ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

2. Red Bluff (92-62)
The pitching heavy Red Sox could play havoc with powerhouse Rolling Hills... and they have enough offense to do the job... they are better than the Claxton Diamonds, who upset the Racers in the 2064 Pro Cup Series... if Red Bluff's hurlers can simmer down hot-hitting Rolling Hills a little bit at the plate, they have chance to defeat them... the Red Sox also play defense well (.981 FA).

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[Eugene Church]

3. Southport (86-58)
The Sun Sox are still a bonifide Pro Cup contender... they won it in 2065 and 2066 and missed out on a rare three-peat opportunity in 2067 when the San Alejo Montaneros beat them out in a close pennant race... the Monties pushed Rolling Hills to the limit last year in the TU Finals, losing out in a stirring 7-game series... the Racers had to come from behind and win the last 2 games of the series to make the Pro Cup Finals... the Sun Sox have a veteran staff with rock-solid starters, but the bullpen is suspect... Southport is just average in scoring runs, but there is good depth to the batting order... defense is top-notch (.983 FA), one of the best in the IPA... the Sun Sox can win the Pro Cup if the pitchers pitch well and they get fairly good run support from the offense... Southport won back-to-back Pro Cups in 2065 and 2066 using this same formula... just might do it again.

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[Eugene Church]

4th: LaGrange (94-60)
The Gators are on par with Red Bluff and Southport... they have strong pitching with 4 capable starters, but the bullpen is just fair-to-middling... offensively the LaGrange bats can do the job with good power... top-to-bottom in the batting order, the Gators are solid... the defense is good enough, but just average (.978 FA)... the Gators' key to success will be its bullpen... LaGrange is the only Ruthlandian squad to get any support from the Pro Cup pollsters... the Gators proved their mettle by beating last year's Pro Cup finalist, the Far Mountain Redhawks, for the RU North crown... how good are the Redhawks?... they had Rolling Hills down 3-1 last year in the Pro Cup Finals and yet lost it... LaGrange can play with the big boys in the IPA.

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[Eugene Church]

5. Oxford (90-64)
The Red Caps could surprise the pollsters... they are a sneaky good team... Oxford is very similar to Red Bluff, Southport and LaGrange... very good pitching with 2 standout veteran starters and a fine rookie... but they fall short in the relief corps... offensively the Red Caps can compete... they have good power and adequate hitting... 1 to 8 in the batting order, Oxford is pretty good... in the past they depended too much on their super sluggers, Buddy Blackford and Showboat Lynn... this year they have more support, but the two stars were down in performance this year... both of them saw their batting averages drop and their production numbers decline quite a bit... Oxford still has enough in the tank to test Southport in round one... they need Blackford and Lynn to play well in the playoffs... starters Rick Alessi and Pat McFarlane will have to perform well, too.

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[Eugene Church]

6. Wynnamac (94-60)
The Sundowners have the offense to compete in the playoffs, but they just don't have any pitching... none of their starters are stoppers... the Macs will have to score a lot of runs to win games... LaGrange, Forest City and Claxton have much better staffs than the Sundowners... you can win a Pro Cup with average pitching and hot bats, but not with bad pitching... Wynnamac will have trouble with LaGrange... they might have a chance to beat the weak-batting Forest City Firebirds and the Claxton Diamonds.

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[Eugene Church]

7. Forest City (88-66)
The Firebirds boast the second-best mound staff in the IPA... only Claxton with a strong 2.70 ERA topped Forest City's 2.88 ERA... but the Firebirds have trouble putting runs on the scoreboard... that makes it tough to get far in the playoffs... Forest City has gotten by this season with standout pitching, starters and bullpen, and a solid core of batters with decent home-run power... if they get the pitching and get some offensive support, they will do well in the playoffs... however, the baseball forecasters have not been impressed with the Firebirds... they don't see much success for Forest City in the postseason... the media ranked them 7th in the Pro Cup balloting.

