Campanella, Ken Lucas and Hoss Cartwright... White River will need its bullpen to step it up a little bit for them to knock off one of the big boys... defensively the Rascals are pretty good with a .979 FA.

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4. Marston Nine
If it wasn't for a questionable relief corps, leaky defense (.973 FA) and a lack of longball power (95 HR), the Nine would be right up there with powerhouses Claxton and Rolling Hills... for sure Marston will be a test in the playoffs... they put up a sparkling .285 BA this season... 1 to 8 in the batting order the Nine has a quality bat, sparked by John Bobo, George Chizek, Harv Beauchamp and Wayne Prentiss... Marston also possesses some very capable starters, led by D. D. Klem, Tonico Ribiero, Galen Busby and Harry Vodenlich... how well the bullpen does will determine postseason success this year for the Nine... closer Mark Meriwether and long reliever Justin Boylan will be crucial... Marston could be a troublemaker in the playoffs... Sligo will find them to be a tougher opponent this year... the Rovers whipped the Nine 4 games to one in the first round last year... but the first three games were all in doubt and could have easily gone Marston's way.

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5. Far Mountain Redhawks
It was a turnaround year for the Redhawks... they jumped from 7th place to the top spot in the RU North... they came out of nowhere in the final month of the season and snatched the division flag right out of the hands of the LaGrange Gators and the Glasco Foxhounds... Far Mountain had to win a playoff game to make the playoffs... the Redhawks had to go 33-16 the last two months, finishing up with a sensational 17-4 in September to win the pennant, much to the chagrin of the Gators and the Foxhounds, who both really crumbled down the stretch... Far Mountain is a dangerous club like White River and Marston... everyone in the lineup can hit for average and with power... they all have double-digit home runs... Luke Hazlett, Jeffrey Garlin and Curt Miley anchor a strong batting order... plus the Redhawks feature quality starters like Axel Heiden, Clarence Threadgill, Rick Goldman and Calvin Sturgeon... the bullpen is pretty capable as well... Claxton better be wary in the first round... Far Mountain is for real.

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6. San Alejo Montaneros
The Monties just might make a few teams squirm this postseason... they usually have strong pitching, but lack offense... not so this year... San Alejo has a good scoring attack with Dominique Juban, Roman Redondo and Nicky Yorke, coupled with five good starters like Lando Vargas, Paulo Passos, Elmer Cane, Howard Simpson and Adrian Acosta... and a standout defense (.982 FA)... however, the Montaneros are weak in the bullpen... that the reason for the #6 rating... a poor pen is a killer in the postseason... just ask Rolling Hills.

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7. Hillsboro Blazers
After 8 seasons near the bottom of the barrel in the TU East, the Hillsboro Blazers captured the hearts and souls of the Island baseball fans, rising up from 7th place and going from the outhouse to the penthouse... firepower and solid pitching did the job... Scotty McElroy, Ramsey Crowe and Rex Nettles gave them a steady rotation... and closer Sneaky Atwater saved 40 games... Hillsboro hammered 179 homers, paced by Boogie Boyd, Jackie Hanford, B. B. Wilder and Rube Nealy... they don't hit for much of an average, but they do score runs... it will be tougher against the postseason elites in the playoffs... we'll find out just how good the Blazers are in round one... they go up against one tough ballclub, the Rolling Hills Racers, one of the favorites to win the whole shebang.

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8. Sligo Rovers
With its strong pitching staff and excellent defense (.980 FA), Sligo has made it to the Ruthlandian Finals in two of the last three seasons, but the Rovers lost both times in 4-0 and 4-1 routs... lack of scoring has been the problem... it will probably be more of the same this year... Eddy Arnett just can't carry the team all by himself... he got some great help from rookie center fielder Albie McGlone this season... also from veterans Cliff Hawthorne and Boris Simkovich... but that's just not enough in the postseason... fortunately, Sligo still has its solid pitching corps, anchored by Tiger Snodgrass, Jay Jay Earnshaw, Floyd Burton, Antoine Simon and Butch Baird in the starting rotation... the bullpen is a pretty fair, too, with closer Sam Carmon... sorry, but the Rovers will suffer in the playoffs until they get a better-rounded team... pitching can't win the Pro Cup all by itself... it takes a good all-around team.

