ISLANDIAN PRO ALLIANCE (RUTHLANDIA and TYCOBBIA BASEBALL UNIONS)

[Eugene Church]

EASTSHORE COTTON KINGS
(aka Elegants)

Owner: Tara Plantation, Inc.
President and CEO: Bonnie Blue Butler
GM: Scottty Lagrange
Manager: Malcolm Tansbury

Eastshore is a town of 85,000 on the southeast coast of Ruthlandia, situated on the Valerian Ocean, just 50 miles east of Crystal Lake. It was settled by emigres from the American South in the 1870s, who were disillusioned by the post Civil War problems. Agriculture has always been the backbone of the Eastshore economy because of the perfect climate for growning cotton. Cotton is king in Eastshore. The port of Eastshore is one of the Islands' busiest and is also a vital part of the area's economy.

Southern charm and hospitality are a way of life here in Eastshore. One would think they were in Savannah or Charleston in the United States, instead of a world away. Moonlight, magnolias and mint juleps are still in vogue at the many plantation homes that inundate the farmlands in the area. The "New South" is alive and well in Eastshore.

But modern day Eastshore is more friendly than formal. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, you'll be welcomed with true Southern hospitality. Hip and historic, robust and refined, Eastshore is where you'll find amazing architecture, spooky cemeteries and rich history, along with global sophistication, funky night life and fabulous food. It's where history resonates into the present day and where memories are still being made.

Like all of the towns in Islandia, Eastshore loves its baseball and has since it first began in the late 1890s. The community has supported town ball, amateur leagues and industrial leagues down through the years and now have a professional team. The proud owners of the IPA Eastshore Elegants in the early years of the IPA were Clark and Vivian Butler. Their granddaughter Bonnie Blue O'Hara is the current CEO. The Cotton Kings are owned by Tara Plantation, one of the largest cotton plantations in Ruthlandia... the team rebranded in the 2060s.

Running the Elegants is renowned hard-hitting slugger and IPA Hall-of-Famer Scotty Lagrange, who starred for many years with the club. Lagrange was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2049. He was a 5-time All-Star, 6-time Gold Glover and the 2034 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player. Lagrange batted .295 in his 18-year career with 451 homers and 1414 RBIs... he is the general manager... the manager is Malcolm Tansbury, a former workhorse pitcher for Eastshore... he was 193-215 in 17 seasons with a standout 3.26 ERA... Tansbury was the RU Rookie of the Year in 2043... both Lagrange and Tansbury played for mediocre teams... Eastshore only made the postseason one time in each of their careers, 2034 and 2056.

Eastshore plays its games at Kraft Stadium, built by Kraft Foods in 1996. Since the 1920s Kraft has sponsored teams in company and amateur leagues.

Kraft Stadium (1995)

Capacity: 11,575

Dimensions:
Left Field Line 330
Left Field 350
Left Center 375
Center Field 400
Right Center 375
Right Field 350
Right Field Line 330

[Eugene Church]

VALMARA VIPERS

Owner: Viper Offshore Services, headed by the estate of Capt. Stanislaw Lem, Ruthlandia Navy (ret)
GM/Manager: Don Ritchie

Valmara is located in the northeastern part of Valdar Island, a port town of 81,000 people on Valmara Bay, an excellent deep water harbor. A clash of a warm Valerian Ocean current and a cold Kelnyck Ocean provides for heavy early morning fogs and sometimes nasty rainy weather.

The town began as a small fishing village in the 1880s and pretty much remained that way until the late 1930s. Valmara has never been considered a pleasant place to live with rocky soil, thick ocean fogs and moss growing everywhere. If not for its wonderful port, no one in their right mind would live there. The harbor and the port have brought commerce and jobs.The prime industries of Valmara revolve around the sea, be it catching and processing fish, servicing deep-ocean oil rigs or supporting the ten-ship navy of Ruthlandia.

With the threat of world war on the horizon in 1938, the Ruthlandian government established Valdarian Military Academy, a college for cadets and midshipmen studying for future service in the Ruthlandian Navy and Army.

During the Second World War, Ruthlandia was swept up in the maelstrom in the nation's first and only war. The nation sent a regiment of troops and a fighter squadron to England to aid the Allies. The Ruthlandian navy served proudly with the 2nd Polish Corps in the Italian campaign, especially at Monte Cassino. After the war, many Poles opted not to return to their Soviet-occupied nation and several hundred emigrated to Ruthlandia. Many of the ex-soldiers did not go far past Valmara when they got off the boat.