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[Eugene Church]

8. Claxton (92-62)
None of the pundits thought very highly of the Diamonds in the Pro Cup Preview Poll, either... they were picked 8th and last in the voting... but the Diamonds did great during the regular season, handily winning their 6th straight Ruthlandian South division crown... as they always have in seasons past, Claxton does it with strong pitching... they were the best in the IPA this year on the hill (2.70 ERA)... and the Diamonds have just enough offense to get by... and this has served them well in the playoffs in recent years... Claxton won the 2064 Pro Cup, upsetting mighty Rolling Hills... in the last three years, they have been eliminated in the playoffs by Valmara, Colfax and Far Mountain... all 3 teams lost in the Pro Cup Finals to Southport twice and to Rolling Hills last year... the Claxton Diamonds may be better than the pollsters think with the likes of veteran starters Mark Meisner and Russell Krohn and trusty closer Alvie London... plus #3 and #4 starters Shelly Grice and Sam Black did some quality work on the mound this year, too.

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[Eugene Church]

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 3 Pro Cups (2060, 2062, 2067).

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

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

Red Bluff Red Sox

Owner: Mack Connery Philanthropic Foundation
General Manager: Mack Connery IV
Manager: Ike Sweetwater

Red Bluff, population 72,000, is located in the isolated and hard-to-get-to Silver Mountains in east central Tycobbia. With iron ore mining and steel production as the main industries, it is the headquarters of Ettellig, makers of the most popular razors and razor blades in the Islands and the famous "Look sharp, be sharp” slogan. The town is literally cut out of rock and gets its name from the red-colored bluffs of iron ore rocks visible high beyond the outfield fences of Red Bluff Park, the home of the Red Bluff Red Sox. Red Bluff Steel and Mining Company is the biggest employer in the town.

The ballpark is an anachronism, a throwback to days of yore, but the Red Bluff fans have repeatedly voted down building a new modern stadium to replace their beloved ball field. Since flat land is at a premium in Red Bluff, it looks like Red Bluff Park will be safe for quite a few more years. Mack Connery was the original owner of the team. In the early 2000s Connery was instrumental in creating the Islandian Pro Alliance in concert with Jock Ewing, owner at Waleska, John Banson, the League Commissioner, Jorge Trujillo of Belair Beach, Brent Steiner of Bayview, Rock ’n’ roll star and Cape Coral owner, Conway Birdie and jazz entertainer Louis “Sugar Lips” Charles of Bay St. Clair.

Connery, the long-time and very frugal president, general manager and manager of the Red Sox, probably went to heaven with the first dollar he ever made. He was a gentleman in every sense of the word. Connery even wore a suit and tie in the dugout. Mack Connery IV is the present guiding hand of the Red Sox. He succeeded all of his namesakes. His great-grandfather reigned until 2020, winding up his career at age 90, his grandfather retired in 2040 and his father called it a day in 2050. Mack Connery did it all. He was owner, GM and skipper. After his retirement, his offspring just ran the front office and didn't handle the club on the field. Connery was a baseball man on the field and off the field.

Red Bluff Park is a hitter's heaven for righthanded batters. It's only 310 feet down the line and just 360 to center. If you like lots of homers and scoring, you get it here. With the frugal Connery family all you get on the field is the basics, no high-priced stars. And all you get at the concession stands are just the basics: no fancy gourmet food or drink, just beer, soft drinks, lemonade, hamburgers, hot dogs, peanuts and crackerjacks. There are no silly promotions, either. But the Red Bluffians wouldn’t have it any other way. No yuppies, preppies, techies or boomers here. They are just hardworking, blue-collared miners that just love baseball. They love their old Red Bluff Park and all of the Mack Connery family.

Red Bluff is currently managed by a former star player, center fielder Ike Sweetwater. He starred for the Red Sox from 2032 to 2050, a five-time All-Star and Golden Glove defender. Lifetime Sweetwater batted .285 and walloped 521 homers. He took command of Red Bluff's diamond operations in 2051.