Click on Image to Enlarge

Around the Town in the IPA

Claxton Diamonds

Owner: DeBeers Mining Company
GM: Dixie Baker
Manager: Abe Schiffman

Claxton is a company town, a mining town of 107,000 in the southwestern foothills of the Silver Mountains, famous for its very high quality diamond industry. DeBeers, the world's largest diamond company, has a branch in Ruthlandia, where the ultimate diamonds are mined, cut, polished and processed, then distributed to the four corners of the world.

Claxton diamonds are very much in demand worldwide because of their very fine quality. Gold and silver mining is also a vital part of the town's and Ruthlandia's economy. Claxton is a hardworking, blue collar town, who really love their baseball team, the Claxton Diamonds.

The club is owned by DeBeers and plays their games at gorgeous Avalon Stadium, built by DeBeers as a showcase stadium in 1990, complete with a scenic view of the Silver Mountains. The Avalon Casino is located in center field and is one of the most popular in the Islands. World famous entertainers appear regularly there.

DeBeers sponsors a "Lucky Diamond" giveaway at each game. DeBeers starts off each season with diamonds worth $1000 in the pot and increases it by $1000 each game until someone wins it. Whenever a Claxton batter hits the "Lucky Diamond" sign on the left field scoreboard, the player wins whatever is in the Diamond Jackpot and a lucky fan is also a jackpot winner, too. The lucky fan is chosen by the lucky scorecard number. During the fourth-inning stretch it is a Diamonds' tradition for the ladies at the game to sing "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend". A diamond is given away at each game to some lucky lady. In the seventh inning everybody joins in for the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". At the concession stands you can feast on hot dogs, hamburgers, cokes, beer, peanuts and crackerjacks.

The Claxton Diamonds are in the Ruthlandian Union and play in the South Division. The first GM and manager was the iconic Stacy Engel, known as "The Old Perfesser". He was the most successful manager in the Islandian amateur and company leagues. Engel was the only one considered for the Claxton job in 2001, the first year of the Islandian Pro Alliance. His amateur success continued in the IPA with 8 division flags. Engel retired in 2029.

Currently the Diamonds are run by general manager Dixie Baker, a star Golden Glove outfielder for the Diamonds from 2001 to 2014. He batted .266 in his 13-year career with 363 homers and over 1100 RBIs. Claxton made the postseason playoffs 5 times in his playing days. Baker also skippered the club for 22 seasons, 2029 to 2051, garnering 6 pennants. He became the GM in 2052 with superstar player Jojo DeLucca taking charge as player-manager.

One of the greatest player in the history of the Islands, DeLucca had a fabulous 24 years in the IPA, batting .303 with 635 homers, 2425 RBIs and scored 2099 runs. The great infielder made the RU All-Stars 15 times, was a 6-time Golden Glover and was named the RU Most Valuable Player in 2045. Delucca retired as a player at age 42 and was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2061. But, after five straight subpar seasons, DeLucca resigned in 2057... durable and workhorse hurler Abe Schiffman took the helm and has turned the team around. He led them to the team's first Pro Cup trophy in 2064.

Schiffman was 238-177 with a 3.70 ERA for 15 seasons from 2037 to 2051 and helped the Diamonds win 5 pennants. Three times Schiffman paced the Ruthlandian Union in strikeouts.

Teflon Skies did the beautiful stadium... he said he spent 100 hours creating each one of his magnificent stadiums... he must have done 20 stadiums... all of them are in the Islandian Pro Alliance.