Over the next four decades, many Poles emigrated from behind the Iron Curtain to Ruthlandia. After many generations of migration and birth, more than a third of the town is of Polish descent.

The Valmara Vipers are owned by the family of Capt. Stanislaw Lem, RN (ret.) of Viper Offshore Services. The owner liked to be called "The Captain" in public. Lem made a small fortune after his navy career operating ships and helicopters that serve offshore oil rigs. Thanks to the vast supply of petroleum offshore, his company's profits went through the roof. The Captain had no problem coming up with money to buy a franchise in the Islandian Pro Alliance in 2001, the first pro baseball league in the Islands history. Valmara plays in the Ruthlandian Baseball Union in the North Division.

The Valmara Vipers trace their history from the frigate Viper, which had a team in the Naval League in the 1940's. When the amateur league players became semi-pros in the 1950s and worked and played baseball for companies, the Vipers were sponsored by Marine Midland Bank. The Captain played baseball for his service team in the 1960s and was active in the industrial leagues as a sponsor in the 1970s, 80s and 90s. Since Captain Lem had been the captain of the frigate Viper in the late 1960s, when it came to naming his IPA franchise, it was a no-brainer. The Valmara Vipers were born.

The Vipers play their games at historic old War Memorial Stadium. Amateur and industrial league teams have used it for years. It is dedicated to the memory of the 121 men from Ruthlandia killed in action in the Italian campaign during the Second World War. It is a old stadium built for football and soccer, but improvised and used for baseball since 1946. The Captain commissioned noted architectural company HOK to renew the old park into a suitable baseball park. He spared no expense in updating the old stadium with modern technology and conveniences. Yet it still retains the charm of an old stadium.

Game-Day Experience:

Like many successful immigrants, the people of Valmara have fiercely adopted the values of their new nation. Ruthlandia's flag is navy blue and green. In Valmara, it's just taken to a ridiculous extreme. The team’s colors are navy blue and green. So are the water towers, the dockyard cranes, the street signs and city hall.

Captain Lem wanted to build a new ballpark, but the city fathers persuaded him to just refurbish the old stadium in the old part of town to be an anchor for a new mixed residential-commercial district. Civic pride got the best of the Captain and he agreed to use War Memorial Stadium. The civic renewal project was quite successful. Because there is little parking nearby, fans have to walk nearly a quarter mile to the park. On the way, they are treated to a dozen restaurants, bars, and pubs. The integration into the neighborhood is considered to be charming. The revitalization project has brought a good deal of commerce and energy into the east side of town. The worst of the neighborhood was torn down. The city fathers have expanded the renovations and given the old town a new look.

Food:

Fans love to scarf down bigos (cabbage and meat stew) and rye bread at cafes adjacent to the ballpark. Inside the park, everyone loves perogis (potato and cheese dumplings). The Captain persuaded Mama Kolski's Restaurant (home of the best perogis in town) to open a stand at his newly-renovated ballpark and it was a big hit.

Beer sales are strictly regulated by city ordinance to two beers per person. This is due to the locals’ love of pale lagers that are 9% alcohol. Also in recent years, draft Coors has been a trendy choice.

Ambiance:

Music at the ballpark is best described as LOUD. The Captain installed a very modern, very powerful sound system at the refurbished stadium.

In 2001, a sound system operator substituted the Village People's "In the Navy" for the traditional "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch and started a new tradition. It was a college night at an industrial league game, with plenty of middies from Valdarian Military Academy on hand and many crewmembers from the frigates Viper and Foxx. It was a smash hit, no doubt fueled by a hot autumn evening, cold pale lager and the nine-run Viper lead. Since then, "In the Navy" has been played during the 8th-inning stretch of every game.

