National Baseball League (NFL-like league)

[acuñajrbravesfan]

It's 1958, and the NFL is thriving in major cities around the country. Then, out of nowhere, a new 32 team league is formed. This new league hopes to make baseball the most popular sport in America. Each team has a minor league system, where players can improve their way up to the major leagues.

NEXT- TEAM INTRODUCTION

[acuñajrbravesfan]

The inaugural draft's first selection went to the Seattle Sky Chiefs, who chose a pitcher named Larry Harvey. A lot of draft picks later...

ABC EAST
We start with the Miami Legion, who plays their home games at Miami Stadium, which only sits 13,000. The owner expects to play .500 ball and be in the playoffs by 1962.

Next is the Philadelphia Beavers, who play at Connie Mack Stadium. They want to get a winning record, have a Jell-O Top Pitcher Award winner (the closest match is Andy Grimes, and yes, I called it that), and reach the playoffs by 1963.

Then we have the Boston Norse, who plays home games at Fenway Park. They expect to reach the playoffs this year and the Championship by 1963.

Lastly is the New York Irish, who play in Yankee Stadium. Their expectations are the same as Boston.

NEXT- ABC CENTRAL

[acuñajrbravesfan]

The ABC Central is a mediocre division full of weird teams with weird names (well, kinda).

The first team is the Cleveland Brown Bears, who set up shop at Cleveland Municipal Stadium. They want to play close to .500 ball and reach the playoffs by 1963.

The Fort Worth Monsters are next, and they play at Monster Park (I couldn't find an actual Ft. Worth baseball team). They want to play .500 ball, acquire an All-Star (closest match is Jon Hansen), and make the playoffs by 1964.

Then there's the Tulsa Blue Chips, who play at Oiler Park, a small minor league stadium that can sit only 7,200. They want to get a winning record and make the playoffs by 1964.

Finally, there's the Houston Blackhawks, who play at Lone Star Stadium (a name I made up). They wanna reach the playoffs this year and the Championship by 1962.

NEXT- ABC MOUNTAIN

[acuñajrbravesfan]

The Mountain Division is basically like the West, but also not the West.

We start with the Tuscon Wolverines, who play in Cactus Field at Desert Park. They want to get a winning record, upgrade their manager, and reach the playoffs by 1962.

Then, there's the Albuquerque Loggerheads, who play at Tingley Field, which can only sit 5000 fans. They want a winning record and a playoffs appearance by 1963.

Next, we have the Denver Sun Dogs, who play in Mile High Stadium (respectable choice), which can seat 18,000 (I'm using historic capacities). They want a playoffs appearance and a Championship appearance by 1963.

Finally, there's the San Antonio Green Knights (not in the Mountain zone, but whatever). They set shop in Mission Stadium. They want a winning record, an upgraded manager, and a playoffs appearance by 1963.

NEXT- ABC PACIFIC

[acuñajrbravesfan]

The ABC Pacific defines the term "West".

First, there's the San Diego Lightning (interesting name choice), who play in Westgate Park. They want a winning record and a playoffs appearance by 1962.

Next is the Oakland Sea Lions. They play in Oaks Park, former home of the Oakland Oaks. Their owner wants a playoff team in '58, an MVP, an upgraded manager, and a Championship-reaching team by '63.

The San Jose Fusion are next. They play in SJ Municipal Stadium, with a teeny tiny attendance of 4200. The owner wants a playoff and Championship team by '63.

Finally, there's the Las Vegas Archers, who field their team in Cashman Field. They want a winning record, a Top Pitcher, and a playoff team by 1962.

NEXT- NBC (because I made this too long)

[acuñajrbravesfan]

East
Chicago Cardinals- Wrigley Field
Jacksonville Generals- Wolfson Park
Detroit Crush- Tiger Stadium
Columbus Tropics- Cooper Stadium

Central
Milwaukee Buffaloes- Milwaukee County Stadium
Omaha Senators- Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium
OK City Gamblers- Texas League Park
Memphis Otters- Russwood Park

Mountain
Colorado Springs Black Dogs- Spurgeon Stadium
Austin Veterans- Riverside Park
El Paso Indians- GEM Field
Long Beach Sunbirds- Connor Park

Pacific
Juneau Glaciers- Market Stadium
Honolulu Islanders- Volcano Field
Los Angeles Swashbucklers (died laughing at this name)- LA Memorial Coliseum
Seattle Sky Chiefs- Sick Stadium

NEXT- OPENING DAY

[acuñajrbravesfan]

April 4th, 1958: OPENING DAY

#3 Performance: Tyler Funke, Albuquerque Loggerheads
Funke got the start for Albuquerque on Opening Day against the Green Knights. He showed the coach what he could do, holding the Knights to 3 runs in 8.2 innings with 8 strikeouts in a 7-0 victory.

