Continental Baseball Federation OOTP 22 8-tier promotion/relegation sim: 1950-onward

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Welcome to the Continental Baseball Federation, a fictional alternate baseball world in OOTP 22. I’ve always been interested in what a large promotion/relegation system would look like, so I decided to build one and after a few weeks of testing, I’m happy to get it going in full. I will not control any team; I like to just sit back and catalogue.

I’ll explain the lore and details more shortly but the basic gist is that it starts in 1950 in a fictionalized North America where the MLB structure collapsed after the Black Sox scandal, although a fragmented baseball continued on until the CBF was formed to codify and unify things. There are eight tiers, each with 36 teams, split into two conferences with two nine-team divisions in each.

There’s also a large college feeder league with around 150 schools that I’ll be following with players primarily coming from the draft (no “minor leagues” so to speak, so the draft/college is how most new players are introduced). The base stats are based on 1950, although I did adjust some strategy stuff for personal tastes (four man rotations, but closers are used, plus more stolen bases).

The team names are in part based on teams that existed prior to 1950, some based on real names that would come later on in reality, plus some that I just made up. All of the colleges are real; the conference pairings are partly based on what they were at the time and part what they’d become in the coming years.

I manually changed each team’s market size and starting cash as well so not all teams are equal. There isn’t an inaugural draft; it’s free agent signing to fill up the initial rosters.

My thanks to the many awesome contributors on the OOTP forum for mods used such as logo/jersey packs, expanded weather, schedules, namesets. Great work all! I hope you enjoy this odyssey. Unlike the prior long-term games I’ve done, I plan on documenting things and keeping track as it happens. Feel free to ask any questions you have as well.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

The sport of baseball started coming into prominence in the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s, eventually leading to the National Agreement to establish the Major Leagues in 1903. However, the Black Sox scandal of 1919 created ripples in the professional ranks and among fans. Soon after, the National League and American League severed ties, and the sport would be a disorganized mess for the next 30 years.

Dozens of small, regional leagues would exist in the next few years in North America, but with very loose alliances and no uniformity. The game still had many fans and supporters, plus the general tendency away from the "dead ball" style was boosting popularity. However, segregation, the Great Depression, and World War II all were major barriers from any sort of organized structure taking hold.

Some regional leagues began limited integration, but others remained steadfast in maintaining the racist status quo, keeping Black ballplayers and fans away from growing the game. The Great Depression made it difficult for many teams to survive financially and for the average fan to award even the cheapest ticket. World War II led to many potentially great players to have to serve either in Europe or the Pacific theatres. While still well liked, baseball certainly became a tertiary concern.

When the war concluded, the American economy boomed and baseball began to thrive as well across North America. It became clear to everyone attached to the game that a unified and modernized structure for the sport was required to grow and preserve baseball. However, there was fierce debate on what that structure should look like.

Throughout the late 1940s, discussions were constantly held between team owners, players, local and national politicians, and other power brokers about the direction of baseball. One sticking point was the difference between perceived “major” and “minor” leagues. Certainly, the regional leagues that existed weren’t all equal in terms of talent or financial structure. Many of the larger market teams favored the idea of having subordinate affiliate teams, but many of the medium and small market clubs had become fiercely independent and competitive in the prior decades.

Eventually, many had inspiration from the promotion/relegation pyramid systems favored by many international football clubs. Supporters felt baseball could be divided into tiers, which would reward the most successful clubs with upward movement and punish the poorly run with downward movement. Those in favor felt it would promote the highest level of competition and innovation at all levels, ultimately leading to a terrific product for fans in all markets and financial rewards for all involved.

There were other sticking points that had to be resolved as well. Eliminating segregation was an important positive step to growing the game, as was expanding the sport’s reach beyond the United States and more traditional baseball markets. The 288 teams that would end up in the superstructure not only represented every state in the Union, but also had clubs in Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. This would become known as the Continental Baseball Federation (CBF), which would play its first official season in 1950.

That said, maintaining part of the regional structure of the game was critical to both maintain traditional rivalries and to limit travel expenses and logistical concerns. It was agreed that teams would be placed in geographic divisions; East, Midwest, South, and West. These groups would be divided into two Conferences, the East-Midwest Conference and the South-West Conference.

