The Antarctic Baseball League

[jasg224]

Image from @backwards_river on X

Ever wondered what baseball would look like if it was played in Antarctica? No? Well, I did recently and now I've gotten around to making this a reality in OOTP25.



I've set up a 20 team professional league across several Antarctic bases, starting in 1961, the year the Antarctic Treaty came into force.
The players will come from nations that have bases mostly, but also other nations that have signed the Treaty, which I have separated into 3 tiers:

Excellent: The original signees of the Treaty, they have the biggest bases and so they have teams in the league
Good: Nations that have Antarctic or Subantarctic bases, but don't have teams in the league
Average: Nations that have signed the Treaty but don't have any bases

Considering the percentage of nationalities represented in the bases (with the pie chart I found on wikipedia), the USA has the most players, followed by Argentina, Chile, Russia, France, and others. They'll be able to play for any team regardless of the base being Argentinian, Norwegian, Chilean or whatever.

Attendances will be low, with an average of 50 scientists and other support staff attending each game. This is why each base receives $450k a year to invest into their baseball team. There is a minimum salary of $10k a year.

The league is split into 4, 5-team divisions. Each team will play 138 games: 12 against each of their division rivals and 6 against every other team. Games are played exclusively in the Antarctic summer: November to February. All 4 division winners will go into the semifinals to fight for a spot in the Antarctic Series!

In the following posts I'll do team profiles division by division after the 1961 Inaugural Draft. Thanks for reading!

[jksander]

Color me intrigued!

[jasg224]

The Ross Division

Image from Wikimedia

This division is named after the Ross Sea, which itself is named after British explorer Sir James Clark Ross, who commanded his own Antarctic expedition between 1839 and 1843. This division contains bases near and around this portion of the continent.


These are the typical conditions in this part of the world. Despite the summer months being the warmest, they are also the ones with the highest chance of snow.

Note: In general, because of the cold, players will hit for contact and play station to station. There's very little running in the league, few homers and, because the pitchers don't want their hands to fall off, less strikeouts.

Davis Emperors

Image generated by AI

Based in the Australian Davis Station, the Emperors play in Cooperation Field. They are named after the famous Emperor Penguins, a staple of the Antarctic lands. They are owned by a John Biscoe, a 50 year old Australian who is an unmerciful penny-pincher, who tends to meddle in team affairs. (Note: You will find the owners are named after Antarctic explorers.) He expects the club to reach the playoffs this year, which is a tough ask for unproven manager Levushka Shipnevsky.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Dwaine O'Rourke - 7th - A veteran English catcher, O'Rourke will do a good job behind the plate. Not much of an arm, but it's not like he needs it.
1B Ryan Black - 13th - Another English veteran, Black is an average hitter all-round, though he lacks some skill to play defensively.
2B Gabriel Menéndez - 6th - The Argentinian is in his prime, putting in extra time in the gym makes him an alright base stealer and great defender.
3B Chris Blowers - 20th - Coming all the way from Illinois, Blowers does a great job covering third and has a fantastic arm. He lacks discipline with the bat though, with his approach being swinging (and often making contact) at everything.
SS Henry Lawson - 14th - The Oregon native is a below average shortsop, and he sometimes gets on base despite struggling to put the ball in play.
LF Mike Fidler - 18th - He gives his all, though lacks the talent to be truly good. He's a surehanded defender with a good eye at the plate.
CF Themba Ndlovu - 8th - The speedy South African has gotten used to running in the snow, both with the glove and on the basepath. Has average bat skills.
RF Donald Graham - 6th - The Englishman is a very selective hitter, his average defense should be enough to keep him in the lineup most of the season.
SP Enrique Molina - 4th - Throws pitches that move in many different ways, though he's not able to put enough speed on them to make hitters guess. However, his control is impeccable and the movement tends to draw groundballs more often than not.
CL Pablo Ortiz - 7th - The Chilean throws an assortment of groundball-inducing fastballs.

Let's also add SP Louis Thibodeaux, who left the warmth of Lake Charles, Louisiana to pitch in Antarctica. He has plus control paired with plus sinkers and cutters that will get him some swings and misses.

Overall, the Emperors will definitely be fighting for the top spot in the division, but their opponents might be tougher than they think.