Red Bluff Park (1913)

Capacity: 7,350

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 310' (7' fence)
Left Field - 335' (7' fence)
Left Center Field - 365' (7' fence)
Center Field - 360' (7' fence)
Right Center Field - 380' (7' fence)
Right Field - 365' (7' fence)
Right Field Line 345' (7' fence)

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

OXFORD RED CAPS

Owner: Tyco-Tech
GM: Babe Friedriksen
Manager: Dennis Hartwig

Oxford is a town of 89,000 found in the east central plains of Tycobbia, 10 miles east of Blue Lake and 10 miles west of the Silver Mountains. It is a rural area, settled by English emigres in the 1850s and was originally called Mills Creek. In its early days farming and sheepherding were the mainstays of the economy. One of the emigres was a young commoner, Charles Emerson Winchester, who had been turned down for admission to the famed Oxford University in England. It was his dream to be an educator and eventually become a university scholar and administrator. His heart was broken by Oxford's rejection, so he enrolled in a lesser school and graduated summa cum laude. He then emigrated to Tycobbia, where there was no class system and started a small rural college in Mills Creek. Winchester said, "My voice shall be heard from this wilderness"... and it was. It was the first college in Tycobbia and within a few years became so successful that the name of the town was changed to Oxford. Winchester said his dream to teach at Oxford had finally come true. Oxford College rivals St. John University in Ruthlandia as the outstanding higher learning institution in the Islands.

Today Oxford College is a thriving private institution and much desired by the Islands high school graduates. The Oxonian graduates are in much demand in Tycobbia and Ruthlandia. The university is the town's dominant industry and supplies the local high tech companies with outstanding recruits. One of those high tech companies is Tyco-Tech, which is the owner of the Oxford Red Caps in the Islandian Pro Alliance. The team is named in honor of the university and adopted Oxford's red and white colors for their own. The school even shares historic Winchester Park (circa 1909) with the the college team.

Oxford's entry into baseball began in the late 1890's, when the college began an intramural baseball league. That soon expanded to include the townspeople. By 1905, Oxford baseball expanded to playing other town teams in Tycobbia. In 1920 the Amateur Baseball Alliance changed it rules, so that players could be employed by companies and play baseball. In theory, they were not paid to play baseball, just given time off from work to practice and play games. It continued that way until 2001, when Ban Johnson, the ABA commissioner, said it was time for a professional baseball league, where players could be paid just to play baseball and do it legally. The company and industrial league sponsors had long been circumventing and violating the spirit of the amateur rules. Johnson said it was time to bring it out in the open. That is how the IPA came to be.

Winchester Park is situated on the beautiful Oxford campus. Smokestacks and school buildings are visible beyond the outfield fences. The Oxfordian fans have a rousing good time at the Red Cap games. It is a college crowd, filled with undergrads and alumni. Cheerleaders and a dance team inspire the fans with all of the old Oxford cheers, adapted for the Red Caps. You still hear "two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar" and the Oxford fight song reverberating throughout the ballpark. In the seventh inning there is the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame". Then in the eighth, everyone sings the Oxford Alma Mater. If the game goes into extra innings and reaches the fourteenth frame, the fans will again sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" in the Fourteenth-Inning Stretch. This is unique in all of baseball. No one else does this. Food concessions at Winchester Park are just the typical hot dogs, hamburgers, cokes, beer, peanuts and crackerjacks.

The Oxford Red Caps have an experienced management team, consisting of Babe Friedriksen as general manager and Dennis Hartwig as manager. She was the women's softball coach and athletic administrator at Oxford. Hartwig was an outstanding hitter and outfielder, who played college ball at Oxford, then signed with the Red Caps upon graduation. He starred for 16 years, batting .303 with 338 home runs and 1349 RBIs. Hartwig was a Golden Glover, Ruthlandian Rookie of the Year in 2023, Batter of the Year in 2025 and a 5-time All-Star.