The final math had eight total leagues; first through eighth. Each league had 36 total teams split between two conferences. The conferences would each have two nine-team divisions. At the end of the season, the top placing team in each division would be promoted up to the next highest league, while the last place finisher in each division dropped down a peg. All teams would play a 162 game schedule; with 10 games against each of their eight division opponents, six games versus the other nine teams in their conference, with the remaining games in inter-conference play.

In the second through eighth leagues, the postseason structure was simplified to two best-of-seven Conference Championships between division champs, followed by a best-of-seven League Championship. In the first league, the top three teams from each division qualify for the postseason. The #2 placer from one division meets the #3 in the other in a best-of-five with the #2 placer getting a one-game advantage and home field. The advancing wild cards play a best-of-five against the division champ, all hosted by the division champ. From there, a best-of-seven 2-3-2 Conference Championship and a best-of-seven 2-3-2 World Series.

Players also had a seat at the table and significant influence as they began to unionize and fight for shared interests. Those who had been stuck under a “reserve clause” in their leagues were tired of having their career potentials often squashed. It took time to come up with financial structures for each tier that were properly rewarding and competitive for the players and that promoted parity among the clubs. Standardizing rules for the game took work as well, eventually leading to the universal adoption of the designated hitter rule. The CBF also scrapped minimum batter limits for relief pitchers and the free runner on second in extra innings; gimmicks that a few leagues tried prior.

Along with existing players came the question on how to integrate new players. Baseball had become popular in recent years at universities across the United States and the CBF and NCAA worked together to establish an amateur player draft. This would occur each July and college juniors and seniors would be eligible to be picked.

The five round draft would see the first two rounds be regional rounds based on where the player was born (not their college, as enrollment on teams was increasingly out-of-state based). Teams would choose from a pool based on players from their same region; divided into the American regions of New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Southeast, the Midwest, the Great Plains, the Southwest, the Pacific Northwest; along with a split between Eastern and Western Canada; a region for Mexican born players; and one for Caribbean born players.

The draft would also be limited to teams in the first three leagues; a concession to keep the tip-top college prospects from potentially languishing in the bottom leagues in their prime. Lower leagues would be able to sign any undrafted college players. All players needed a minimum five service years to eventually become eligible for free agency with three years needed for salary arbitration. Teams in the top three leagues would get draft pick compensation for lost free agents. Additionally, lower league players could be purchased by other teams, albeit at a fairly steep fee.

Around this time, the NCAA established a more uniform structure and established the first College World Series for the 1950 season. The 150 or so “Division I” teams were split roughly evenly between the NCAA East region and NCAA South-West region. Teams would play 66 game schedules; 42 games against their conference and 24 against other regional teams. The top 16 from each region compete in a modified double-elimination single game bracket in the first two rounds. Those that survive move to the Sweet 16, quarterfinal, and semifinal rounds; each best-of-three. The College World Series is then best-of-five.

While the majority of players would come through the college system, the CBF also did set up international free agency signings with the hopes of increasing the sport’s popularity worldwide. As the game grows, the infrastructure would grow globally and more potential stars would pop up ready to be spotted by keen eyes.

With all of the kinks worked out, the first CBF season was to open in 1950. One last major challenge was determining which teams would begin play in which league. The eight leagues would ultimately be structured as so.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

With all of the kinks worked out, the first CBF season was to open in 1950. One last major challenge was determining which teams would begin play in which league. The eight leagues would ultimately be structured as so.

First League



Second League



Third League



Fourth League



Fifth League



Sixth League



Seventh League



Eighth League



NCAA

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

The formation of the Continental Baseball Federation essentially made all active players “free agents” by codifying contract rules and financial terms. Heading into the 1950 debut season under the framework, eight teams found themselves with a payroll above $900,000. The Chicago Cubs spent the most at $980,400 with the lowest spender in the First League the Los Angeles Angels at $622,200.

The richest payroll in the Second League was Orlando at $711,300. The average payroll in the Second League was around $550k, around $450k in the Third League, $380k in the Fourth League, $300k in the Fifth League, $250k in the Sixth, $180k in the Seventh, and $150k in the Eighth.

Signing the richest initial contract was Jess Peron, as the 30-year old Puerto Rican outfielder would be paid $93,000 in 1950 by the Washington Senators.



Player ratings are on a 1-10 scale.






