It was an off-season unlike any other in the United Leagues as practically all the significant transactions that took place involved front office personnel rather than the players in the clubhouse. While a notable free agent was signed, not one trade was consummated in the months leading up to spring training. Was this due to the drama that unfolded during the months that saw the players form a union while two obdurate team owners were forced out? Or was it a mere coincidence? I never turn off trade activity in OOTP (it is set to ‘average’), so it was likely the latter. While it might have seemed appropriate given the off-field developments, the lack of trades is a concern. Here’s hoping it’s not a trend as the United Leagues move up to OOTP21.
On the other hand, impatience seemed to be the order of the day, as the Queensland Eagles cleaned house, letting go of their GM, field manager, pitching coach and hitting coach. Their GM and field manager were let go after just one season. The Sherburn Tigers fired both their general manager and field manager as well. All that in addition to the new owners in Embro and Fort Richmond.
Here is a review of some of the noteworthy transactions that took place since the Cambria Cannons won the United Cup back in April and right up to the start of the Coconut Leagues.
Player Retirements:
There was only one significant player retirement, as SP
Joel Fearn called it a career after 16 seasons. Fearn was one of the greatest pitchers in United Leagues history and one of the 1937 “originals”. He was a 7-time All-Star and a 2-time United Cup Champion. He won the Satchel Paige Award in 1945-46 (23-10, 2.60 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 159 ERA+) and finished 2nd for the Award on two other occasions.
In the Stratford Barons’ triumphant run to the United Cup in 1940-41, Fearn won both the Pennant Series MVP and the United Cup MVP, the first of two players to accomplish that feat in the same season. He finishes his career as the leader in six pitching categories: Wins (250), Games Stared (466), Complete Games (40), Innings Pitched (3,959.2) and Hits Allowed (3,945). Over the course of 483 games with the Stratford Barons and Cobourg Red Stockings, he went 250-169, 3.32 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, .274 BABIP, 121 ERA+ 483 G, 466 GS, and 3,959.2 IP.
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Hall of Fame Results:
For the second year in a row, there were no players elected to the Hall of Fame. But SS
Gary Watkinson and SP
Joey Cumberledge, who are both in their first-year eligibility, have the best chance of eventually getting inducted, while SP
Francis Slocock is not far behind them. I did not place a vote myself, as I’m still unsure whether I should influence the proceedings like I did with the inaugural class.
Watkinson was a 7-time all-star mainly with the Embro Suns, while Cumberledge was a 9-time all-star, won 1943 Western League Satchel Paige Award as well as the 1939 WL Pennant Series MVP. He played his entire career with the Kingston Pelicans, winning 3 United Cups. Slocock won two Satchel Paige Awards (1942, 1944) and was a 7-time all-star. He won two United Cups while with the Kingston Pelicans as well.
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Management Shakeups:
May 2 – Cobourg Hires Roy King as their New GM, replacing the retiring Oliver Richards
After just three seasons as the Red Stockings general manager, 60-year old Oliver Richards called it a career on April 18. In his brief spell as GM, he’s had relatively little impact on the big-league roster apart from drafting a couple of solid relief pitchers selected in first round in back-to-back seasons. He also traded away 25-year old OF Andy Faulkner (3.9 WAR) last year to the Stratford Barons. Faulkner went on to win the Eastern League Rookie of the Year award. On the other hand, Cobourg did end their long playoff drought under his watch and came within one game of winning the United Cup last season.
Replacing him is veteran
Roy King ($21,986, 4 yrs.) The 62-year old King spent 15 seasons (1021-1289, .442) as the Hespeler Stars’ general manager from 1937 to 1951. Although his reputation is considered ‘outstanding’ and in his write-up he is said to be “respected, even feared, by other GMs”, there is really nothing in his track record to warrant such a high evaluation. The Stars were singularly unsuccessful under his watch, finishing in the second division 12 times in those 15 seasons and not getting even close to a playoff spot. But perhaps he can build on the Red Stockings’ recent success. He is rated as an extreme wheeler-dealer and very aggressive in trades, so we’ll see if he is able to shake the United Leagues out of its trade doldrums.
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May 17 – Queensland Eagles Clean House; Hire New GM and Field Manager
On April 20, Queensland fired general manager Denzel Seamon and declined to renew manager’s Rhys Pedler’s contract. Both had been hired just the season before, but after a 65-89 campaign and an 8th place finish, the club decided to go in ‘a different direction’. On May 15, the Eagles hired the newly available
Jack Clayton. The 49-year old had spent the previous two seasons as the Sherburn Tigers general manager, with lackluster results (130-178). He signed a 4-year deal worth 14,120 per annum. He continues to favor prospects, hitting, loyalty and scouting.