In the navy
Yes, you can sail the seven seas
In the navy
Yes, you can put your mind at ease
In the navy
Come on now, people, make a stand
In the navy, in the navy
Can't you see we need a hand
In the navy
Come on, protect the motherland
In the navy
Come on and join your fellow man
In the navy
Come on people, and make a stand
In the navy, in the navy, in the navy (in the navy)
(written by Henri Belolo, Jacques Morali, Victor Willis)

You can listen to the song by the Village People here on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3p4e-htTHw

Mascot:

The Captain (he considers himself a traditionalist) did not believe in having a mascot until he put his own money into the old ball park. At that point, he had to figure out how to attract every dollar possible from every fan possible. So Vippy and Vippa Viper came into being. They parade around the ballpark entertaining the fans and leading cheers, dances and songs. Viper fans are noted for shrill hissing at the umpires and the opposing teams. The Captain sells a lot Vippy and Vippa apparel and memorabilia...even rents them out to for birthday parties at the stadium.

History:

Baseball on Valdar Island had a late beginning. Due to the Island topography, climate and lack of mineral deposits it was not as desirable as the Ruthlandian mainland, so it was bypassed by the immigrants until about 1910, when the towns of Valmara, Ancona, Kilkenny, Taranto and Ranford sprang up. From 1910 to 1920, touring amateur baseball teams from the mainland would play games from time to time and the game was introduced slowly. But it did catch on. In a desire to assimilate with the rest of the country, where baseball was like a religion, the Valdarians took to the game with passion and fervor. Amateur baseball clubs and company-based teams began to sprout in abundance in the 1920s. By the mid-1940's Valdar Island baseball was as good as the Mainland.

The team was first managed by J. Jackson Samuel, a run-of-the-mill industrial league player that became a legendary manager. Samuel broke Jay Loman's record for the most Silver Whale Cups, given to the best amateur team on Valdar Island. Loman was the manager of the Ancona Red Elephants in the 1920s and won nine straight Valdar Island League titles. Samuel won 12 during his amateur career.

Samuel ran Valmara in the early days of the Islandian Pro Alliance, but only had modest success with five playoff appearances and two pennants in 16 seasons... in 2017 he retired and turned the reins over to one of the all-time great Vipers, Jet Kazmarek. who was a .350 career hitter in his 16 IPA seasons. Kazmarek was an 8-time All-Star and won the batting title 9 times. He is also the only .400 hitter in the annals of the league. Kazmarek batted an awesome .428 in 2002. He was inducted into the IPA Hall of Fame in 2027. Kazmarek skippered the Vipers to their first Pro Cup crown in 2026.

Kazmarek retained his GM title, but in 2036 turned the managerial duties over to Vanya Vasylenko, a former Valmara pitching star. Vasylenko starred for 20 seasons for the Vipers and compiled a 304-261 record with a 3.45 career ERA. Valmara captured three Pro Cup trophies during Vasylenko's managerial tenure. The Vipers were IPA champions in 2043, 2049 and 2050. Valmara has accrued four Pro Cups.

At the helm of the current edition of Valmara Vipers is Don Ritchie, a former outfielder, who played from 2041 to 2056. Ritchie has three Pro Cup rings and batted .289 lifetime with 97 homers, 1301 runs and 957 RBIs.
He has been manager and general manager since 2057.

War Memorial Stadium (1946)

Capacity: 9,595

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 330
Left Field - 350
Left Center - 380
Center Field - 405
Right Center - 370
Right Field - 330
Right Field Line - 309

[Eugene Church]

SOUTH FORK STALLIONS

Owner: Bobby Ewing Enterprises
President and CEO: Cliff Barnes Ewing
GM: James Billings
Manager: Jay Murphy

South Fork is a rural and provincial town with a population of 58,000. The main industries are cattle and ranching mixed with agriculture. South Fork is situated in the fertile Caledonian River basin in southern Tycobbia. Rich and black alluvial soils produce a plethora of crops on the farms in the area.

This is cowboy country and home of the South Fork Stallions of the Islandian Pro Alliance, begun by Bobby Ewing of the wealthy, influential and powerful Ewing family headed by patriarch Jock Ewing. The Stallions play in the Tycobbian Union East Division.

Here is the fabled history of the creation of the South Fork Stallions. Bobby and brother J. R. were squabbling vice-presidents of the Waleska Westerners of the old Tycobbian Industrial League in the 1990s. To separate the two siblings, the family patriarch bought each one of them a baseball team. Bobby got South Fork and J. R. got the Ozarka Naturals. Bobby built a beautiful new stadium and named it after his daddy, Jock Ewing Stadium. It is located at the edge of town and has a wonderful panoramic view of the town rising up behind the gigantic electronic scoreboard. J. R. built a new state-of-the-art stadium with a monstrous scoreboard, too, and named it Ellie Ewing Stadium after his mom, Miss Ellie... the Stallions and Naturals are still bitter rivals in the Tycobbian East Division, even though the Ewing Brothers have long ago past the torch to their offspring, who still run Bobby Ewing Enterprises and Ewing Oil Company.

