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Nugget699 · 03-26-2020, 08:12 PM

2. Brief Baseball History

Birth of Baseball
Baseball was introduced to the Southern Union as early as 1888, when Albert Spalding's team of All-Stars and the Chicago Club toured the Koana Islands, Gunsovolk and Ianoia, following a tour of New Zealand several months earlier.

The sport quickly gained popularity within the Koana Islands most notably, with American gold miners regularly playing friendly games amongst themselves, having abandoned the gold rush in Australia and immigrating to areas in the state of Norra Koana such as Jordnot Kanjon, Erana Kullar but predominately Connestad (now known as Conneaut). American immigrants flocked to Connestad so much, the population grew to over two and half times it's size, something Koanian's referred to as Yankifiering, or "Yankee-fication".

The sport of baseboll became so popular in the years following Spalding's exhibition tour, that towns and cities quickly formulated social club teams with small circuits operating throughout the nation, particularly state-by-state. However, with the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs growing from strength to strength in the United States it wasn't long before rich businessmen sought to start a professional league to capitalise on the popularity.

Petersson's Plan
Thomas Petersson, Koana Islands' biggest sewer operator and military historian, established the Koanian Baseboll Sammanslutning in Embleton in 1892 with a view of creating the nation's first professional league. Petersson had a tough time convincing other businessmen to invest in his idea, tentatively called the Koanian Baseboll Omlopp, or Koanian Baseball Circulation. The initial rulebook written out by Petersson has been lost, but some strange rule changes included five bases instead of four, and more importantly the re-introduction of soaking or plugging the runner, where a fielder could put a runner out by hitting the runner with the thrown ball - something the Knickerbocker Rules had removed.

With many of the businessmen and social club owners Petersson approached laughing him out of his office, it wasn't long before the owner of the Ny Aucklanda Warlocks by the name of Vilgot Forsberg - a bank manager - formed his own league to be known as the Super Ligan in 1893, an attempt to establish a circuit that sits above all state and amateur leagues for which teams must apply for a spot in the competition.

The Beginning
The response to Forsberg's plan was overwhelming. Of the over 100 amateur baseball clubs within the nation, nearly 50 had applied to become the first professional clubs in the Super Ligan - including Thomas Petersson's Embleton Artillery Social Baseboll Klub.

Initially, Forsberg rejected Petersson's application sighting conflict of interest, however, the two men met in Omfattandestad with mutual friend Kalle Thunberg and agreed a cooperative agreement was in the best interests of the sport. This friendship was not without its flaws though, as Forsberg was later heard at a meeting suggesting Thunberg had twisted his arm to get Petersson's team into the competition and allegedly the two men never spoke to each other again.

The Teams are announced
After a year of discussions and meetings, Forsberg and Petersson narrowed down the applications to just 10 teams and The Koanian Dagbladet (the Koanian Daily newspaper) was given the exclusive list:

Blidområde Wild: Owned by Linus Castren, Blidområde took part in the Berg Baseboll Omlopp, where they won two titles in 1892 and 1893. Castren, the nations top Botanist, named the team the Wild as a play on his occupation.

Conneaut Centurions: Conneaut adopted the name Centurions after owner Max Lunde told the city "T'will be 100 years before the sport of baseball stops being played on this hallowed turf" referring to the field his team plays at. Over time, the team adopted the more literal sense of the word Centurion to refer to a Roman soldier.

Embleton Gunners: Thomas Petersson's team as a reference to the artillery range located justed outside Embleton. Peterson assumed the role of League Commissioner prior to the start of the 1895 season and handed the team over to business partner Loke Lönnberg.

Humoor Hawks: One of two major teams in Humoor (the other being Hamn Humoor), the Hawks were accepted at the 11th hour following the death of Artin Blom, the owner of the Körsbärstad Devils Baseboll Klub. The Hawks finished runners-up to the Devils the last two years in the Bergstopp Ligan.

Jonestan Broncos: Sat in the shadows of Omfattanedstad and Blanka Island in the Större Omfattanedstad Ligan (SOL) but was given entry to the Super Ligan when it transpired Blanka Island Mercenaries owner was a woman. The team never won the SOL but finished runners-up twice.

Ny Aucklanda Warlocks: Vilgot Forsberg's team and most successful team in the Wilkes State Ligan where they won all three of the operating years. The name Warlocks seems to have been lost in translation with the team referred to as "Warriors" or "Warlords" in early newspaper clippings.

Omfattandestad Titans: The most successful team in the amateur era, the Titans are owned by Kalle Thunberg and had crowds of over 35,000 although these numbers are disputed due to early attendance figures included office workers in neighbouring buildings. Following the fallout between Forsberg and Thunberg, the Titans and Warlocks are considered one of the worlds biggest rivalries.

Sandford Stad Bulldogs: Sandford Stad is owned by Petri Ljungberg, a Bulldog breeder and shopkeeper. The team was a merger between the Bulldogs Baseboll Klub and Sandford Stad Baseboll Klub, two teams who shared the same field in the outskirts of the city.

Viksida Bombers: Based in the second largest city in the Koana Islands, the Bombers got their nickname from the Viksida Bombgrupp who played pranks through the city in the early 1880s by throwing rotten fruit at ladies walking down the street. The culprits were never caught but most Viksida locals are known as "Bombers" in jest.

Vizhune Vipers: Vizhune was the only team in Norra Koana's state league to insist on a Koanian-only players rule. With American immigration spiking in 1891, some amateur teams such as Jordnot Kanjon and Nyhamn fielded only American players and Vipers owner Goran Bjorkman made the decision to enforce the rule on his team.