Avalon Stadium (1990)
Capacity: 10,500

Dimensions:
LF LINE 325
LF 350
LC 390
CF 399
RC 365
RF 355
RF LINE 320

Around the Town in the IPA

FAR MOUNTAIN REDHAWKS

Owner: Becker Hospitality Enterprises
GM/Manager: Benjy Donahue

Far Mountain, located in northern Ruthlandia in the Appian Mountains, is a very popular year-round ski resort and convention center. A beautiful town of 75,000 founded by immigrants from the German and Swiss Alps, Far Mountain oozes Tyrolian charm and culture. Horse drawn sleighs and buggies provide free public transportation. The rich and famous come here for wonderful ski vacations, to savor the good life and to enjoy the great hotels, nightclubs, shops, restaurants and nightlife. Yet it is priced for every pocketbook. Middle class families also partake of its many pleasures and activities. And with fine convention facilities, Far Mountain plays host to many professional and educational organizations.

And it is the home of the Far Mountain Redhawks baseball team of the Ruthlandian Union. The team is in the North Division and plays their games at Sky High Stadium with a magnificent panoramic view of the Appian Mountains in the distance. A specialty at all Redhawks games is a great polka band that furnishes music and songs, whenever there is a break in the game action. During the seventh-inning stretch Redhawks supporters have a great time doing the “Chicken Dance” and singing “Take me out to the ballgame” to the accompaniment of the polka band. And fans get to enjoy special culinary treats of Bavarian beers, Nurnberg bratwurst mit sauerkraut (fried sausage with sauerkraut), Schwartzwalder kirschtorte (Black Forest cake) and Apfelstrudel (apple strudel) pastries and hot gourmet soups at the games. Many fine German beers are served in profusion, too. In addition all of the traditional ballpark favorites are provided.

The Far Mountain Redhawks are owned by Becker Hospitality Enterprises. They are the proud proprietors of one of the oldest hotels in town, The Bavarian Gasthaus. Johan Becker developed a love for baseball in high school and college and played varsity baseball for both. He met Jock Ewing of Ewing Oil and Ewing Enterprises and developed a business relationship with him to make Far Mountain into a tourist resort. When Ewing offered him one of the franchises in the IPA, Johan quickly invested in it... his family is still running the business.

For a general manager and field manager, Becker originally hired one of the great pitchers of the industrial leagues, Alex Groveland, who was the chief architect of the famous Far Mountain three-peat, the winning of three straight Pro Cups in 2011, 2012 and 2013. It's been accomplished only one time in the annals of the Islandian Pro Alliance. Grove made the playoffs 10 times in his managerial tenure.

The second skipper was one of the best players in IPA history, Hall-of-Fame shortstop Don Nichols. As a player Nichols sparked Far Mountain to the three consecutive Pro Cup titles and seven division flags. In his 24 years in the league Nichols batted .310 in 3523 games (8th) with 3760 hits (5rd), 1773 RBIs (18th), 2161 runs (4th) and stole 668 bases (8th). In 95 playoff games he hit .300 with 9 homers, 51 RBIs, 53 runs and 17 stolen bases. Nichols was elected to the IPA Hall of Fame in 2027. He played 17 years with Far Mountain and 7 with the Marston Nine. He retired as a player in 2024.

When Nichols retired as manager, he was replaced by his pitching coach, Robby Kelly, who was a teammate of Nichols during the glory years and also an IPA Hall-of-Famer. Kelly was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2030 after a splendid 19-year career... the chubby 250-pound right-hander posted a 279-196 record with a fine lifetime 3.23 ERA... Kelly holds the all-time Far Mountain record for wins. He played a prime role in the Redhawks' three IPA titles with a fine 11-4 mark in the playoffs those years. In a magnificent year Kelly went 22-8 in 2012 with a 2.38 ERA and was named the Ruthlandian Union Golden Arm and Most Valuable Player. Kelly's final season as a player was in 2019. He retired as skipper in 2057.

The current skipper of the Far Mountain Redhawks is a journeyman first basement Benjy Donahue, who played with the team for 11 years from 2045 to 2056, posting only modest numbers... he hit .300 with 32 homers and 326 RBIs... Donahue retired in 2056 and took over the club in 2058.

Teflon Skies did this gorgeous stadium.