Winchester Stadium (1909)
Capacity: 10,250

Dimensions:
LF Line 335
LF 355
LCF 382
CF 420
RCF 368
RF 335
RF Line 300

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

Southport Sun Sox
Owner: Stage Productions
GM/Manager: Lorne Evans

Southport is located on Arvonian Island on its southeast tip, the southern-most city in Islandia. Arvonian Island, a tourist's treat, sits in the Southern Sea south of the main island and is separated from the mainland by Belair Bay. Cape Coral is on the island's north coast, Summerland on the northeast shore, Arroyo Grande on the southwest coast and San Alejo is in the mountainous interior.

Southport has a good natural port with beautiful white beaches and was settled by the British in the 1860s. They had first settled in Summerland, but thought that greater opportunities lay in the sparsely-populated southern part of the island.

Southport's population numbers about 75,000 fulltime residents, but it is visited by many times that number of tourists from all over Tycobbia, Ruthlandia and recently by visitors from all over the world. The town got it start in 1870s when the "Father of Southport" Henry Banks built several hotels near the hot springs along with holiday cottages. Banks promoted Southport as "Heaven on Earth" and got the plant and factory owners on the mainland to send their workers there on holiday as a reward for their work. Banks arranged for cheap passage on ships to Southport as well. The growth intensified when he got the factory owners to close down for a week each year to service and repair the equipment. Banks got them to do it on different dates throughtout the year to insure a steady flow of tourists. As more and more industry developed in Tycobbia and Ruthlandia, the more Banks' tourist enterprise prospered and grew.

Southport's early growth and character was predicated on its pioneering use of electric power. In 1879 Banks created Southport Illuminations, lighting up the Promenade, the main downtown area, with 12 arc lamps. Banks called it "Artificial Sunshine". This was a year before Edison got the patent on the electric light bulb. Also as an attraction, Banks built was one of the world's first electric tramways running from Cocker Street to Dean Street on the Promenade. The tram has remained in continuous service to this day. Southport Illuminations has now grown to a three-mile stretch on the Promenade and lit up by 100,000 light bulbs. Tourists from all over Islandia and the world come to see the light spectacle. At Christmastime the Promenade is aglow with Christmas lights and decorations. It's a wondrous sight to behold and see.

In 1912 Pleasure Beach, a world-class amusement park, was the brainchild of a town alderman, William George Bean. He wanted to create "a place where adults could feel like children again". It succeeded beyond his wildest dreams and is still a huge attraction today. The amusement park includes a baseball stadium, built in 1962 for the town's industrial leagues. It is named Pleasure Beach Ballpark and is run by Stageworks Productions, a company Bean's son-in-law, Leonard Thompson, established to run Pleasure Beach. You can see the beautiful blue waters of the Southern Sea beyond the outfield fences.

It was through Amanda Thompson, the daughter of Leonard Thompson and CEO of Stageworks, that the corporation ventured into professional baseball and obtained a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance. She thought it would be a great addition to Southport's tourist attractions, considering how much the Islanders love baseball. That's how the Southport Sun Sox came into being.

The first skipper of the Southport Sun Sox was Charlie Oscar, one of the greatest all-around player ever in Islandian baseball history, who starred in the company leagues for over 25 years. He led the Sun Sox for 46 seasons, sparking them to 7 Tycobbian South Division titles and one Pro Cup in 2042... Oscar was great with the glove and the bat. He could run, throw, field, hit for average and hit with power, a true 5-tool player. Oscar retired as GM and manager in 2046 and appointed a former Sun Sox superstar Lorne Evans as his replacement. Evans played in the IPA from 2025 to 2043, 9 years with Southport and then 10 with Tuckanarra. He was a 12-time All-Star, 4-time Tycobbian MVP, 5-time Golden Bat winner and twice was honored with a Golden Glove. He was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2045... Evans has led his clubs to 9 pennants and 3 Pro Cups in his career. His first Pro Cup trophy came in 2047, his first season as manager. Evans also captured it in 2065 and 2066. He was a lifetime .305 batter with 2928 hits, 701 homers, 1836 RBIs and 2045 runs. Evans is 7th in the IPA all-time in homers and 9th in runs scored... he is ranked 15th in RBIs.

