The Reds had to feel like they’d come out of the merger draft in tiptop shape. Their first round selection, Andy Wright, was a well-known phenom who’d hit the FBL in 1942 as a 21-year old and immediately became a perennial All-Star, Glove Wizard and eventually, when he moved to Indianapolis, a league champion. Coming off his best season at age 28, where he hit a career-high .351 and hit 14 homers, Wright looked like he would continue to take the FBL by storm, this time in a Providence uniform. In the third round, they nabbed speedster outfielder Bobby Coffman, 28 years old and also coming off a career-best season. There was pitching phenom Junior Holmes, selected in the 4th round and expected to anchor the bullpen for years to come. At all of 21 years old, he’d gone 5-1 with 11 saves and a nearly invisible ERA of 0.54 in 49.2 innings at AAA Syracuse in the Buffalo organization.

Six months later, not a one of them is expected to play again this season, and Holmes will likely never pitch again.

Holmes was the first casualty, the victim of a torn ligament in his pitching elbow, suffered in spring training. For all his promise, Holmes never threw a pitch in the Federal Baseball League, and probably never will. Barring miracle surgery, Holmes’s career is over.

Just two and a half weeks later, all of eight games into the season, Andy Wright made a diving, sprawling catch of a deep line drive into the right-center gap. He saved two runs from scoring in the process, but tumbled awkwardly into the outfield wall in the process. He would come off the field on a stretcher, immobilized for fear of permanent damage to his neck. The diagnosis came down later: a fractured skull that would have him out at least an entire year.

The Grays still managed to fight on without their offensive leader and an inspirational youngster, and have hung around the .500 mark all season long. That task might become even tougher now, as Bobby Coffman came up gingerly after making his own diving catch in the right-center gap. The result was not as severe as Wright’s terrifying injury, but still not pleasant for the Reds: back troubles that are expected to have Coffman out for at least 7 months.

In light of all these demoralizing bad breaks, you will of course understand if the Reds decide to put a full-time cadre of bodyguards around 23-year old pitcher Bob Pittman. On June 20th, two days before Coffman’s season-ending injury, the right-hander became the 15th pitcher in FBL history to throw a no-hitter. The way things have gone for this squad in 1950, it wouldn’t surprise anyone if the earth simply opened up and swallowed him whole, and the Reds can use all the good news they can possibly get at this point.

Baseball players have always been a superstitious lot, wearing their uniforms in exactly the same way, hopping over the baselines, going through pregame warmups in ritual fashion and countless other quirks and obsessions. As the Reds have proven, there may just be an excellent reason for all of them.

As part of the deal, the league owners agreed to reset their teams, in effect creating an inaugural draft for this ‘new’ league. The 20 teams have been assigned a draft order in random fashion and drafting should begin shortly. Teams will have to do a little bit of scouting to make proper selections, as each league is probably a little foreign to the other. Should make for an interesting outcome, however.

On the heals of this major announcement comes two additional announcements, the first being a talent showcase agreement with the Cuban Professional League. Under the agreement, the FBL will be allowed to sign CPL players in order to showcase the Cuban baseball system in America. Cuban players will now be allowed to prove their talent amongst the finest baseball talent in the country.

The other announcement coincides with the merger deal and includes major investment by all ownership groups to create a viable Major League Baseball competitor. Other attempts have failed, but none have had teams in so many major non-MLB markets - from the east coast to the west coast. The Federal Baseball League will surely capture many eyes, hearts and minds as they prepare to ramp up efforts to promote their league in these rabid baseball cities. Investment includes radio and newspaper ads, ticket promotions, stadium and equipment improvements, barnstorming tours during the off-season and much more. The FBL looks to be in it for the long term.

The basic premise of the league is a reformation of the old Federal League about 10 years after being bought out by MLB owners. The league will start in 1925 with a quick sim up until 1950 to generate some history.

The league struggled through the early years (mismanagement and misplaced priorities), but after the war the owners looked to take advantage of the new found prosperity and renewed interest in baseball to re-launch the league as the Federal Baseball League. After a merger with a small western league (to increase market reach), a complete re-draft, and striking a deal with the Cuban Professional League (to bring Cuban talent to the US), our owners will start off in 1950 to guide this rejuvenated league into a full scale competition with Major League Baseball for America’s hearts and minds.

League Features:
-20 team fictional league, talent only displayed
-We’re going to sim from 1925 to 1950 to get some history, owners take over in 1950 with an inaugural draft
-1950 era financials and settings
-1st round ammy draft order will be a lottery system
-Each team will have a Face of the Franchise (franchise player)
-Feeder leagues and a Cuban professional league
-Great competitive owners and all the bells and whistles you’d expect from an established league

We have approximately 5 openings right now: 2 teams in the East, 1 in the Central and 2 or 3 teams in the West.

New owners will be able to pick their city from a list of approved locations, create their own logos/jerseys/caps and build their team from scratch in the inaugural 1950 draft. And get the benefit of joining an established “new” league. We have 15 owners coming back for this great new experience, all of which are very competitive owners and great guys. You’ll definitely enjoy this league.

If interested, be sure to check out the full rules and the developing back story on the site… then send me an email with the following information:

-Name
-Primary email
-Primary IM (not required)
-Current leagues/past experience with online leagues
-Your preferred division and locations

Hope to hear from you soon!