Sky High Stadium (1997)
Capacity: 10,444
Dimensions:
LF Line 330
LF 354
LC 380
CF 402
RC 380
RF 354
RF Line 330

Around the Town in the IPA

MARSTON NINE

Owner: Abe Doubleday of Doubleday Sporting Goods
GM/Manager: Russ Woodward

Marston has a population of 95,000 and is situated on the Central Plains in East Central Ruthlandia approximately 75 miles from the Valerian Ocean. Its main industry is sporting goods equipment, sportswear and fashions. The Doubleday Family dominates the industry in Ruthlandia and its company headquarters is here. The family also resides in Marston. Grain processing plants are in abundance in the "Breadbasket of Ruthlandia".

Marston is famous as the site of the first organized baseball game in the Islands in the late 1890's. The first amateur club and the first industrial league team were formed here, both known as the Marston Nine. They played at Legends Field (circa 1903), which is the second oldest ballpark in Ruthlandia (Waleska is the oldest - 1902) and is built on the actual site of the first organized game. In fact, home plate is in the exact same spot as the original home plate for the first game. Every ninth seat in the stadium is painted red in honor of those two early Marston Nines. The other seats are painted black. Marston's colors are red and black.

The Marston Nine plays in the Ruthlandian Baseball Union's East Division and are owned and operated by the Doubleday family, headed by the board president, Abe Doubleday. They are distant relatives of the creator of American baseball, Abner Doubleday.

A special feature of Legends Field is the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame. It is located in the stadium and houses memorabilia from Islandia's amateur and industrial league past. The Marstonians sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” at the traditional seventh-inning stretch, but they also have the ninth-inning stretch, when they give the home team a standing ovation, win or lose. If they win, the fans are treated to an exciting fireworks display, all accompanied by live organ music.

Live organ music is played throughout the game, a tradition still practiced in only a few other towns - Ozarka, Kenwood and Hillsboro. Marston fans are among the most knowledgeable and intense in the Islands. They watch every pitch and are mesmerized by the action on the field.It is a tradition at Legends Field to throw back any ball hit in the stands by the opposing teams. No self-respecting Niner fan would want to get a souvenir baseball that way. Every Sunday is Niner Day at Legends Field and every ninth fan through the turnstiles is given a free pass (or “Annie Oakley”) to a game in the next homestand.

At the concessions stand nothing special is served. All you get is baseball basics: peanuts, crackerjacks, popcorn, soda pop, cotton candy, ice cream, hot dogs and hamburgers. It is a family town and a family-oriented ballpark...no alcoholic beverages are served.

The first skipper of the Nine was the great and legendary right-handed pitcher of company leagues, Johnny Walters... he guided the team for 46 seasons with only modest success and retired in 2046.

His replacement was Marston's Hall of Fame great Russ Woodward, who starred in center field for 21 years (2013-2033)... Woodward was a 9-time All-Star and 6-time Golden Glover... his career batting average was .315 with 3641 hits (7th), 621 homers (12th), 2052 RBIs (6th) and1938 runs scored (17th)... he took over the managerial reins in 2047 and won the pennant his first season.

Special thanks to Teflon Skies for the marvelous stadium.

LEGENDS FIELD (1903)

CAPACITY: 12,500

LF Line 320
LF 345
LCF 385
CF 375
RCF 405
RF 380
RF Line 345

Around the Town in the IPA

SLIGO ROVERS

Owner: Derrick Dalrymple, CEO of the Silver Mountain Ski Resort
GM/Manager: Les Patterson

Sligo is located in the slopes of the Silver Mountains in northern Ruthlandia. Because of its remote location, the area was largely uninhabited until 1872 when silver was discovered in the hills surrounding the town. The name of the town comes from Theodore Sligo, one of the men who originally discovered the silver. Sligo laid out the roads and a tent city popped up shortly after the discovery. By the turn of the century, the mines had produced more millionaires per capita than anywhere else in the nation. Many fine examples of Victorian architecture that were built during the era are well-preserved today.