McMurdo Penguins

Image generated by AI

The Penguins are based in McMurdo Station, the biggest station in the entire continent. They play at Nathaniel Palmer Park. The team is owned by James Eights, who will be demanding as to how his generous investments are used in order to build a winning team. He expects the club to have a winning record this year, and manager Jon Morris will use all of the talent at his disposal to do so.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Hernán Araya - 1st - The Chilean has one of the best eyes in the league, which also helps him behind the plate, where he's probably the best in blocking the ball as well as framing.
1B Mike McCall - 9th - The Houston native is a pretty selective hitter, but average otherwise and just below average defensively.
2B George Thompson - 17th - Thompson is very good with the glove, but his arm lets him down a bit. Average eye, rarely puts the ball in play.
3B Makio Ishii - 7th - Makio will cover good ground and throw the ball hard, whenever he doesn't drop the ball. Good eye but rarely puts the ball in play.
SS José Gaona - 5th - Also from Chile, Gaona is a very versatile defender who can do an excellent job in all positions but catcher and pitcher. He likes hitting the ball into the gaps.
LF Hal Quinn - 7th - "Scorpion" is a good player. That's it. Other than a plus-plus eye and good defense at LF, there's not much to write home about.
CF DeVos Krug - 20th - The young speedy German might not be ready to go pro yet, but the Penguins don't have a better option.
RF Tommie Brazeal - 17th - Adding to the young, speedy Krug, Brazeal might be one of the best base stealers in the league. He'll run well IF he gets on base.
SP Pedro Millán - 18th - Nothing outstanding, but not a bad pitcher. Questions remain about his ability to go deep in games.
CL Xun Li - 14th - The Shandong lefty throws a nasty curveball with the finest of controls. If he can stay healthy and use his fastball effectively, he can be better than expected.

McMurdo have an above average rotation with star talent in some spots and clear holes in others, but it should be enough for a record above .500 without truly challenging for the playoffs.

Scott Kiwis

Image from Pinterest

The New Zealand team operates in Scott Base, very close to the McMurdo Station. The team play their home games in Erebus Field. They are owned by New Zealander Edward Evans, who's lenient, charitable and prefers not to be involved with the day-to-day of the team. He expects the squad to achieve a winning record this inaugural year, leaving Mike Hepner in charge of the team.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Scott Kinkela - 5th - Hailing from the Arizona heat, Kinkela is a plus catcher with an average bat.
1B Raúl Correa - 1st - How does average all-round hitting skills get 1st place? Well, Correa has elite patience at the plate and the ability to hit for power. Being a below average 2B makes him a plus 1B.
2B Germán de Alba - 20th - Overall a below average player, could grow a bit as he's still only 23.
3B Galtero Carta - 11th - The veteran Italian has elite arm strength, though it doesn't really translate into hitting power. His specialty is putting the ball in play.
SS Matt Erpenbach - 13th - Only 21, Erpenbach might be the best shortstop in the league, at least defensively. His bat is at best average right now.
LF Shi-Young Han - 11th - Rarely strikes out, Han goes fast even with a coat on. This speed is also seen reflected in his range in LF, but he's not the strongest.
CF Humberto Olivares - 6th - The left handed Argentinian battles in every single at bat. His speed and explosiveness means he has plus-plus range, but lacks strength.
RF Illarion Golenischev - 15th - Average bat and defense at best, though the Russian has the ability to throw strikes from the outfield.
SP Oscar Herrera - 12th - Not the hardest of throwers, but has plus control and movement, particularly on a deadly changeup that pairs well with a curveball and splitter.
CL Vusi Mkhize - 16th - "The Voice" might be a better singer than pitcher, but he'll get some outs with an average skillset and a nice curveball.

The Kiwis have a somewhat balanced base, but their pitching is a weak link that should be improved. With consistent pitching, they could reach their goal of a winning record.

Troll Ice Giants

Image AI generated

Harald Sverdrup owns the club from the only Norwegian base that operates all year round. He won't be much involved aside from giving the team charitable amounts of money, though he does extreme to get a lot of money back from his investment. Texan Beau Perry will manage the squad, expected to make the playoffs come January.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Tommy Behr - 20th - "Little Bear" is a great catcher with a terrible bat.
1B Eduardo Rojas - 4th - Very patient at the plate and with some power potential if he puts it in play.
2B Klaus von Hohenberg - 7th - Average bat skills, but his range makes him a great 2B. Turns even difficult balls into double plays despite a lack of arm strength.
3B Dustin Hyatt - 12th - Capable of throwing out even the fastest of runners when he gets to the ball might compensate for being average at everything else.
SS Kevin Oliver - 8th - Oliver is good but not outstanding, perhaps his best skill is being able to fight off difficult pitches.
LF John McAllister - Another candidate for "best eye", the Texan has an average bat otherwise. Defensively solid, though struggles getting to the tough ones.
CF Christian Alexandre - 19th - Besides his below average bat, Alexandre is most definitely not suited for center field. He'd make an above average corner outfielder though.
RF Javier Benavidez - 7th - It's amazing the andean's bat still holds up at 37, but his defense is starting to let him down.
SP Colin McKenzie - 11th - With plus control, the New Zealander throws a heavy sinker-slider combo that gets easy groundballs.
CL Jeff Bart - 5th - Has pinpoint control on an assortment of effective mid 90s fastballs.