Stallions fans are a rowdy bunch who love their team. They never let up on the opposing teams, giving them a lot of discouraging words and a lot of harassing at every opportunity. They even throw home run balls hit by the opposition back onto the playing field. No self-respecting Stallions fan would want possession of a ball that harmed the best interests of their favorite team.

For entertainment the Stallions have a Texas swing band at every game. You ain’t never heard a better version of “Take me out to the ballgame”. There is a whole lot of two-steppin’ during the seventh inning stretch at Jock Ewing Stadium. And when the buckaroos and little darlin's mosey on over to the concessions stands hot and juicy charcoal-broiled steak sandwiches await them there along with imported Lone Star Beer (“Brewed deep in the heart of Texas”).

Life at Jock Ewing Stadium was always quite interesting for the fans... Finley Charles was the Stallions’ GM and promotions director for the first 20 years. Charles was famous for his creative promotions and innovations in baseball. His teams were the first to wear loud-colored uniforms, like solid orange road uniforms. One of his amateur teams even dressed in a soft pink and wore Bermuda shorts. He also experimented with an orange baseball and having only 3 balls and 2 strikes in the game. He said it would speed up the game and create more action. None of his leagues instituted his ideas, but he kept trying. Charles retired in 2025 and things settled down to normalcy in South Fork baseball circles.

The Stallions were quite a team with a GM like wacky and creative Finley Charles and an outspoken skipper like Deroche "Lips" Leon... South Fork finally won the Pro Cup in 2025 under Leon, who had a stormy career. Lips didn't get along with many people. And he didn't care, saying "nice guys finish last". But Leon lasted 38 years as the skipper. Taking over after Lips was Blackie Terranova. He starred for them for 15 seasons (2010-2024), winding up with a fine 273-202 record and a 3.31 ERA... Terranova retired at age 42. His last season was 15-21 with a 3.56 ERA for a sixth-place club... South Fork had a rejuvanation under Terranova, winning the Tycobbian East three years in a row from 2041 to 2043... in 2042 the Stallions won their second Pro Cup... he was fired in 2051 after a 56-98 season.

Running the ballclub currently is general manager James Billings, famed for his statistical baseball research and analysis. Billings has applied his findings to the team's operation and has been very successful.

The current manager is Jay Murphy, a former player... he was the ace of the 2042 Pro Cup title team... Murphy was the Tycobbian Golden Arm winner in 2042 (25-7) and 2044 (28-7). Also captured the Tycobbian MVP in '44. Overall his lifetime statistics for 16 seasons is 250-185 with a fine 3.24 ERA. He has turned the Stallions around since taking over in 2058. South Fork fields a competitive team year after year.

Jock Ewing Stadium (2000)

Capacity: 11,750

Dimensions:
LF Line 347
LF 360
LCF 383
CF 400
RCF 383
RF 360
RF Line 347

[Eugene Church]

KENWOOD WILDCATS

Owner: Kenwood Farmers Co-op
GM/Manager: Josh Hankins

Kenwood, a rustic and rural town of 50,000 located 25 miles off the Kelnyck Ocean in west central Tycobbia, is an agrarian area with little industry. Farms as far as the eye can see dot the landscape. Founded by English and Welsh settlers, life is like merry olde England of a century or two ago. Country inns and pubs with fine ales, fresh trout out of the crystal clear streams or a piece of juicy wild boar or game bird are always on the menu, and you can sample all of the homemade cheeses and wonderfully fresh produce of the region. Corn, wheat, barley and other grains are the main crops; dairy, pork and chicken products are important to the economy, too.