When the mines stopped producing in the late 1940s, the town lost almost half of its population and fell upon hard times. It survived mainly on its timber industry until the 1970s when environmental concerns caused the town to form a commission that would seek alternative industries that could sustain the economy. The commission findings led to a rebirth of the once-beautiful city. Through various tax breaks, the town was able to attract several builders to construct ski resorts just outside of town. The town also refurbished many of the historic buildings that had fallen into disrepair and decided to place its economic emphasis on tourism.

With a population of only 38,000, Sligo is the smallest town to own a team in the Islandian Pro Alliance. The Sligo Rovers go back to the early days of baseball to the days of amateur and industrial-league baseball. At various times the team struggled to make ends meet despite having very loyal fans. The 1973 commission made it clear in its report that the town should figure out a way to provide long-term stability to the local nine as it would be a devastating blow to civic pride if the Rovers were to fold or to leave town. As a result, the ballpark was part of the downtown refurbishment and the team signed a long-term lease that makes it difficult for the Rovers to ever leave. In the 1980s, the team was sold to Myron Dalrymple, owner of the highly successful Silver Mountain Ski Resort. Dalrymple is respected among long-time Sligo residents for settling in town and helping to revive its economy... his grandson, Derrick, is at the helm of the Ski Resort enterprise and operates the Rovers ballclub, too.

The Rovers play at Silver Mountain Park, one of the oldest parks in the Islands, which seats 5,678 spectators and was built in 1912. The ballpark’s mid-seventies facelift did a good job of preserving its historic nature and the town funded yet another update in 1998 when four sky suites were added along with expanding the clubhouses. SM Park sports its original brick façade at its entrance and is tucked away in the historic Main Street shopping district. There is no parking here, but the sight of fans walking to the ballpark on a balmy summer afternoon fits in well with the town’s quaint ambiance. The team plays to that ambiance by having a barber shop quartet stationed outside the main ticket booth to greet approaching fans.

Speaking of music, you won’t find loud rock and roll music blaring from a state of the art sound system here. Like Hillsboro, Kenwood, Ozarka and Marston, the team employs an organist who serenades fans with classic tunes and is quite adept at finding songs that have something to do with the batter’s skill or idiosynchracies. Food here is among the most affordable in all of the IPA, and while you will find classic ballpark fare like peanuts, hot dogs, and crackerjacks, the most popular item on the menu may well be the roasted corn on the cob that is slathered with mayonnaise.

Despite its nod to the traditional, the team has added one of those big fuzzy mascots in recent years. “Rover”, a giant gray dog, roams the stands entertaining children and adults alike. When fans catch a foul ball, the public address announcer will announce to “give that fan a contract,” and Rover will indeed present the fan with a “contract” and a "doggy bag" filled with club gifts. Another Silver Mountain park tradition traces its roots back to the team’s longtime manager in the early days of the franchise, Eddie Keys. During his playing days in the industrial leagues, fans would jingle their keys whenever he came to bat. The tradition continues to this day whenever a rally is in order.

The current manager of the Sligo Rovers is IPA Hall of Fame pitcher Les Patterson, who starred for 17 seasons from 2017 to 2033, posting a 306-230 record in his IPA career with a standout 2.79 ERA. He led them to 4 pennants during his playing days. Patterson's last three years were with the Grand City Cybercats. He retired at age 42. Patterson sparked the Rovers to their only Pro Cup trophy in 2021. He was 4-2 in the playoffs that year with a sparkling 2.09 ERA in his 6 starts. Patterson was named a co-winner of the Pro Cup Most Valuable Player that season. He was twice voted the Ruthlandian Golden Arm of the Year in 2021 and 2022 and was named to the All-Star team on 7 occasions. Patterson took the reins of the Rovers in 2052. Sligo came in sixth his first season. Since then it has always finished near the top of the standings.

Sorry, don't remember who did this great vintage ballpark.