#2 Performance: Christian Charles, San Jose Fusion
The left fielder showed off his hitting talent, going 4-for-4 with a double and home run in a 5-2 win over Denver in 10.

#1 Performance: Andy Grimes, Philadelphia Beavers
Grimes showed off on the mound today, with 7 Ks and 3 hits in a complete game shutout against Fort Worth. Final score? 1-0.

OTHER GAMES
Boston 3-2 Tulsa
Miami 3-1 Houston
New York 3-4 Las Vegas
Cleveland 2-0 San Diego
Tuscon 2-1 Oakland- 10 innings
Columbus 5-0 Detroit
LA 7-6 OK City
El Paso 10-3 Austin
Honolulu 12-5 Milwaukee
Memphis 5-2 COL Springs
Jacksonville 10-7 Seattle- 16 innings
Omaha 4-5 Long Beach
Chicago 2-5 Juneau

[acuñajrbravesfan]

April 5th, 1958

#3 Performance: Jake Waller, New York Irish
He had a good performance for the Irish against Las Vegas. He shut them down for 1 run on 3 hits in a complete game win, 5-1.

#2 Performance: Luis Carino, Juneau Glaciers
Carino went yard 2 times in a 2 for 2 fest, as the Glaciers beat Chicago 7-1.

#1 Performance: Ricky Alvarez, Tuscon Wolverines
He gets the Player of the Day award for his 3-for-6 outing, including a triple, a home run, and 7 RBIs (ABC reg season record) for an incredible 13-4 win over Oakland.

OTHER GAMES
Boston 3-2 Tulsa
Albuquerque 10-1 San Antonio
Miami 0-3 Houston
San Jose 7-3 Denver
Cleveland 2-5 San Diego
FT. Worth 6-7 Philly
Columbus 7-4 Detroit
LA 6-5 OK City
Honolulu 9-4 Milwaukee
Austin 6-5 El Paso- 11 innings
Memphis 9-6 COL Springs
Omaha 5-3 Long Beach- 10 innings
Jacksonville 0-12 Seattle

[acuñajrbravesfan]

April 6th, 1958

#3 Performance: Enrico Pacho, El Paso Indians
Pacho looked to deal trouble at GEM Field, and trouble he dealt. He pitched a complete game, allowing only 5 hits and 0 runs with 9 strikeouts in a 4-0 win over Austin.

#2 Performance: Manny Picotti, OK City Gamblers
Picotti was wonderful at the plate, going 3-for-3 with 2 homers and 4 RBIs, scoring twice in a 7-5 win against Los Angeles.

#1 Performance: Dean Aharon, New York Irish
He got the top notch of the day against the Archers, hitting 3-for-4 with a double, 2 homers and 3 RBIs in a 7-1 win.

OTHER GAMES
Miami 6-7 Houston
Ft. Worth 3-4 Philly- 10 innings, walk off
Boston 1-9 Tulsa
Albuquerque 1-8 San Antonio
Cleveland 6-7 San Diego- 11 innings, walk off
Tuscon 1-4 Oakland
Honolulu 10-2 Milwaukee
Omaha 0-1 Long Beach- walk off
Memphis 6-2 COL Springs
Jacksonville 10-2 Seattle
Columbus 7-1 Detroit- 6 innings, called for bad weather
Chicago 3-0 Juneau

[acuñajrbravesfan]

Here are the standings after the first series of games. Only a handful of teams got sweeps, including the Beavers, Tropics, Otters, and Islanders.

[acuñajrbravesfan]

We actually had a 4-game series for all teams, so there's a low chance that there'll be a sweep.