The Ice Giants might be the most talented team in the division, but they're very defense heavy and will need to prove they're also capable of scoring runs if they are to have success.

Zucchelli Seals


Lastly, we have an Italian base which only operates in the summer. The base is named after Mario Zucchelli, who was the director of its operations for 16 years since its opening in 1985. The Seals play their home games at Terra Nova Field. They are owned by a Mr. Umberto Cagni, who will be very demanding of manager Danny Perry where he not to meet his expectations, which are to be a .500 club.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Luis Vázquez - 10th - The 21 year old Argentine is a pretty good catcher and an alright hitter.
1B José Rivera - 12th - Rivera is also capable of playing very well at 2B, but his bat is very unspectacular.
2B Dmitr Tlevtsejev - 3rd - Dmitr is top 3 based on glove alone, considering he's an elite defender in all infield positions and can hold his own in the outfield. His bat is also below average.
3B Justin Engle - 16th - Truly nothing to write home about. Bang average skills.
SS Antonio Salazar - 17th - Salazar is another elite defender in all infield positions, arguably even better than Tlevtsejev. His bat is very below average however.
LF Yasuaki Kubota - 2nd - "YaKu" gets on base, either by hitting or getting 4 balls. His defense in the corners is also pretty good, mainly due to his surehandedness.
CF Sam Kine - 16th - Somewhat underrated, Kine is very good with the balls and strikes but not very good at hitting the ball well. You can expect a 15 pitch battle to end with a weak groundball. However, he has the speed to turn some of those weak groundballs into singles, and then even into doubles with a stolen base. Great defense, but his arm knocks him down a few tiers.
RF Chris Cleland - 11th - Cleland is just another league average player, but his defense in right is worth noting, particularly a very strong arm.
SP Pedro Sosa - 3rd - Despite only having one real plus pitch (though it's a plus-plus changeup), Sosa could dominate on the mound with amazing control and groundball inducing movement.
CL Manuel Vergara - 13th - "El Chacal" has plus control on his sinkers and cutters that will surely get some hits and misses.

We can add SP Antonio Greco, an Italian with amazing control on a 90 mph splitter that pairs well with his fastball.

Overall, the Italian club has some talent, but are overall average at best. They'll do well to avoid being the division punching bag and being closer to the expected .500 record.
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Hopefully whoever reads this enjoys this format, expect 3 more divisions! A note on the logos: I have a handful of AI created logos because the Ice Giants' is the first one I did and I think it turned out fantastic. From then on, I decided to just look up some logos using google and only generated 5 more AI logos for a couple concepts I didn't get satisfying results for using the image search. These teams are the Auroras (because how do you get an aurora logo for a baseball team), the Sentinels (because I had a specific sort of concept for this one in mind), the Crabeaters (because I just wanted to see what DALL-E had in store for them), the Storms (which I'm now realizing I have 2 teams with the same name but in different languages, oh well) and the Explorers (because all explorer logos I found were focused on like colonialist figures, wooded mountains, the woods, etc. and I didn't find a concept I liked). Anyway, you'll get to see these and other logos I found online in the next posts. Thanks for reading!

[20_range]

I like this concept too! If you want to send me some ideas for the team logos you're missing, I can see what I can put together

[jasg224]

Originally Posted by 20_range

I like this concept too! If you want to send me some ideas for the team logos you're missing, I can see what I can put together

Thanks for the offer! I'll see which logos I want to replace and PM you with a (hopefully short) list.

[jksander]

Nobody's gonna say this league is full of weak players lol ... playing in that kind of weather? Hopefully you don't wind up with every game getting "snowed out" lol

[jasg224]

Originally Posted by jksander

Nobody's gonna say this league is full of weak players lol ... playing in that kind of weather? Hopefully you don't wind up with every game getting "snowed out" lol

Yeah, I should probably omit those kinds of ratings haha. Specially considering I'm the one who set the players to have no power lol


I turned "rainouts" off thinking of the snowy conditions, here you just put on another jacket and push through. I think they'd probably use yellow hi-vis balls like in softball even when there's no precipitation since everything's just white. Perhaps I could have them play in doors, but that doesn't seem half as epic as a guy wearing 5 layers of clothing hitting a walkoff homer in the bottom of the 9th of the Antarctic Series.