Silver Mountain Park (1912)

Capacity: 5,678

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 328
Left Field - 350
Left Center - 382
Center Field - 387
Right Center - 382
Right Field - 366
Right Field Line - 342

Around the Town in the IPA

SAN ALEJO MONTANEROS

Owner: Petro Internationale
GM: Paolo Teixeira
Manager: Matt Bell

San Alejo rests on a large plateau in the highlands of Arvonian Island, which is south of Tycobbia and Ruthlandia and is bordered by the Southern Sea and Belair Bay. Its population is nearly 40,000, making it one of the smallest towns in the IPA.

The initial settlement was founded in the 1850's by remnants of Portuguese sailors that settled Arroyo Grande. They sought the safety of the isolated central highlands. Over the next hundred years the initial group of 42 settlers grew to a modest town of 10,000 inhabitants. They survived predominantly on subsistence farming and hunting. Life was hard in San Alejo.

In 1937, all that changed as a Mexican oil and gas baron, Antonio De Nova, brought commerce and industry to the town. His company, Petro Internationale, discovered natural gas in the area. Instant prosperity came to San Alejo. With their newly-found wealth, the city fathers greatly improved life with modern hospitals and schools. As Petro Internationale grew in size, De Nova had to import oil field workers from Mexico. In 1947, De Nova built the first stadium the town has ever had. He called it the Casa de Beisbol, which was primarily for his plant workers to play baseball and soccer. The Casa de Beisbol (House of Baseball) is not a fancy stadium. It is on the rustic side and just a functional ball park. Because of the ballpark, baseball became an important part of the town's culture. Only recently were the wooden bleachers rebuilt using steel. This was done when the town received a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance.

The team is called the Montaneros, Spanish for "Mountaineers". San Alejo's GM is Paolo Teixeira, star outfielder from 2039 to 2056, 9-time All-Star, with a career .297 BA, 559 homers and 1664 RBIs. Retired in 2056 at age 37. Made the IPA Hall of Fame in 2057. The Montaneros are a member of the Tycobbian Union South Division. The most successful skipper is former player Alberto Herrera, who toiled long and hard on the mound for 17 seasons from 2002 to 2018 with a 203-250 lifetime record. Herrera compiled a fine 3.30 ERA and was a much better pitcher than his won-lost record shows. San Alejo was pretty bad during those years, finishing deep in the second division most seasons. Herrera won 20 games twice in his career and made the All-Star team once. He became the team manager in 2021 and slowly, but surely, the Monties got better. Beginning in 2032 success finally came to town. Remarkably, right out of the blue, San Alejo won its only Pro Cup trophy in 2032. And they won 3 more division flags in the next 5 seasons. And the success continued for two decades. Herrera retired in 2049. The Montaneros were regular contenders for all of those years until 2054 when decline set in. That changed in 2062 when Hall of Fame hurler Matt Bell was named skipper. Bell is number two on the IPA all-time wins list with a 391-225 mark over 19 seasons with a remarkably low 2.42 ERA and is also second on the all-time list with 4819 strikeouts. He was a 3-time recipient of the Tycobbian Golden Arm Award ('45, '47, '49) and 6-time All-Star. Bell retired in 2057 at age 37 and was voted into the Hall of Fame that same season.

Sorry, don't know who did this wonderfully quaint stadium.

Stadium: Casa de Beisbol (1947)
Capacity: 8,000
Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 340
Left Field - 360
Left Center - 380
Center Field - 400
Right Center - 380
Right Field - 360
Right Field Line - 340

Around the Town in the IPA

WHITE RIVER RASCALS

Owner: Tycalco (Tycobbian Aluminum Company)
GM/Manager: Marty Blake

The city of White River, with 66,000 inhabitants, is situated in northwestern Tycobbia in the Appian Mountain foothills on the banks of the White River. Most of the time the river flows serenely, but there are occasional whitewater rapids. The river ends at Bayview on the western coast where it empties into the Kelnyck Ocean.

Prior to the mining business, this area was just wilderness. White River owes its existence and development to Tycalco. It is totally a company town. Its economy is dominated by the Tycobbian Aluminum Company, which was established in 1890. Bauxite, alumina and chemicals, found in abundance in the nearby Appian Mountains, are processed into a wide range of aluminum products and shipped to Bayview by water and Fairfax on Blue Lake to the south by rail for distribution. Tycalco’s towering corporate skyscraper can be seen from White River Park across the river in downtown White River. Architecture in the area is modernistic. However, the White River Rascals play at one of the lovely vintage and nostalgic ballparks in Tycobbia. It was built in 1924.