The media predictions entering the season predicted the Brooklyn Dodgers as Eastern Division champs, Chicago Cubs as the Midwest champs, the Mexico City Diablos in the Southern Division, and Hollywood Stars in the West.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

After the first full month of play in the First League, the Philadelphia Phillies were atop the Eastern Division at 20-9, three up on Montreal and 4.5 ahead of Boston and Toronto. The Phillies initially had an excellent run of home games with an 18-3 record in Philadelphia. The Midwestern Division had Minneapolis on top at 19-10, 3.5 over St. Louis, Indianapolis, and Milwaukee.

Mexico City was on top of the Southern Division at 23-6, building a 6.5 game lead over Atlanta and 7 game lead over Dallas entering May. Hollywood led the Western Division at 18-9, only 0.5 ahead of Denver, two over Oakland, and 2.5 over San Diego. The Denver Bears at +72 had the best run differential in the game thus far. The worst, by a large margin, was Tampa at -122; 7-22 overall.







The first ever player to hit for the Cycle in the First Division was Chicago Cubs centerfielder Marcelo Carmago, doing it on 4/20 in a blowout of Milwaukee. The second was Hollywood third baseman Elijah Green, pulling it off against San Diego on 4/27.



The first pitcher to strike out more than 15 batters in a start came on April 14 from Cleveland’s Keenan Williams. He struck out 16 Reds in 8.2 innings.



Entering May 1950, Furman is atop the Associated Press Top 25 poll, followed by Cal State Fullerton, Brown, Oregon State, and Nebraska.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

Entering June, the best record in the CBF First League belonged to Mexico City, as the lone team south of the border led the Southern Division at 42-13. Dallas didn’t lose ground on Los Diablos, remaining seven games back. Both Atlanta and Miami had 7-3 marks to end the month to stay in the playoff hunt while the rest of the division struggled. Tampa still has the worst record in the league, but only are 2.5 being San Antonio and three back on Nashville, hoping to avoid relegation.

On the other side of the Conference, the Hollywood Stars turned a half-game Western Division led into an 8.5 game one with a blistering 20-6 mark in May. A strong finish to the month put San Francisco into the playoff chase, although with five teams within five games of second place Denver, the postseason battle remained tense.

Philadelphia maintained their Eastern Division led but a roaring 12-2 finish to May for Toronto put the Blue Jays within 1.5 games of the lead. The New York Yankees and Montreal Royals both sit 3.5 back in the mix.

The Midwestern Division saw Minneapolis hold the lead at 35-20 with Cincinnati, Chicago, and Indianapolis all above .500. Kansas City at 20-36 has the unfortunate distinction of the worst record in the East-Midwest Conference. They need to climc out of a hole to avoid relegation, whereas the bottom spot in the East is a multi-team mix.



Other notes: Phoenix’s Richard Azim carried a 31-game hit streak, which ended on 5/23 at San Francisco.





In the Second League, the battle for the top spot in the Eastern Division was deadlocked between Richmond and Baltimore, while Newark and Hartford looked to climb out of the cellar to avoid relegation. In the Midwestern Division, the Chicago White Sox and Grand Rapids Ravens sat at the top with Omaha and Louisville still in the hunt, and Madison an abysmal last place.


In the Southern Division, Austin and Santo Domingo had largely turned it into a two team battle while it was similar in the Western Division between Calgary and Portland. Rough seasons for Memphis and Las Vegas put both in line for relegation, barring a rapid turnaround.



In the Third League, Wilmington and Windsor both ended May with 6.5 game division leads and a nice cushion to potential get promoted at years’ end. San Juan and Arlington were near even atop the Southern Division with Anchorage leading the West with a few teams close behind.



Meanwhile, here’s a look at the standings in the Fourth League.



The Fifth League:



Sixth League:



Seventh League:



Eighth League:

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

In the final 1950 Associated Press college baseball poll, Nebraska had the #1 overall ranking, followed by Ole Miss, Wichita State, Vanderbilt, and Cal. Rounding out the top 10 were Arkansas, Southern Cal, UConn, Wisconsin, and Central Michigan.



Conference champions are below:
Big 10: Wisconsin
Big 8: Nebraska
Southwest: Arkansas
Eastern Intercollegiate: Brown
Southeast: Ole Miss
Southern: Furman
Missouri Valley: Wichita State
Pac-10: California
Atlantic Coast: Duke
Yankee: New Hampshire
Mid American: Central Michigan
Skyline: Montana
Border: San Diego State
West Coast: San Jose State
Best Independent Record: Syracuse




League leaders statistically:



The 32-team postseason field is below:



The first two rounds are a modified double-elimination, with single-elimination for those who make it to the Sweet 16.