Two days later, Queensland hired 50-year old
Ethan Umbleby to be their new manager, agreeing to a 4-year deal at $10,676. Umbleby comes over from the Pulberry Trolleys, where he served as a bench coach over three seasons. He served as a bench coach for the Brunswick Legends for three seasons as well between his two stints with the Trolleys. He is considered an authoritarian, which could rankle some of the veterans. But he knows his stats and matchups before each game. Prior to his coaching career, Umbleby was a starting pitcher for the Balmoral Giants from 1937 to 1939, compiling a 38-49, 4.28 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 101 ERA+ over 662.1 IP.
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May 20 – Sherburn Tigers Make a Clean Sweep; Hire New GM and Field Manager
Immediately following the season, Sherburn also made a clean sweep, firing both GM Jack Clayton and manager Lewis Trueman. Clayton would soon land on his feet, signing on with the Queensland Eagles as noted earlier. Trueman had been the Tigers manager for 6 seasons (395-529, .427) after serving as their bench coach the previous four. Sherburn finished no higher than 5th and won no more than 75 games in a season under his guidance, so the Tigers elected for a fresh start.
On May 10, Sherburn introduced
Stewart Pruitt ($3,576, 2 yrs.) as their new general manager. This is Pruitt’s first gig as a GM. He previously played in the United Leagues as a utility outfielder from 1937 to 1943. He spent five seasons with the Pulberry Trolleys and one final campaign with the Fort Richmond Generals before retiring in 1946. The 46-year old favors prospects, hitting and offence and places a premium on scouting, while not so much on trading or prospect development.
After a lengthy search, Sherburn announced that rookie
Jamie Blair ($4,736, 2 yrs.) will be their new field manager. At 39-years of age, he will be the youngest manager in the United Leagues. Blair enjoyed a very brief cup of coffee in the ULB: in six games, he made one plate appearance as a 25-year old back in 1939 with the Tigers. He struck out in his only at-bat. He spent the rest of his playing career in the minors before hanging things up for good in 1949. Blair is said to be laid back and puts a premium on creating a comfortable atmosphere in the clubhouse and dugout. He favors offense and power and won’t be hesitant to put prospects into the lineup.
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May 28 – Ownership Changes in Embro, Fort Richmond
As reported earlier, two long-standing owners were forced out due to their central role in colluding with the other owners in artificially suppressing player salaries and refusing to address their grievances in good faith. Shown the door were 43-year old Oliver Blowers of the Embro Suns and 75-year old Jong-beom Yu of the Fort Richmond Generals. Both were considered controlling, demanding and placed an emphasis on extreme profit.
In their place are two new faces: 43-year old
Allen Ratcliffe and 44-year old
Daniel Walker II. Radcliffe takes over the Fort Richmond Generals while Walker leads the ownership group for the Embro Suns. Both men figure to be more amenable to working with the players and paying them fairly. It remains to be seen whether their appointments will set a new tone among the owners as a whole or whether the ‘old guard’ mentality will rub off on them.
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Signings:
June 22:
The Balmoral Giants snagged the lone top name available in free agency, signing 32-year old OF
Angel Costa (73/83) from Cuba to a 1-year contract ($55,000). The contract is currently the richest in the United Leagues (a few years ago, the elite players were earning nearly $20,000 more than that). Although not a youngster, Costa should make an immediate impact for the Giants who have not had a dominant leftfielder since Carlton Broadbent was in his prime. Carlton (25/25) is only two years older than Costa but is a shadow of the player he once was.
Costa is a hitting machine with the power to be a middle of the order smasher. He should put a much-needed charge into Balmoral’s rather anemic offense. Although he may not win any defensive awards, he should be a very reliable, sure-handed outfielder. He is slotted in as the Giants’ No. 3 batter heading into the Coconut Leagues and is rated 5th overall among leftfielders (18th overall among all players) in the United Leagues.
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The War Gained chart reveals how ‘off’ the off-season was. No trades whatsoever took place while off the field happenings dominating the headlines. Hopefully this stasis will not linger for much longer and the teams can get back to the business of baseball, including the making of appropriate trades. Spring training would be a good place to start as trades have been made during that time many times before. The Coconut Leagues are set to begin August 31st, as the United Leagues’ embark on their 17th season.