White River Park is a lovely old-time ball park with a scenic and wonderful view of its river namesake just beyond the centerfield fence. The 18-foot high aluminum wire fences down the left and right field lines make it a little more difficult for hitters to hit the ball into the stands, which are only 310 feet away. Tycalco originated company amateur leagues to provide the community and its employees and their families with recreational activities. When the Islandian Pro Alliance was established, the company purchased a franchise. The White River Rascals play in the Tycobbian Union North Division. One of the big ballpark features is the team mascot Rascal, based on the old-time movies with the beloved Our Gang.

A trip to White River Park is something really special. Not only is it a baseball park, it is also a state-of-the-art amusement park. Before and after games amusement rides can be enjoyed by young and old, complete with good food, fun rides, fireworks and music concerts of all genres, all subsidized and underwritten in part by Tycalco,

The Rascals are administered and managed by former first baseman Marty Blake. He had a legendary career with White River with a .312 BA, 711 homers, 2125 RBIs and 2034 runs. Blake was one of the most prolific hitters in IPA history in his 23 years in the league, playing for four clubs from 2013 to 2035. Blake spent his first 18 seasons with White River. He was a 3-time Golden Glove first sacker and 7-time All-Star. Blake was voted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2036. He ranks 6th on the all-time home-run list, 6th in hits, 4th in RBIs, 10th in scoring runs and 14th in walks... Blake took over as skipper in 2066.

White River Park (1924)

Capacity: 5,685

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 310
Left Field - 340
Left Center - 370
Center Field - 410
Right Center - 370
Right Field - 340
Right Field Line - 310

Around the Town in the IPA

HILLSBORO BLAZERS

Owner: Hanford Banking and Insurance Company, Robert Hanford, President and CEO.

GM: Andy Jefferson
Manager: Jurien Bellini

Hillsboro is a very prosperous town in Tycobbia with 46,000 residents, located on the Caledonia River bluffs in the Silver Mountains in the southeastern corner of the country. It is noted for it vast forest and timber reserves, lumber processing mills and its insurance and banking interests. It is one of the smallest town population-wise in the Islandian Pro Alliance. Its financial power and influence are the only reasons that Hillsboro was placed in the Islands' elite league.

Hillsboro is an elegant, old-timey town intermingled with a little modernity. Ancient Hanford Stadium (circa 1903), the home of the Hillboro Blazers, is a prime example of the architecture prevalent in the area. The team is named for one of the country's outstanding early amateur baseball clubs, the Blazers Baseball Club of Hillsboro. The BBCH Athletic Club was established in 1899 and evolved into the present day Blazers.

Hanford Stadium is a unique configuration. It is a bandbox with short distances all around. It is a hitter's paradise with center field only 370' and the power alleys 375'. It is only 318' and 320' down each foul line.

The Blazers are owned by the Hanford Banking and Insurance Company with its headquarters housed in office buildings that form the outfield walls of the ballpark. An air of yesteryear pervades both the town and the stadium.

Blazer fans take their game seriously. They come to the ballpark to watch their beloved game of baseball. So you won't find many distractions and promotions once the game begins. All eyes are glued to the diamond. The only music is provided by an old-fashioned organist. Hanford Stadium is one of only five ballparks that still have this tradition. Ozarka, Kenwood, Sligo and Marston are the only other places in the Islands that have a live organ player.

There is a lot to be said about organ music and baseball. They go together quite well. Beer, soft drinks, peanuts, popcorn, crackerjacks, ice cream, cotton candy, hot dogs and hamburgers go together quite well with baseball, too. And these are the only concession staples you'll find at Hanford Stadium.