I'll also use this post to apologize for the delay in posts, I've been having busy days (I just started my master's degree), but you can expect the next division report probably tomorrow!

[jksander]

Originally Posted by jasg224

I think they'd probably use yellow hi-vis balls like in softball even when there's no precipitation since everything's just white. Perhaps I could have them play in doors, but that doesn't seem half as epic as a guy wearing 5 layers of clothing hitting a walkoff homer in the bottom of the 9th of the Antarctic Series.

I was imagining pink Spaldeens like the old stickball kids used to use

[jasg224]

The Weddell Division

Image by NASA, taken from Wikimedia

The division is named after the Weddell Sea, right next to the Antarctic Peninsula. The Sea is named after Scottish expeditioner James Weddell who was the first to sail into it in 1823.


These are the weather conditions in this part of Antarctica. Definitely warmer than near the Ross Sea, but still harsh. (I've checked and yes, I have disabled rainouts: just put on your best coat and take the field! I imagine the grounds crew would come in every once in a while and clear out the snow. I've also made all fields turf, considering natural grass would last all of 5 seconds before freezing and dying.)

Carlini Crabeaters

Logo AI generated

Playing in the Argentinian Carlini Base, specifically Jubany Field, the team has adopted the crabeater seals as their mascot. The club is owned by José María Sobral, who's pretty balanced overall though somewhat fiscally controlling. He expects manager Joe McKee and the team to finish above .500 this year.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Enrique Ortega - 9th - Born in Santa Fe, Ortega is an average hitter with great upside behind the plate, particularly with his great arm.
1B Henry Beauregard - 1st - The Virginia-born lefty excels at putting the ball in play, usually in the gaps. He's still relatively fast and a good defender, but will he be able to play the entire season at 36?
2B Miguel Galaviz - 12th - Galaviz is one of two Puerto Rican starters in the league. He is surehanded and will battle in every at bat, making him a solid if unspectacular option.
3B Norm Mulholland - 13th - Despite a very strong throwing arm, the Australian is just below average at everything else.
SS Danny Ward - 6th - Ward left San Diego's fantastic beaches for the cold of the Weddell Sea. He's an expert at getting on base but he'll never run. His defensive style is probably better suited for 3B, with a fantastic arm but he lacks the agility to turn most double plays.
LF Aldo Corradini - 13th - Corradini might be slightly underrated, though he is just a middle of the road player: not bad anywhere, but only his eye and ability to avoid errors can be called above average.
CF Iñaki Etxeberria - 15th - The Basque outfielder is a pretty good glove, though he sometimes tends to miss the ball completely. His bat is below average.
RF Sizwe Zulu - 12th - Zulu's bat is average at best, with a great focus on just making contact. He struggles focusing and working hard, which shows in his lazy defending.
SP Salvador Meneses - 17th - The Chilean being ranked this low is just a testament to the strength of pitching in the league. Meneses features a great sinker with plus control and movement that make him a solid starter.
CL Ricardo Castillo - 9th - Castillo throws an assortment of fastballs in the 91-93 mph range, but throwing this hard and a lack of breaking pitches means he's only effective for an inning or two.

The Argentinian team has some serious talent, and it shouldn't be an issue for them to finish above .500 or even be surprise playoff contenders.