Pleasure Beach Ballpark (1962)
Capacity: 12,500

Dimensions:
Left Field Line 330
Left Field 355
Left Center 385
Center Field 395
Right Center 385
Right Field 355
Right Field Line 330

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

LAGRANGE GATORS (aka Sports from 2001 to 2060)

Owner: Foxy Jamison Sports Enterprises
GM/Manager: Johnny Rodgers

LaGrange, with 65,000 residents, is found in the sparse and craggy foothills of the Appian Mountains in northeastern Ruthlandia. LaGrange is a very modern and up-to-date town with its main industries being silver and gold mining (some of the world’s richest reserves) and forestry and associated paper production industries. LaGrange was the second settlement in the country, populated by French Acadians during the 1850’s gold rush. Cajun French and English are spoken here.

The LaGrange Sports Baseball Club was the second amateur team in Ruthlandia. Marston was the first. LaGrange was originally called the Sports, but was renamed the Gators in 2060. LaGrange plays in the Ruthlandian North Division.

They play their games at the old Sports Stadium, now aptly called The Swamp, which has the town’s impressive skyline visible in the distance beyond the outfield walls. There’s a lot of fine food, fun, and frolic at The Swamp with great Cajun food and great Cajun music. A Zydeco band plays at every game. At the seventh inning stretch, “Take me out to the ballgame” is sung first in English and then in Cajun French. And throughout the game Cajun yells of “aaahh-eeeee” (exclamation of joy) and “laissez le bon temps rouler” (“let the good times roll”) can be heard cheering the home club to victory.

Mouthwatering Cajun cuisine can be sampled at the concession stands. Seafood and okra gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish pies are in abundance along with the most delicious bread pudding, café brulot (orange and spice flavored coffee) and crème brulet (superb custard dessert) in the world, too, mes amis (“my friends”).

The LaGrange Sports are owned by the family of one of the all-time great sluggers and first basemen in Ruthlandian company league circles, Foxy Jemison. He got his start in lumber mills, played ball for the company team, made a name for himself, moved up in the company hierarchy until he ended up owning it. Jemison sponsored a company team for years and worked hard to get a team in the IPA. Jemison managed the team through the 2026 season when longtime IPA superstar and Hall-of-Famer Quincy Peterson replaced him as the skipper of the Sports. Peterson played the outfield and was voted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2027. He played in 3087 games (17th) in 22 seasons, the last 15 of them in LaGrange. Peterson had a career .294 BA with 3514 hits (11th), 565 homers (18th), 1956 RBIs (11th) and 2029 runs (11th). Peterson was a 6-time All-Star and 4-time Golden Glover... the team won 5 Ruthlandian North pennants under Peterson. He retired as manager after the 2057 season and was succeeded by current skipper John Rodgers, who played for LaGrange from 2038 until 2053. Rodgers was a 5-time All-Star and 2-time Gold Glove shortstop, batting .293 lifetime with 343 roundtrippers and 1337 RBIs. Rodgers has copped 3 pennants since taking over in 2058.

The Swamp (2001)
Capacity: 10,732

Dimensions:
LF Line 325
LF 345
LCF 400
CF 400
RCF 400
RF 345
RF Line 325
Dimensions:
LF Line 325
LF 345
LCF 400
CF 400
RCF 400
RF 345
RF Line 325

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

Claxton Diamonds

Owner: DeBeers Mining Company
GM: Jojo DeLucca
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" sign on the left field scoreboard. 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 that sign, 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.

Following the iconic Engel as skipper was 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. In 2052 superstar player Jojo DeLucca took charge of the Diamonds as player-manager. He also handled the GM duties.

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 as skipper in 2057, but retained the GM role. Durable and workhorse hurler Abe Schiffman took the managerial reins in 2058 and has turned the team around.

As a player 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.

Avalon Stadium (1990)
Capacity: 10,500

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

[Dark Horse]

Playoff time in Islandia. One of the best times of the year.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

Playoff time in Islandia. One of the best times of the year.

Ah, my friend, you are very gracious with your accolades.