03-26-2020, 08:12 PM	#3
Nugget699 Major Leagues Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sydney Posts: 444	2. Brief Baseball History Birth of Baseball Baseball was introduced to the Southern Union as early as 1888, when Albert Spalding's team of All-Stars and the Chicago Club toured the Koana Islands, Gunsovolk and Ianoia, following a tour of New Zealand several months earlier. The sport quickly gained popularity within the Koana Islands most notably, with American gold miners regularly playing friendly games amongst themselves, having abandoned the gold rush in Australia and immigrating to areas in the state of Norra Koana such as Jordnot Kanjon, Erana Kullar but predominately Connestad (now known as Conneaut). American immigrants flocked to Connestad so much, the population grew to over two and half times it's size, something Koanian's referred to as Yankifiering, or "Yankee-fication". The sport of baseboll became so popular in the years following Spalding's exhibition tour, that towns and cities quickly formulated social club teams with small circuits operating throughout the nation, particularly state-by-state. However, with the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs growing from strength to strength in the United States it wasn't long before rich businessmen sought to start a professional league to capitalise on the popularity. Petersson's Plan Thomas Petersson, Koana Islands' biggest sewer operator and military historian, established the Koanian Baseboll Sammanslutning in Embleton in 1892 with a view of creating the nation's first professional league. Petersson had a tough time convincing other businessmen to invest in his idea, tentatively called the Koanian Baseboll Omlopp, or Koanian Baseball Circulation. The initial rulebook written out by Petersson has been lost, but some strange rule changes included five bases instead of four, and more importantly the re-introduction of soaking or plugging the runner, where a fielder could put a runner out by hitting the runner with the thrown ball - something the Knickerbocker Rules had removed. With many of the businessmen and social club owners Petersson approached laughing him out of his office, it wasn't long before the owner of the Ny Aucklanda Warlocks by the name of Vilgot Forsberg - a bank manager - formed his own league to be known as the Super Ligan in 1893, an attempt to establish a circuit that sits above all state and amateur leagues for which teams must apply for a spot in the competition. The Beginning The response to Forsberg's plan was overwhelming. Of the over 100 amateur baseball clubs within the nation, nearly 50 had applied to become the first professional clubs in the Super Ligan - including Thomas Petersson's Embleton Artillery Social Baseboll Klub. Initially, Forsberg rejected Petersson's application sighting conflict of interest, however, the two men met in Omfattandestad with mutual friend Kalle Thunberg and agreed a cooperative agreement was in the best interests of the sport. This friendship was not without its flaws though, as Forsberg was later heard at a meeting suggesting Thunberg had twisted his arm to get Petersson's team into the competition and allegedly the two men never spoke to each other again. The Teams are announced After a year of discussions and meetings, Forsberg and Petersson narrowed down the applications to just 10 teams and The Koanian Dagbladet (the Koanian Daily newspaper) was given the exclusive list: Blidområde Wild: Owned by Linus Castren, Blidområde took part in the Berg Baseboll Omlopp, where they won two titles in 1892 and 1893. Castren, the nations top Botanist, named the team the Wild as a play on his occupation. Conneaut Centurions: Conneaut adopted the name Centurions after owner Max Lunde told the city "T'will be 100 years before the sport of baseball stops being played on this hallowed turf" referring to the field his team plays at. Over time, the team adopted the more literal sense of the word Centurion to refer to a Roman soldier. Embleton Gunners: Thomas Petersson's team as a reference to the artillery range located justed outside Embleton. Peterson assumed the role of League Commissioner prior to the start of the 1895 season and handed the team over to business partner Loke Lönnberg. Humoor Hawks: One of two major teams in Humoor (the other being Hamn Humoor), the Hawks were accepted at the 11th hour following the death of Artin Blom, the owner of the Körsbärstad Devils Baseboll Klub. The Hawks finished runners-up to the Devils the last two years in the Bergstopp Ligan. Jonestan Broncos: Sat in the shadows of Omfattanedstad and Blanka Island in the Större Omfattanedstad Ligan (SOL) but was given entry to the Super Ligan when it transpired Blanka Island Mercenaries owner was a woman. The team never won the SOL but finished runners-up twice. Ny Aucklanda Warlocks: Vilgot Forsberg's team and most successful team in the Wilkes State Ligan where they won all three of the operating years. The name Warlocks seems to have been lost in translation with the team referred to as "Warriors" or "Warlords" in early newspaper clippings. Omfattandestad Titans: The most successful team in the amateur era, the Titans are owned by Kalle Thunberg and had crowds of over 35,000 although these numbers are disputed due to early attendance figures included office workers in neighbouring buildings. Following the fallout between Forsberg and Thunberg, the Titans and Warlocks are considered one of the worlds biggest rivalries. Sandford Stad Bulldogs: Sandford Stad is owned by Petri Ljungberg, a Bulldog breeder and shopkeeper. The team was a merger between the Bulldogs Baseboll Klub and Sandford Stad Baseboll Klub, two teams who shared the same field in the outskirts of the city. Viksida Bombers: Based in the second largest city in the Koana Islands, the Bombers got their nickname from the Viksida Bombgrupp who played pranks through the city in the early 1880s by throwing rotten fruit at ladies walking down the street. The culprits were never caught but most Viksida locals are known as "Bombers" in jest. Vizhune Vipers: Vizhune was the only team in Norra Koana's state league to insist on a Koanian-only players rule. With American immigration spiking in 1891, some amateur teams such as Jordnot Kanjon and Nyhamn fielded only American players and Vipers owner Goran Bjorkman made the decision to enforce the rule on his team. Last edited by Nugget699; 03-26-2020 at 10:45 PM.