Esperanza Delfines

Logo created by 20_range

Esperanza is another Argentinian base, and it is in fact one of two bases with a permanent civilian population, with 10 families and 2 teachers according to Wikipedia. It is also the place of birth of Emilio Palma, the first ever person to be born on Antarctica. They are named after the Hourglass Dolphins, which can be seen in the logo. They're owned by Hernán Pujato, who prioritizes the club's success. He expects Australian manager Tim Howell to achieve a record above .500.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C César Sandoval - 8th - The Chilean is a very selective hitter, with power to put the ball in the gaps. As a catcher, he excells at blocking and framing, making him one of the better backstops in the league.
1B Jordan Lewis - 7th - The Englishman is average overall, with a good feel for stealing bases.
2B Jorge Torres - 1st - Torres hits for average, gets on base often and has the best glove at 2B, with a below average arm holding him back from playing shortstop. "Coco" is definitely an impact player both on and off the field.
3B Antonio Lombardi - 8th - "Tano" gets on base and works hard at the plate and with the glove. He rarely makes errors and throws most hitters out.
SS Omar Angel - 19th - Despite battling it out every at bat, this switch hitter rarely puts the ball in play. Somewhat redeemed by being able to play an average shortstop.
LF Ricardo Zapata - 20th - Zapata is a baserunning threat, whenever he gets on base, which is rarely. He makes too many errors in left.
CF Antonio Zúñiga - 17th - Only 21, the Chilean is a good defender. He still has a lot to learn about hitting.
RF Tom Chen - 3rd - If he were faster, Chen would be a true 5 tool player. As he is, he's a good hitter who gets on base often, and a plus defender.
SP Miguel Rodríguez - 8th - Miguel is an avid fisherman, who happens to throw a mean changeup and splitter with great control. He'll rely on the movement and placement of his pitches to fool hitters as his stuff isn't great.
CL Mario Trejo - 8th - Trejo has great stuff, with a nasty curve complementing a 94 mph fastball very well. He'll close out most games for the Dolphins.

Esperanza have a very talented team with a good blend of veterans and young guys, they should be involved in the race for the division title.

Novolazarevskaya Aurora

Image AI generated

Of course a Russian base, the Aurora are owned by Lev Berg, a very understanding and hands-off owner. He expects manager Ken Harper to play close to .500 ball this year.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Ernesto Saavedra - 3rd - Saavedra is defensively amongst the best catchers in the league, excelling in all 3 metrics. Pair this with an average bat and you have a key player for the Russian squad.
1B Sergei Ivanov - 3rd - Overall a good hitter with a very patient approach, the 38 year old is also an above average defender.
2B Maxime Girod - 15th - Girod is just average anywhere you look, though he struggles to put the ball in play sometimes.
3B Juan Hernández - 15th - The Chilean is seriously underrated. Despite an issue with strikeouts, he's a pretty good bat and a very solid defender who's also capable of playing an above average SS.
SS Dom Andrews - 11th - The Sydney native is an average all round hitter, but his defense truly stands out, particularly his ability to reach balls that seem impossible.
LF Boris Aleksandrov - 19th - Despite being an alright hitter, Boris' terrible defense leads to this low rating.
CF Marcel Santiago - 13th - Marcel is fast, with a strong throwing arm and an average hitting skillset.
RF Antonio Saez - 4th - Saez never strikes out. His defense is also above average, with a strong arm.
SP Robert Montgomery - 5th - "Seeker" might be a one-dimensional pitcher, but the movement on his changeup seems like 4D. Robert can place it wherever he wants, getting weak contact if any.
CL Viktor Lebedev - 2nd - Lebedev has a mind-bending changeup which he manages with very advanced control. His intense personality makes him a great fit for the closer role.

Expectations may be a bit low considering the serious quality to be found on the Aurora roster.

Rothera Orcas

Logo created by 20_range

Owned by Scottish James Marr, the Orcas play in Bonner Field, in the English Rothera base. Marr is charitable and understanding, with a focus on winning the Antarctic Series. He expects manager Alex Wagner and the team to play close to .500 ball this year.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Néstor Aguirre - 4th - Aguirre might be the best defensive catcher, with nobody daring to run on him. His strategy at the plate is to swing at everything, and he will usually make decent contact.
1B Hone Te Rangi - 18th - The maori youngster is not your typical first baseman. With just average hitting skills, his game is more focused on speed and defense, where he's able to play all the outfield positions as well.
2B Ewan Walker - 14th - Walker is good at recognizing pitches, but not that good at hitting them. He plays an average defense.
3B Oscar González - 5th - An above average hitting skillset gets carried by excellent defense, with Osky rarely making errors and less of the throwing kind with his arm being out of this world.
SS Thulani Mdletshe - 18th - Below average everything and he has never been proven at SS, so there are serious doubts about his role with the team.
LF Chi-ju Yun - 12th - The young chinese left fielder has blazing speed and top baserunning IQ, which he should be able to use often given he's a solid hitter. Sometimes inconsistent as a fielder, he does have great range and arm.
CF Adam Anderson - 13th - The Californian is average all-round, which isn't a bad thing, but he'll never a star.
RF Antonio Ramos - 2nd - "Tango" is a very frustrating hitter to face, as he preys on mistakes, hitting for decent power. He's somewhat quick and an alright defender.
SP Ramil Safin - 2nd - It is said that Ramka has never given up a flyball, with pinpoint control and nasty movement on his four pitch mix. Safin would be an ace on any team.
CL Branden Gibbons - 4th - Gibbons throws a slider-cutter combo for great effectiveness in short outings.