Much appreciate you and all the folks that tune in to the Islandian Pro Alliance.

[jg2977]

What time is the first game?

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by jg2977

What time is the first game?

Early October... around the 6th or 7th... game times are 12 noon... no night games... baseball should be played in the glorious sunshine.

Will play the opening game this afternoon.

Thanks for being such a faithful follower of the IPA.

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

WYNNAMAC SUNDOWNERS

Owner: Granger Co-Operative Association
GM/Manager: Jerry Meeks

Wynnamac is a town of 86,000 residents and can be found about 50 miles inland from the Valerian Ocean, which is near the eastern coast of Ruthlandia. It is located in the northeastern part of the country in the Central Plains, which spans east to west across it and is a well-known farming region, filled with seemingly endless fields of ripe golden wheat and rustic farms. It is the "Breadbasket of Ruthlandia". Settled by a diverse band of hearty and hardworking Canadian and Australian immigrants, who worked "sunup to sundown". They became known as "Sundowners" because of their great work ethic and love for the land...and for their love of baseball and the homestanding Wynnamac Sundowners. The area is also a center for meat packing and dairy industries.

Life hasn't changed much here for several hundred years and probably won't change much in the next hundred years. Wynnamac is a member of the IPA's Ruthlandian East Division. The club plays at Granger Field, which is built right next to a grain processing plant with huge silos and a water tower with a gigantic ear of corn on it...all visible from the ballpark. The Sundowners are owned by the Granger Co-operative Association, farmers banded together for the common good and welfare.

At the concession stands you get nothing fancy...just soda pop, hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, peanuts, crackerjacks and ice cream. However, they do serve a gourmet delicacy, a roasted ear of corn slathered in butter... mayonnaise, too, if you like...No beer or alcoholic beverages are permitted at the stadium. It is against the law in Wynnamac county and strictly enforced.

Wynnamac's General Manager and Field Manager is 81-year-old Jerry Meeks, the famed Sundowner southpaw, who piled up a 313-214 record with an outstanding 2.93 career ERA... in 2013 he captured the Ruthlandian Most Valuable Player Award and also the RU Golden Arm trophy... Meeks played in Wynnamac his entire career from 2008 to 2028 and was named to the IPA Hall of Fame in 2029... he took command of the Macs in 2050 and thus far has captured 9 RU East pennants and one Pro Cup trophy (2055)... Meeks is going to retire after this season... another Sundowner superstar and Hall-of-Famer Nioka Inkamara will take charge of the baseball operations and he will also be the skipper... Inkamara had a colossal career in the IPA, playing with Wynnamac the first 12 years and the final two with the Bayview Vikings of the Tycobbian West... his career covered the period 2038 to 2051... Inkamara boasted a .303 lifetime BA with 488 home runs and 1385 RBIs... he was voted into the Islandian Pro Alliance Hall of Fame in 2057... Inkamara was a 5-time All-Star, 3-time Ruthlandian MVP, 2-time Golden Glove and the 2039 RU Rookie of the Year.

Capacity: 7,965
Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 355
Left Field - 375
Left Center - 415
Center Field - 404
Right Center - 375
Right Field - 350
Right Field Line - 325

[Eugene Church]

Around the Town in the IPA

FOREST CITY FIREBIRDS (Formerly the LUMBERJACKS 2001-2060)

Owner: Jackson Investments, Robert Jackson, Junior, President and CEO
General Manager: Jackie Jackson
Manager: Rich Barstow

Forest City is the capital of Ruthlandia and the second largest town in the Islands with a population of 125,000. The town was settled by a group of American abolitionists from the North and the South, who foresaw the coming Civil War and decided to emigrate to Ruthlandia and Tycobbia and establish countries free from the rigors of slavery and religious intolerance. It was one of the earliest settlements because of the access to timber and its strategic location near the intersection of the Green River and the Silver River in the central part of the country.