Life is peaceful and sedate in Kenwood, where tradition is important. All new construction in the town has to be approved by the Planning Board. Modern architecture is not permitted in Olde Towne, as the central downtown area is known. All buildings must be designed circa 1850 and fit in with the historic décor of the existing buildings. Even the ballpark where the Kenwood Wildcats play is an old ballpark; the fans wouldn’t have it any other way. Olde Towne can be seen over the center field and right field fences and the new part of the town over the left field fence. Olde Towne has a wonderful old-fashioned soda shoppe where you can get homemade ice cream in flavors like orange-pineapple (with bits of pineapple and orange), grape (with real grapes), strawberry (with bits of strawberry), banana (with bits of banana) and vanilla, chocolate and fudge ripple, too. Cherry cokes, vanilla cokes, chocolate cokes and thick shakes, malts, nector ice cream sodas and hamburgers as well. It is a great place to meet after the ballgame.

Olde Towne Grounds is perfect for the Kenwoodians. They are old-fashioned at the ballpark, too, with only cold drinks, ale, hot dogs, hamburgers, peanuts and Crackerjacks and marvelous thick milk shakes made with delicious homemade ice cream at the concession stands. And in keeping with the oldtime flavor of Kenwood, there is live organ music to entertain the fans. Only three other parks boast an organ player; Ozarka, Hillsboro and Marston.

Olde Towne Grounds is is a quaint ballpark with an asymmetrical configuration. The left field line is 380', the same as it is to straightaway center. Right field is more realistic at 350'. It was built in 1911.

The Kenwood Wildcats are owned by the Kenwood Farmers Co-op. The first general manager and field manager was one of the all-time great home run hitters and outfielders in Tycobbian Industrial League history, Aaron Hankins. After 30 years at the helm, his son, Babe Hankins replaced him as skipper in 2035... Babe was a star outfielder for 13 seasons, batting .304 with 234 homers and 1109 RBIs... Babe Hankins was a 4-time All-Star, 3-time Gold Glove. Babe led the Wildcats to 7 pennants in his 32-year tenure. The team is currently being directed by his son, Josh Hankins, who took charge of the team in 2068. Josh never made it to the Islandian Pro Alliance, but he was brought up working in all areas of baseball operations under his granddaddy and father. He is both GM and field manager. The Kenwood Wildcats is a family affair.

Olde Towne Grounds (1911)
Capacity: 6,115

Dimensions:
LF Line 380
LF 365
LCF 370
CF 380
RCF 365
RF 345
RF Line 350

[Eugene Church]

VOLUSIA VIGILANTES

Owner: Tierra Wools Consolidated

President/GM: Joaquin De la Hoya
Manager: Tubby Tarkanian

Volusia is a town of 99,000 on the banks of the Silver River in the rugged foothills of the Silver Mountains in west central Ruthlandia. In the early years Volusia was a gold and silver mining community. It was first settled by Spanish and English emigres, who after the gold ran out, became sheepherders and farmers. Now the area is known for fine woolen clothing and textiles. Timber and paper products are also produced.

The Spanish settlers were some of the earliest baseball enthusiasts in Ruthlandia and they organized the third amateur team in the country. Marston was the first, followed by La Grange. Because of the cultural tradition of "siestas", the Spanish played their games during this time of day, usually from 3 pm to 7 pm. Commerce and business would shut down. This custom and practice soon spread to the rest of the Ruthlandian townships and eventually to Tycobbia. The "siesta" in the Islands has come to mean quality time with family... and baseball fits this perfectly.

Many Volusians are bilingual, speaking Spanish and English. Volusia is a member of the IPA's Ruthlandian Union and plays in the West Division. It is the home of the Vigilantes, so named for the citizen-lawmen, who brought law and order to the lawless wild, wild west in the Gold Rush days. Officially the Vigilantes play at Silver River Stadium, overlooking the beautiful Silver River, but it is often referred to as "The Jail House" by the locals. Part of the old terracotta-colored jail can be seen in right field. The inmates get a good view of the V's games and "cheap" season tickets, too. The team is affectionately called "The Jail House Gang".

The lovely old ballpark, constructed in 1919, is located right across the street from the police station, which wraps around the stadium on one side. The massive live oak trees that still dominate the city park landscape were used many times in Volusia's early history for vigilante frontier justice. Over the beautiful brick arches and center field wall, the fans get a great view of the Silver River and the downtown area, just across the river from the stadium.

A wonderful Tex-Mex band provides great music during the games. The V's fans bring their sombreros and during the seventh inning stretch, they do a Mexican hat dance. Concessions are unique, too. Tantalizing tacos, fantastic flans (custard) and scruptious fried ice cream are among the culinary delicacies at Silver River Stadium. Frozen daiquiries and margaritas are house specialities. Hot dogs, cokes and beer are available, too.

