League Profile: The Baseball League

It’s not often I hear from a league that’s older than my league but The Baseball League (TBL) predates the IAL by a good eight years.  Started in 1967, they have a rich history and have implemented some innovative modifications that manager John Wert talks about below.

Info on TBL:

John’s write-up on TBL:

Our league was founded in 1967, and we play face-to-face in suburban Philadelphia. We have 14 teams in the league even though we have only 11 active managers. We draft for the other three each year in order to keep the rosters from getting overloaded with all stars. We are always happy to hear from prospective managers.

We play a 90 game schedule in 30 three-game series. Depending on the number of active teams, we have played as few as 81 and as many as 96. During the season we schedule bi-weekly League Nights at one manager’s home where as many managers who can make it all gather to play together. Usually managers will play two series at these festive gatherings.
Probably because we tend to get a fair proportion of attorneys among our managers, our rules now run to 21 pages. We use a standard pitcher’s card for pitchers with fewer than 35 MLB at-bats, and we use a random error card and RP card, though different from the ones on this blog. A few other enhancements:

1. We do our own pitcher’s grades. We also fractionalize Z-s and W’s creating an additional dice roll to stop walks with Z’s and create walks with W’s.

2.We calculate our own HR factors. Simple dice rolls. “1” changes doubles to HR for an L or vice versa for a G. 1 or 2 makes the change for an M or H.

3.We calculate our own batting splits.

4.We have our own steal eligibility rules.

5.We further randomize the depth of flyouts.

6.We have our own board results for 26 and 28 with the infield playing close.

7.With the bases empty and RP results 28, 29 and 30, we change the result to X or K strikeout for 28 or 29, and Y or K strikeout for 30. Otherwise we go to a play result chart we call the Henry Board (after its creator, our current commissioner). It has some creative results that are a lot more fun than a called ball or strike.

There are several others as well, including some result changes on the boards, but these are the major ones in terms of play.

Thanks to John Wert for writing.  I love hearing from older leagues because there is so much to be learned from them.  Love to see that Henry Board!

If you want to brag about your league, we’re listening!  Tell us all about the league you are in and we’ll post a profile about it.  In the meantime, read about other leagues who have written in.