GAMES TODAY
Albuquerque 11-1 San Antonio
Miami 7-3 Houston
FT Worth 4-2 Philly
Tulsa 5-4 Boston
San Jose 2-8 Denver
Tuscon 15-6 Oakland
Memphis 2-9 COL Springs
Chicago 3-4 Juneau
Columbus 6-5 Detroit (Columbus is 4-0)
Honolulu 7-5 Milwaukee (Honolulu's the only other team to go 4-0)
LA 3-2 OK City
Austin 2-5 El Paso
Omaha 4-3 Long Beach
Jacksonville 1-0 Seattle- 10 innings

[acuñajrbravesfan]

New standings. Only 2 teams have sweeps.

[acuñajrbravesfan]

Since I created this league to "rival" the NFL, here's the logo I made (sorry for bad drawing, I'm not artistic).

[acuñajrbravesfan]

Tuesday, April 8th, 1958

NEWS: Memphis SP Donovan Thorne is out for the season with a torn labrum.

Also...

[acuñajrbravesfan]

GAMES
Boston 6-5 Albuquerque
San Diego 1-2 New York- walkoff
Oakland 2-4 Philly
San Antonio 2-4 Cleveland- 12 innings, walkoff
LV 4-0 Tuscon
Houston 4-5 San Jose
Juneau 2-7 Omaha
Long Beach 10-6 Columbus
Milwaukee 7-11 Jacksonville- walkoff, 7 run comeback for Generals
OK City 7-1 Chicago
El Paso 4-5 Memphis
Seattle 2-1 Austin
Detroit 4-7 COL Springs
Honolulu 5-2 Los Angeles

[acuñajrbravesfan]

Wednesday, April 9th, 1958

GAMES
LV 1-3 Tuscon
Boston 6-4 Albuquerque
San Antonio 6-5 Cleveland
Tulsa 10-6 Miami
San Diego 5-3 New York
Oakland 0-6 Philadelphia
Denver 7-5 Fort Worth
Houston 8-5 San Jose
OK City 0-4 Chicago
Long Beach 2-4 Columbus- 10 inning walkoff
Milwaukee 4-5 Jacksonville- walkoff (poor Milwaukee)
Juneau 2-5 Omaha
El Paso 4-5 Memphis
Seattle 2-4 Austin
Detroit 5-6 COL Springs- walkoff
Honolulu 4-7 LA (first loss for the Islanders)
Andy Grimes set a Beavers regular season record for K's in a game with 12, which is impressive.

[acuñajrbravesfan]

Thursday, April 10th, 1958

NEWS: Omaha P Jesus Yanez will miss 5-6 months with a torn labrum, and Denver CL Adrian Barragan will miss the season with a torn UCL.


We're gonna see a lot of those.


Told you. But jeez, this is crazy.

[acuñajrbravesfan]

GAMES
San Diego 3-4 New York
Tulsa 4-1 Miami (this is when the 523-foot homer was hit for the Legion)
Oakland 2-5 Philly (when the 530-foot homer was hit)
San Antonio 3-9 Cleveland
Denver 2-1 Ft. Worth
Boston 5-3 Albuquerque
Las Vegas 2-3 Tuscon- 10 inning walkoff
Houston 8-4 San Jose
OK City 9-5 Chicago
Milwaukee 6-4 Jacksonville (the Bufs' first win of the franchise)
El Paso 5-6 Memphis
Long Beach 6-7 Columbus
Seattle 2-7 Austin
Juneau 3-9 Omaha
Detroit 4-16 COL Springs (Crush are the only team in the NBL to not win a game)
Honolulu 5-1 LA


The fact that you pitch 10 innings with 1 ER and you still lose. Bummer for Roman.

[acuñajrbravesfan]

As you can see, the Crush are not having a very good time. Also, Boston has an early edge on the ABC Wild Card.

NEXT POST- EXPLANATION OF SEASON + PLAYOFFS

[acuñajrbravesfan]

SEASON SCHEDULE
Teams play 146 games over the year, which includes an All-Star Game.

PLAYOFFS
Just like the NFL's postseason format, there'll be the division winners and 2 wildcard spots in each league. There'll be a Wild Card round (1 game playoff), a Divisional round (best of 3), a Conference championship (best of 7), and then the National Baseball League Championship (best of 7). (I forgot to change the playoff bracket, so the Divisional matchups will all be at the home team's park.)