The Volusia Vigilantes are owned by Tierra Wools, a farm cooperative for sheep owners, weavers and spinners to market their products. Joaquin De la Hoya is the president and general manager of the club with Tubby Tarkanian as the field manager. Tarkanian was a good defensive catcher and modest hitter... he played 16 seasons with the V's, retired in '54 and was made skipper in '55... Tarkanian batted .262 in his career with 166 roundtrippers and 800 RBIs.

Volusia won the inaugural IPA Pro Cup in 2001, sweeping the Ginza Ninjas of the Tycobbian Union in four games. The Vigilantes had finished second in the regular season to the Far Mountain Redhawks in the Ruthlandian North Division... in the early years the IPA had wild card teams in the postseason.

Silver River Stadium (1919)
Capacity: 10,250

Left Field Line - 325
Left Field - 375
Left Center - 410
Center Field - 400
Right Center - 410
Right Field - 375
Right Field Line - 325

[Eugene Church]

VALKA BLACKHAWKS

Owner: Cybertel

Andrus Valk, President
GM: Jaan Kurus
Manager: Matvey Kazak

Valka is found on the southeastern coast of Ruthlandia near Crystal Lake, just 20 miles from the Valerian Ocean. It is a modern town of 82,000 inhabitants, settled by Estonian emigres in the 1890s, who wanted to escape Russian domination of their country. A wealthy landowner, Olev Valk, purchased the land near the lake and set up a community. When a town grew up around the Valk estate, the citizens began to call the town, Valka, in honor of the Valk family. There were three other waves of emigration from Estonia, in 1918 after WWI ended, in the late 1930s, just prior to WWII, and in 1991, at the end of Soviet rule. Today about half of the residents are of Estonian descent.

Originally Valka was an agrarian economy, based on vegetable farming, poultry and pork. It remained that way until the 1940's, when the Ruthlandian Institute of Technology was created under the leadership of Hendrik Valk. In the 1950s he started a small company, Cybertel, that blossomed in the 80s into a high-tech electronics and communications conglomerate.

Baseball was slow in coming to Valka and wasn't played until about 1920. It was an alien game to the Valkans. But as time went by, more and more of their kids began to play the game. By the 1940s the town had an amateur league, which was expanded to an industrial league. Cybertel and the Institute were both active participants in company league baseball. When the Islandian Pro Alliance was created, the Valk family made sure they had a team. They also made sure they had a stadium, too. Cybertel spared no expense in creating a state-of-the-art baseball Taj Mahal, Cybertel Park, the home of the Valka Blackhawks.The team name was chosen by Hendrik's son, Andrus, the current Cybertel board president. As a kid in the 1940's and 1950s, he idolized the comic book heroes, the Blackhawks, a multi-national air squadron, who fought the evil Axis Powers in WWII and the Communists in the Cold War. The team colors are blue and black, the colors of the Estonia flag and also the color of the flying Blackhawks uniform.

Cybertel Park is in the centerpiece of a beautiful downtown landscaped park area. A trip to the ballpark is something to behold with its massive centerfield fountains just beyond the outfield fences and huge electronic scoreboard. No ballpark in the Islands has the high-tech electronic pyrotechnic capabilities like the Blackhawks. A special treat for the kids is when the team mascot, Blackie, a trained hawk, delivers baseballs to the homeplate umpire. Concessions at Cybertel Park are traditional with hot dogs, hamburgers, cokes, peanuts and crackerjacks. However, to the delight of many fans, Valka's two favorite beers, Saku and A. Le Coq, are served during the games. Both brands are imported from the old home country.

Jaan Kurus, who headed the Cybertel company leagues for many years, is the GM and Manager of the Blackhawks. The Valka manager is Matvey Kazak. He took over the managerial reins in 2068. Kazak never played in the IPA... his main fame came from coaching baseball at the collegiate level, winning multiple national titles in a legendary career at Valdarian Military Academy.