The Orcas are lacking a good lineup, but it seems as though this will be a very pitching heavy league and they have one of the best. Will this be enough for them to compete?

SANAE IV Sentinels

Image AI generated

The fourth South African National Antarctic Expedition base was built on stilts after the previous 3 bases were gradually buried and crushed by the snow. The Sentinels are named so because these Antarctic bases and the scientists are in charge of keeping watch or observing probably the harshest place on Earth for human life. Sibusiso Vilane is the owner of the team, he's known for being a meddling owner, ruthless with the managers and investing only the necessary. Despite this, he expects the team to reach the playoffs, so the manager chosen to fill the vacancy will have a tough job with the owner looking over his shoulder at every step.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Ti-An Tung - 18th - Tung is a below average bat and just an average catcher with a below average arm. He's quite the smart one though, it's just a matter of translating that to his game.
1B Koji Nagata - 10th - Nagata is a good defender and an above average hitter, though he's somewhat of a "3 true outcomes" type player.
2B Hugo Ortiz - 12th - Ortiz is a great, versatile defender capable of playing above average in all IF positions and corner OF. His bat is pretty much average.
3B Gareth Ising - 18th - Overall below average, Ising is not even a good 1B.
SS Louis Jones - 9th - Jones might be the best defensive SS in the league, though his hitting is less than optimal. He'll hit it into the gap, when he hits it.
LF José Pizarro - 16th - Pizarro shows some gap power, though he struggles to make contact consistently. He's a plus defender at left.
CF Sebastian Tindell - 10th - Above average hitting, good speed and defense. The Englishman is a solid player, nearly star level.
RF Riccardo Longo - 18th - Unspectacular with the bat, though he uses his blazing speed to get the extra base whenever he puts it in play. Great defender at all 3 OF positions.
SP Viktor Petrov - 1st - Petrov only throws 89 mph, but that's as hard as he needs to throw when his pitches move as much as they do. He has great control on a splitter, sinker and slider that get him all groundballs. Vitya might have some issues making friends in the clubhouse.
CL Hans Müller - 3rd - The Berliner throws the best changeup in the league, earning him the "Illusionist" motif. If he could throw another pitch, he'd probably be the best starter in the league.

The Sentinels are clearly a talented and well-balanced squad, with definite potential for the playoffs. Having the #1 pitcher definitely helps, all that's missing now is a good manager to take them there.
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Expect 2 more divisions! Note: So, as you might have read in the thread, 20_range has offered to make logos and I have taken him up on his offer. In time I will edit the introduction posts with the appropriate credit for the logos he makes. Thanks for reading!

[jksander]

They can all play on snow shoes lol ... no cleats needed lol

[Ilove_Telin54]

imagine a player play on Antarctic

[Eagles521]

this is awesome ! good stuff

[textilemonster]

There should be a few teams with more obscure Antarctic animals (or plants even) because these teams would be made of scientists, right? And a team of scientists might want to name themselves after sheathbills or macrolichens.

[20_range]

Excuse me what

The bird has also been observed to directly pilfer milk from the elephant seals’ teats.[6]

[textilemonster]

Originally Posted by 20_range

Excuse me what

The bird has also been observed to directly pilfer milk from the elephant seals’ teats.[6]

See? How do you not name a team after them?

[jasg224]

Originally Posted by textilemonster

See? How do you not name a team after them?

Perhaps I'll do a rebrand in the near future I do have 2 penguin and 2 seal teams which could do with more unique names.

I originally came up with pretty basic/generic names (some of which I have changed prior to posting) because I didn't know how to arrange the teams, wether I was going to do like Antarctic locations, bases, individual countries, etc. In the end the assignment of the nicknames was pretty much random save for the Kiwis and other country-themed nicknames I'll reveal soon.

[Ilove_Telin54]

Originally Posted by jasg224

Perhaps I'll do a rebrand in the near future I do have 2 penguin and 2 seal teams which could do with more unique names.

I originally came up with pretty basic/generic names (some of which I have changed prior to posting) because I didn't know how to arrange the teams, wether I was going to do like Antarctic locations, bases, individual countries, etc. In the end the assignment of the nicknames was pretty much random save for the Kiwis and other country-themed nicknames I'll reveal soon.

like Snowy sheathbill?

[Ilove_Telin54]

and Ningen?