The beautiful Green River emanates out of the Appian Mountains in the north near Far Mountain (ski resort), runs south throught Rocky Rapids (lumber, grain and transportation center) in the western foothills and plains, flows through Forest City, then winds its way past agrarian Middlefield and Sugar Valley in the fertile southern lowlands and finally empties into Belair Bay and the Southern Sea at the bayside resort and shipping center, Belair Beach.

The Silver River originates in its namesake, the Silver Mountains, which form the western border of Ruthlandia. It travels eastward through Volusia in the western foothills (silver mining and timber interests) and merges with the Green River at Forest City.

The Ruthlandian capital is an old town with buildings and homes that go back a hundred years or more. It is rare that the town planning commission allows much in the way of a modern building. It is noted for being the seat of the Federal government, for banking, commerce, railroads, steel, advertising, autos, paper and lumber industries and also the home of the Forest City Firebirds. The club updated its nickname from the Lumberjacks in 2060... Forest City was originally called the Lumberjacks to honor the forest industry, one of the first major industries in the Islands.

Forest City is in the Ruthlandian Union's West Division. The Firebirds play their games at old and quaint Riverside Stadium (circa 1915), right on the riverbanks with a wonderful view of the Silver River just beyond the left and center field fences. Across the river in the distance the fans can see the main part of town. Hot and freshly fried river catfish is a house speciality at Riverside, along with traditional ballpark fare.

Forest City is owned and operated by the Rob Jackson family. Jackson was also GM and Manager in the early years of the club. Jackson was a four-letter man in college, excelling in baseball, football, basketball and track. He played many years in the industrial league for one of the biggest banks in the Islands. When his playing days were over, he went to work for the bank, managed its company team, moved up in the banking ladder and eventually became its president and chief administrative officer. He then expanded to professional baseball and was one of the prime originators of the Islandian Pro Alliance. He joined with good baseball men like John Banson (IPA creator and commissioner), Manny Earl of the Sugar Valley Rattlers and Rip Calkin of the La Claire Lynx to create the first professional baseball league in the Islands.

Multi-millionaires also were involved and provided the needed finances to establish the league. Men like Jock Ewing of the Waleska Westerners, Brent Steiner of the Bayview Vikings, Jorge Trujillo of the Belair Beach Sunbirds, jazz great, Louis "Sugar Lips" Charles of the Bay St. Clair Buccaneers and rock 'n' roll superstar, Conway Birdie of the Cape Coral Hurricanes.

Rob Jackson's son, Robert Junior, is the CEO of Jackson Investments and is in charge of team operations. The elder Jackson's grandson Jackie Jackson is the current GM for the Lumberjacks. He was a solid second baseman for Forest City from 2023 to 2030. His last 10 seasons were spent with Colchester and Belair Beach. Jackson retired at age 35 in 2038. In the IPA Jackson had a lifetime .284 BA with 2172 hits, 165 HRs, 1122 runs and 869 RBIs.

After Rob Jackson retired, Rich Barstow was the Forest City skipper from 2046 to 2067. Barstow toiled for a mediocre club for years and is the all-time leader in victories. Barstow put up a 260-295 record with a respectable 3.79 ERA. He played for the 'Jacks from 2027 to 2046. In his second season in 2048 Barstow led the Lumberjacks to the playoffs for the first time in 45 years. Their only other postseason appearance was way back in 2003.

Randy Snow, a solid outfielder for the Firebirds from 2052 to 2064, succeeded Barstow in 2068 and enjoyed great success by winning the Ruthlandian West crown in his first season... Snow batted .297 in his career with 301 homers, 1060 ribbies and 1003 runs scored.

Riverside Stadium (1915)
Capacity: 14,780
Dimensions:

LF Line 332
LF 360
LC 388
CF 400
RCF 381
RF 350
RF Line 325

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

Early October... around the 6th or 7th... game times are 12 noon... no night games... baseball should be played in the glorious sunshine.

Will play the opening game this afternoon.

Thanks for being such a faithful follower of the IPA.

It would be amazing if you streamed the games on YouTube. I'm sure that would take a lot of time and effort but I bet that some of us would watch.