The Hillsboro Blazers are run by GM Andy Jefferson, a former player for 12 years (2013-2024). Lifetime Jefferson batted .292 with 320 homers and 845 RBIs. Hillsboro has been just an also-ran during most of his tenure as Manager and General Manager... he stepped down as skipper in 2061 and hired a Jurrien Bellini, who starred for the Blazers from 2035 to 2052... Bellini had a lifetime batting average of only .247, but he slugged 550 homers, drove in 1486 runs and stole 425 bases.

Not positive, but I think this is one of Teflon Skies fine stadiums.

Hanford Stadium (1903)

Capacity: 7,755

LF Line 318
LF 345
LCF 375
CF 370
RCF 375
RF 350
RF Line 320

Around the Town in the IPA

ROLLING HILLS RACERS
Owner: Lemroh Meat Company
GM/Manager: Billy Christianson

Rollings Hills has a population of 78,000 and is located in the west central part of Tycobbia and was originally settled by the Kewanna Indians. "kewanna" means "hills that rise and fall" in their language. That is exactly what the landscape looks like here...gentle, rolling hills populated with sporadic groves of birch trees and acre after acre of cattle, dairy, pig, chicken and agricultural farms. Crops include wheat, oats and corn, potatoes and vegetables. In town are the stockyards and meat and grain processing plants. The population is mainly Americans and Brits with only a few Kewannas remaining.

Rolling Hills is an oldtime middle class town with wooden storefronts and bricks streets, lined with gas lamps and pedestrian walkways. No cars are allowed in the midtown area.

It is the home of the Rolling Hills Racers of the IPA's Tycobbian Union West Division. They were the Reds for over 50 years and became the Racers in 2060... The Racers play at the Midtown Base Ball Grounds, a relic from the early days of baseball. Built in 1907, it is surrounded by birchwood trees in a picturesque park area of town, where families can picnic and enjoy strolls, bicycle rides and boat rides on the park ponds, all amid the peaceful shade trees. A quaint aspect of the ballpark is that the power alleys are deeper than center field. They measure 425 feet, while to dead center it is 410 feet. It takes quite a blast for righthanders to get it out...350 down the line in left field and 375 in straightaway left. However, the lefthanded hitters love it...only 320 down the right field line and 350 to straightaway right .

The Lemroh family owns the team as well as being the owners of the stockyards and meat processing plants. The concessions stands are unique in design. There are even soda fountains, complete with stools. They serve up tasty hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, ice cream, sundaes, banana splits, thick shakes and malts.

A Dixieland band provides the music between innings and helps the Rolling Hillians cheer their Racers to victory. Many times throughout the game the fans will dance The Charleston (dance popular in the 1920s). During the seventh-inning stretch you get a rousing Dixieland version of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame".

The first GM and Manager of the Rolling Hills Reds (Racers) was the legendary pitcher, Matty Christianson, one of the most revered players and managers in Tycobbian baseball history. Christianson stood out as a player and manager in the company leagues. When the IPA began play in 2001, Christianson became a vital part of the Rolling Hills franchise. A record four times he was named the Tycobbian Manager of the Year. Under his leadership the Reds won 10 TU West flags, made the playoffs 12 times and captured 2 Pro Cups (2029 and 2031). This IPA legend retired after 51 years at the helm. Since Christianson's retirement, his sons Billy and Matthew, have starred for the team. Billy Christianson made the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2049. He was a 6-time All-Star and 5-time Gold Glove winner. In his 20 seasons Christianson had a career batting average of .302 with 258 homers and 3173 hits. At age 38 he retired. Billy has managed the club since 2052. Matthew retired in 2052 after 18 seasons with a fine 292-219 record and an impressive 2.98 ERA. He was a 4-time All-Star. Matthew is the Racers' pitching coach... so far, Billy Christianson has won 8 Tycobbian South pennants and 2 Pro Cups (2060, 2062).

This ballpark beauty was probably created by Teflon Skies.

Midtown Base Ball Grounds (1907)
Capacity: 6,850

Dimensions:
LF Line 350
LF 375
LCF 425
CF 410
RCF 425
RF 350
RF Line 320