[jasg224]

The Peninsula Division

Image from Wikimedia

This division is of course named after the peninsula off West Antarctica, it includes bases in and around this region.



We've got a bit of "warm" weather here, but this also comes at an increased probability of snow.

Eduardo Frei Leopardos

Image from Freepik

Out of Chilean base Presidente Eduardo Frei Montalva, the Sea Leopards play at Parque Fildes. They're owned by demanding manager Luis Pardo, who expects them to make it all the way to the playoffs. Manager Matt Moyer is in charge of the squad.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Jorge Barrios - 11th - The giant from Rosario is as good a catcher as you can get in the league, but his hitting is just about average.
1B Mandla Sithole - 16th - From Johannesburg, Mandla is an average hitter and just below average at defending.
2B Jayden Johnson - 11th - "Pepper" is another average bat with below average defense. He'll rarely strike out.
3B Sebastian Olsen - 9th - The Norwegian has a cannon for an arm, but he struggles putting the ball in play.
SS Mark Conley - 15th - Conley is a sure-handed, versatile defender. His bat is pretty bad, but he battles it out every time.
LF Manuel Romero - 14th - The veteran Spaniard has an average bat to go with shoddy defense.
CF Mauricio Delgado - 6th - He's a rangy outfielder. Not the fastest, but with great instincts and aggressiveness on the basepaths, he'll make good use of it if he gets on base.
RF Bruce Wong - 1st - The New Zealander is in his prime, hitting for average and getting on base. He's a great defender who rarely makes mistakes.
SP Carlos Alvarado - 6th - The 37 year old Californian has impeccable control over a mix of fastballs, sinkers and cutters. He throws 93 mph sidearm, and that makes him one of the best in the business.
CL Alexander Morris - 17th - The Australian has an amazing curveball, with nice control.

They're definitely a talented bunch, but might be lacking somewhat on the offensive front. Still they should be contenders for the division title.

King Sejong Krakens

Originally the Seattle Kraken logo

The only Korean team, and one of three Asian teams, the Krakens play at Barton Stadium in King Sejong Station. They're owned by An Inyeong who expects the team to play around .500. She's a demanding but generous owner, who wants nothing but the best for the team. They're managed by Brooklyn's David Harris.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Pavlo Ivanov - 16th - While his hitting is truly nothing to write home about, he's a plus catcher defensively.
1B Ross Thomas - 5th - The 38 year old Englishman is an on-base machine, with a near perfect eye. He's a terrible defender.
2B Raffaele Iervolino - 19th - The Napolitan is below average overall, though he does have a knack for stealing bases.
3B Vicente Ruiz - 2nd - If he's able to stay healthy Ruiz will show why he's nicknamed "Maestro". At 38 he's still a good hitter and a good defender.
SS Henri Le Gall - 3rd - Henri is an amazing defender: rangy, surehanded and strong. He can also pull his weight with the bat, particularly avoiding strikeouts.
LF Ramón Pujol - 11th - Pujol is a good hitter, though just average at defending.
CF Miguel García - 3rd - The Chilean is a true four-tool hitter, a good hitter, a good and strong defender, speedy. The Chilean could start on any team.
RF Roberto Acevedo - 20th - The young Argentine is a terrible hitter, but he's a good defender and he's got some room to grow.
SP Nick Lu - 18th - The Californian is a pretty good pitcher, though he essentially relies on a fastball and a cutter which leaves him open to hard hits.
CL Ismael Blanco - 19th - The Dominican has plus control on a plus curveball but that's about it.

Another talented squad, but their best players are surrounded by a patchy team. They might be able to compete at the division level.

Marambio Glaciares

Image from Adobe Stock

Yet another Argentinian team, the Marambio squad will play in Parque Seymour. They're owned by the unmerciful Ángel Abregú. He expects the team, under Josh Griggs, to make the playoffs.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Jason Martin - 15th - 23 year-old from Irvine, Martin is an average hitter and an average catcher. Perhaps slightly underrated.
1B Jordán García - 8th - García will get on base more often than not. He's a below average 1B.
2B Héctor Giménez - 2nd - At 36, the switch hitter is one of the best players in the league. A good hitter all round, including some power, and an above average defender at second.
3B Bruno Velázquez - 12th - Another veteran Argentinian, Velázquez is a good defender who struggles to put the ball in play.
SS Joel Blanco - 9th - With a specialty of putting the ball in play, the Argentine switch hitter's strategy is just swinging. Pretty savvy on the bases. Blanco's a great defender, with great range but just an average arm.
LF Thabo Mokoena - 5th - The South African excels at every position on the field, to go along with an above average hitting skill.
CF Alberto Rivas - 2nd - The Argentine is one of two 5-tool hitters in the league. He'll make some errors eventually but he can get to any ball and make the throw.
RF Pete Stead - 17th - An all-round average player to round out a powerful lineup, Stead might be underrated but he has a tendency to make stupid mistakes.
SP BJ Robinson - 13th - The Bloomington native throws a nice assortment of effective pitches with good control. He's a hard worker, though sometimes he doesn't work with the wind and serves up very hittable throws.
CL Lance Letcher - 6th - The Australian has an effective fastball-slider combo which he throws at the corners. He'll get weak contact more often than not.