Cybertel Park (2000)

Capacity: 9,503

Dimensions:
Left Field Line - 340
Left Field - 355
Left Center - 375
Center Field - 405
Right Center - 375
Right Field - 355
Right Field Line - 340

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

EASTSHORE COTTON KINGS
(aka Elegants)

Owner: Tara Plantation, Inc.
President and CEO: Bonnie Blue Butler
GM: Scottty Lagrange
Manager: Malcolm Tansbury

Eastshore is a town of 85,000 on the southeast coast of Ruthlandia, situated on the Valerian Ocean, just 50 miles east of Crystal Lake. It was settled by emigres from the American South in the 1870s, who were disillusioned by the post Civil War problems. Agriculture has always been the backbone of the Eastshore economy because of the perfect climate for growning cotton. Cotton is king in Eastshore. The port of Eastshore is one of the Islands' busiest and is also a vital part of the area's economy.

Southern charm and hospitality are a way of life here in Eastshore. One would think they were in Savannah or Charleston in the United States, instead of a world away. Moonlight, magnolias and mint juleps are still in vogue at the many plantation homes that inundate the farmlands in the area. The "New South" is alive and well in Eastshore.

But modern day Eastshore is more friendly than formal. Whoever you are, wherever you're from, you'll be welcomed with true Southern hospitality. Hip and historic, robust and refined, Eastshore is where you'll find amazing architecture, spooky cemeteries and rich history, along with global sophistication, funky night life and fabulous food. It's where history resonates into the present day and where memories are still being made.

Like all of the towns in Islandia, Eastshore loves its baseball and has since it first began in the late 1890s. The community has supported town ball, amateur leagues and industrial leagues down through the years and now have a professional team. The proud owners of the IPA Eastshore Elegants in the early years of the IPA were Clark and Vivian Butler. Their granddaughter Bonnie Blue O'Hara is the current CEO. The Cotton Kings are owned by Tara Plantation, one of the largest cotton plantations in Ruthlandia... the team rebranded in the 2060s.

Running the Elegants is renowned hard-hitting slugger and IPA Hall-of-Famer Scotty Lagrange, who starred for many years with the club. Lagrange was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2049. He was a 5-time All-Star, 6-time Gold Glover and the 2034 Ruthlandian Union Most Valuable Player. Lagrange batted .295 in his 18-year career with 451 homers and 1414 RBIs... he is the general manager... the manager is Malcolm Tansbury, a former workhorse pitcher for Eastshore... he was 193-215 in 17 seasons with a standout 3.26 ERA... Tansbury was the RU Rookie of the Year in 2043... both Lagrange and Tansbury played for mediocre teams... Eastshore only made the postseason one time in each of their careers, 2034 and 2056.

Eastshore plays its games at Kraft Stadium, built by Kraft Foods in 1996. Since the 1920s Kraft has sponsored teams in company and amateur leagues.

Kraft Stadium (1995)

Capacity: 11,575

Dimensions:
Left Field Line 330
Left Field 350
Left Center 375
Center Field 400
Right Center 375
Right Field 350
Right Field Line 330

Kraft Stadium looks like a carbon copy of Rogers Center (I still like to call it Skydome).

[jg2977]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

I played around with creating camera views for the game's animation.

Got some good help in a thread on OOTP21 Discussions I posted.

I liked the simple default settings... really liked them... was quite content with them... but they are pale in comparison to the custom views I created this evening.

The animation in OOTP22 is really something.

My new camera views has me sitting right behind home place with a view of the entire field... the camera switches blend smoothly and I only lost view of the ball one time... it was a foul ball near the dugout on the first-base side.

Learn how to create your own camera views... it is worth it.

Very special thanks to twins_34, Sweed, Bluenoser and a bunch of others on the OOTP22 Discussions Forum.... they really help a very old computer illiterate make the game much better.

Also I think they fixed the weird foul balls in the latest patches... no outfielders ran through the walls, either.

My new computer is so fast and so smooth... really, really pleased with it.

And yeah, I know it is "overkill" when it comes to playing OOTP with animation... but I think the better processor and graphics card will give me good service for maybe 4-5 years or so... it should be better in the long run than my previous computers, which were excellent.

I haven't downloaded the two most recent patches. I'll have to do this tonight and see how the foul balls look now. I didn't know that was included.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by jg2977

I haven't downloaded the two most recent patches. I'll have to do this tonight and see how the foul balls look now. I didn't know that was included.

I don't know if they specifically fixed the weird foul balls and flyballs, I just know I didn't see them in the 3 games I have played so far.

I figure they have worked on them.