The biggest upsets in the first two rounds was the elimination of #4 Vanderbilt and #5 California. Cal went 0-fer, losing to #24 Georgia and then #12 Duke. Vandy won their first game in 13 innings over #18 Montana, but then lost to unranked SMU, who also upset #2 Ole Miss in their bracket. The Rebels beat the Commodores 3-1 to eliminate Vandy and give Ole Miss another shot at SMU. Although highly ranked, #7 USC wasn’t in the field as their eight-game win streak to close the year didn’t get them one of the at-large spots and #10 Central Michigan would lose to Iowa and Furman.

In the best-of-three Round of 16 in the East Region; #3 Wichita State won 2-0 over #17 Illinois; unranked Iowa defeated also unranked Citadel 2-1; #16 New Hampshire edged #9 Wisconsin; and #13 Syracuse defeated #11 Brown 2-1.

In the South-West Region; #1 Nebraska met unranked Mississippi State again, who upset the Huskers in the first round. Nebraska would get the better of them 2-1 in the Round of 16; rallying from a 4-1 hole in the bottom of the ninth to win a 5-4 walkoff. #24 Georgia topped unranked Oregon State 2-1. #21 Cal State Fullerton upset #6 Arkansas 2-1, taking game three 3-2 in 10 innings. And unranked Southern Methodist ousted #2 Ole Miss 2-0.

The NCAA East quarterfinal had #3 Wichita State sweep unranked Iowa 2-0 and #13 Syracuse swept #16 UNH 2-0. In the South-West Region, #21 Cal State Fullerton beat unranked SMU 2-0.

The big story though saw #24 Georgia pull off a huge 2-1 upset of #1 Nebraska. The Huskers won game one 3-2, then the Bulldogs took game two 3-2 after 13 innings on a walkoff home run by Ethan Rybolt. Georgia won game three 5-0 as three pitchers combined for a one-hitter and the Huskers gave up 10 walks.

In the South-West Region championship, Cal State Fullerton won 1-0 in 11 innings over Georgia in game one. In game two tied 2-2 after eight, the Titans scored three in the top of the ninth, allowing them to advance to the first College World Series. The NCAA East Regional went to #3 Wichita State, as the Shockers beat Syracuse 9-1, then took game two 6-2 in 10 innings.

The first CWS went the five-game distance. Cal State Fullerton scored three in the top of the ninth to take game one 5-3. Game two was a 16-inning battle, finally ended by Shocker sophomore second baseman’s Donaldo Cardona’s RBI single for a 5-4 win. WSU junior Keith Crowther threw a two-hit shutout to give the Shockers a 2-0 game three win.

Game four went 10 innings and the Titans kept the series alive with a 5-4 win. Senior centerfielder Randall Moore had the walkoff single to force game five. In the grand finale, Wichita State was 3-1 victors as four pitchers allowed one run and five hits. Crowther was named series MVP despite only pitching in game three. His postseason was excellent, winning all four stats with a 1.03 ERA and 35 innings.

[MrNFL_FanIQ]

College awards were given out in early July ahead of the first amateur draft in the middle of the month. Nebraska junior third baseman Bobby Martin in addition to winning region MVP was rated the top hitting prospect, while Wichita State slugger Calvin Janssen was rated as only a 2.5 prospect despite his MVP. Illinois pitcher Cam Aguirre, the top pitcher in region, was also ranked as the top starting pitcher prospect. Arkansas’s Greyson Barron is in next year’s draft.




The Draft is set up five rounds with the first two regional based, with the order by league, bottom to top, then winning percentage. However, with the inaugural season and no past results or compensation picks; the order was largely random luck. Getting the first overall pick was the Second League’s Columbus Red Birds.




Columbus would pick middle infielder E.J. Shantz, a Missouri native who played for Cornell. Shantz is renowned for his ability to put balls in play, only striking out twice his senior year in 242 at-bats. The second pick was Hartford’s, which went to well-rounded Wichita State starting pitcher Grant Prater.


The third pick for Santo Domingo brought home the DR’s Aitor Alfaro, an excellent hitting outfielder and speedster who played college ball at Ohio State. The fourth pick was Indianapolis picking first baseman Aiden Van Bramer of UConn. Fifth pick to El Paso was Marshall’s Sebastian Morales.