Marambio might be one of the best teams in the league and early title favorites. Griggs has his work cut out for him if he wishes to keep the owner happy.

Escudero Tormentas

Originally the Green Bay Blizzard logo

The base is named after law professor Julio Escudero, who aided in the redacting of the 1959 treaty. They play in King George Field. The Storm are owned by Alejo Contreras, who will allow anything to go on with the team as long as he gets some good coin at the end. He expects manager Andrés Soria to achieve a winning record.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Arnaldo Mariano - 2nd - The Italian is a plus catcher with an average bat, which is apparently good enough to be the second best in the league.
1B Adrisa Sasi - 6th - A better corner OF than 1B, the Kerala native is a pretty good hitter.
2B Benito Díaz - 17th - A poor defender with a below average bat.
3B Mingyu Chung - 1st - The Australian-Chinese will end up at first base in most at bats, considering he's probably the best contact hitter in the league. He's a pretty good defender as well.
SS Dave Hoffman - 10th - The young New Yorker is a great defender, but not the best of hitters.
LF Danny Tejeda - 20th - Below average overall, but still only 22.
CF José Burgos - 12th - The 21 year old Chilean is a good hitter with good speed, but his glove might not be good enough for center.
RF Noel Paredes - 18th - Paredes is just bad at hitting, but has blazing speed and is an outstanding defender at right.
SP Antoine Jadot - 20th - Jadot just lobs the ball up there, most of the time getting ground balls, but most of them well hit. He can throw the ball with great control but it's no use if his pitches are just bad.
CL Carlos Navarro - 10th - The lefty's sinker gets a lot of groundballs, though he doesn't have the best control and sometimes gets hit around.

The Tormentas might not have a winning record this year, but having one of the most talented players in the league is always a plus.

Dumont d'Urville Albatros

Originally from the Fargo Moorhead Adult Hockey league

Based out of the French Dumont d'Urville base, the Albatross (just one 's' in French) play at Parc des Pétrels. They're owned by Jean-Baptiste Charcot, who is demanding in his pursuit of profiting from baseball. John Fowler has been tasked with getting a winning record.

Starters - League Ranking - Notes
C Jean-Baptiste Girard - 17th - Girard is a bad hitter, but at least he can handle himself behind the plate. It's easy to run on him.
1B José Chavez - 10th - An above average hitter with poor defense.
2B Finn Day - 5th - The New Zealander is the best defender at his position, but his bat is just below average.
3B Aarav Mahammad - 17th - The young Indian is not good enough for 3B, but his bat is just about good enough to be in the lineup.
SS Ricardo Domínguez - 2nd - "Chato" is a pretty good hitter, with a never seen before eye. He'll make good use of the walks, with his blazing speed meaning a single or a walk can be turned into an extra base easily. He's also a fantastic defender, with his just-above-average arm being the "worst" of his ratings.
LF Rogelio Reyes - 16th - The Chilean is a below average hitter, with good running IQ and plus defense.
CF Alek Fyodorov - 5th - A veteran from Miass, he's above average everywhere except for defense and power.
RF Golap Raut - 14th - The Motihari native is a below average hitter, though a smart base stealer and a very good defender.
SP Flavio Galbiati - 16th - Like everyone else, an assortment of fastballs in the low 90s will fetch him enough groundballs to be called a good pitcher.
CL Herbert Blasberg - 15th - A 93 mph fastball and a plus slider with plus control and movement will mean the German closes out most games without allowing a run.

The French squad is probably better than it seems, but they face some stiff competition in Marambio and King Sejong.
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Just one more division remaining! Apologies for the slow start, a master's degree in biology is taking away most of my time.

[darkcloud4579]

what a neat concept just when you think you've thought of everything in OOTP this is too fun