[Dark Horse]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

I played around with creating camera views for the game's animation.

Got some good help in a thread on OOTP21 Discussions I posted.

I liked the simple default settings... really liked them... was quite content with them... but they are pale in comparison to the custom views I created this evening.

The animation in OOTP22 is really something.

My new camera views has me sitting right behind home place with a view of the entire field... the camera switches blend smoothly and I only lost view of the ball one time... it was a foul ball near the dugout on the first-base side.

Learn how to create your own camera views... it is worth it.

Very special thanks to twins_34, Sweed, Bluenoser and a bunch of others on the OOTP22 Discussions Forum.... they really help a very old computer illiterate make the game much better.

Also I think they fixed the weird foul balls in the latest patches... no outfielders ran through the walls, either.

My new computer is so fast and so smooth... really, really pleased with it.

And yeah, I know it is "overkill" when it comes to playing OOTP with animation... but I think the better processor and graphics card will give me good service for maybe 4-5 years or so... it should be better in the long run than my previous computers, which were excellent.

OOTP Animation is not overkill. i admit it might not be everyone's cup of tea. But that's one of the great things about OOTP. so many different fans can enjoy it so many different ways.

And, i bought a gaming laptop so i could take advantage of the animations. And i think they are good, but there's room for improvement. i'm looking forward to it getting better. i like to watch replays and highlights of my online league. It's better for me than combing through game logs. And, eventually, i or probably someone else will find a way to incorporate it into a dynasty. And i hope it will be fictional league; if not a fictional world league.

Now, back to the IPA playoffs.

[Eugene Church]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

OOTP Animation is not overkill. i admit it might not be everyone's cup of tea. But that's one of the great things about OOTP. so many different fans can enjoy it so many different ways.

And, i bought a gaming laptop so i could take advantage of the animations. And i think they are good, but there's room for improvement. i'm looking forward to it getting better. i like to watch replays and highlights of my online league. It's better for me than combing through game logs. And, eventually, i or probably someone else will find a way to incorporate it into a dynasty. And i hope it will be fictional league; if not a fictional world league.

Now, back to the IPA playoffs.

By "overkill" I meant that I bought far more computer than I needed to just run OOTP... a $500 computer would probably do fine... I spent more money hoping that my computer would not be outdated very soon.

Let me know if you ever do a Dynasty Report... that would be great... I know you will do a superb job... just like the Laseron Baseball Association.

[Dark Horse]

Originally Posted by Eugene Church

By "overkill" I meant that I bought far more computer than I needed to just run OOTP... a $500 computer would probably do fine... I spent more money hoping that my computer would not be outdated very soon.

OHHH. In that case, i did the same thing.

[Eugene Church]

Saturday, October 7, 2073

RASCALS, COTTON KINGS, STALLIONS AND VIPERS WIN IPA FIRST-ROUND OPENERS
4 clubs in the Islandian Pro Alliance took the first tiny steps toward winning the Pro Cup Trophy with victories in the first-round opening games... Pro-Cup favored White River took a close one 2-0 over the Kenwood Wildcats... South Fork stopped reigning IPA champ Turon 5-1... Eastshore outscored the Valka Blackhawks 10-8... and the Volusia Vigilantes skimmed past the Valmara Vipers 3-1.

2073 Islandian Pro Alliance First-Round Stars of the Game

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]

[Dark Horse]

Looks like Home team rules in game one. But the Vigilantes and Vipers didn't get the memo.

[Eugene Church]

Sunday, October 8, 2073

WHITE RIVER, SOUTH FORK COULD SWEEP IN TYCOBBIAN FIRST-ROUND PLAY
Two clubs put themselves in position to sweep their first-round series... in the Tycobbian Union Pro Cup favorite White River and South Fork have now won the first two games of the their series and could wrap them up in game three of the best-of-five sets... the Rascals smacked the Kenwood Wildcats 11-6 yesterday afternoon and the Stallions put it to the defending Pro Cup champion Turon 7-5... in the Ruthlandian Union First Round all four clubs have split the series thus far... Eastshore evened up with Valka 7-2 and Valmara blanked Volusia 3-0 to tie that one up, too... the third, fourth and fifth games are slated for Kenwood, Turon, Valka and Volusia.

2073 Islandian Pro Alliance Stars of the Games

[Eugene Church]

[Eugene Church]