Theme league 1947-1966

My childhood buddies and myself want to try out a league with just players from the post WWII set without the Negro League and expansion players. It would be an 80 million autodraft with DH and ballparks can only be from 1947-1966. All players that are not designated post (1947-1966) would have to be replaced by the start of the season.

The one problem I can see is that with the autodraft you might get screwed by HAL and not get any top players 1947-1966 and then have a limited free agent pool. That could be nullified by our poor performances in any ATG leagues (I personally have an overall ATG record way under .500) we've ever been in and some of our overall inexperience. We'll need 5-7 additional managers. Two of the below have yet to commit. Don't be afraid to take the risk unless you and HAL have a bad history.

1. Rigged Splits
2. Jayar
3. Cubbywoo
4. Dtal
5. Roadapple
6. lk3291
7. movertom
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

My childhood buddies and myself want to try out a league with just players from the post WWII set without the Negro League and expansion players. It would be an 80 million autodraft with DH and ballparks can only be from 1947-1966. All players that are not designated post (1947-1966) would have to be replaced by the start of the season.

The one problem I can see is that with the autodraft you might get screwed by HAL and not get any top players 1947-1966 and then have a limited free agent pool. That could be nullified by our poor performances in any ATG leagues (I personally have an overall ATG record way under .500) we've ever been in and some of our overall inexperience. We'll need 5-7 additional managers. Two of the below have yet to commit. Don't be afraid to take the risk unless you and HAL have a bad history.

1. Rigged Splits
2. Jayar
3. Cubbywoo
4. Dtal
5. Roadapple
6. lk3291
7. movertom
8. Terry101
9.
10.
11.
12.

Great. I grew up watching the players from this era

The same goes for us. Maybe not to the 40s, but that's why we want to do this.

OK, I'll join.

My childhood buddies and I first began to follow baseball religiously in the mid 1960s, when only a handful of stars from the post WWII era were still playing. I used to go to the park down the street from my house (Murray Park, in the Chicago Englewood neighborhood, where 30+ years later Derrick Rose would play pick up basketball games) and collect empty pop bottles and bring them to the mom & pop store around the corner from my house for the 2 cents deposit money. If I was lucky, I would find a few bottles and buy some baseball cards, which were a nickel a pack. We used to throw away the bubblegum (it was always brittle). Some of us had killer baseball card collections, but, alas, like so many other kids, our mothers threw them away.

Anyway, by the time I got into high school, I met other like minded baseball fanatics and we started playing Strato. Our leagues were usually 8 team draft leagues. We stay in touch 40+ years later, but only my friend PJK plays the online game. Based on my good memories playing Strato as a teenager, I consider it quite an honor to be able to join you and your friends in your league. I've played in similar leagues previously, and there are plenty of good players available, certainly enough to use a $100 mil cap if you desire. I'm a little surprised it's a DH league, as there was no DH during that era, but I'm in regardless and am looking forward to the competition. Also, If you are worried about an uneven autodraft, you might consider a partial Diamond Dope draft of about 15 players, which would more evenly distribute the talent. I've been in such Post WWII leagues with DD drafts and the leagues were very competitive.

1. Rigged Splits
2. Jayar
3. Cubbywoo
4. Dtal
5. Roadapple
6. lk3291
7. movertom
8. Terry101
9. BDWard
10.
11.
12.

BD, It sounds like you could be my brother. All of us grew up in Elmhurst just outside Chicago. We probably started following baseball in the late 50s to early 60s except Jayar who was born in the 40s and Cubbywoo who's a genx kid. Our 1st Strat teams were the 64 cards. We also used to go to the neighborhood store with dirty pop bottles. We could get a longjohn and a Frosty root beer for a quarter. Speaking of baseball cards, roadapple buys the old packs at flea markets. Of course the gum is still in them and, as you might expect, it hasn't softened. I can't remember if anyone has tried it at our semi-regular get-togethers.

Jayar chose the DH. My guess is to get a chance to use more of the players.

Diamond Dope sounds good, but I think myself and Jayar would be the only ones of our group that would go for it. Just doing a league with these restrictions is enough to confound most of the rest of them. Although they did adapt to the old live draft at the Sporting News site.

RS: When I saw Cubbywoo in the league, I figured that there was a good chance that at least some of you were from the Chicago area, as who else but a native would know about Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers?

There are actually quite a few online players from the Chicago area and they are a good group.

As for Diamond Dope, it's really simple to do a draft there. Even I, a techno challenged guy if there ever was one, was able to jump in and create a league with no problems about a year and a half ago and I've done about a half dozen leagues since and have been in my share of Diamond Dope draft leagues created by others as well.

If you and your friends started playing Strato in the mid '60s (our first year was with the '71 cards, although for a few years before that I played Cadaco All-Star Baseball with my brother) you know that there's nothing like a live draft. We had one every year when the new cards came out until we all graduated from college in the late '70s. The drafts were always fun, with cards spread everywhere.

I have a feeling that your league members want the DH primarily for Kiner and Williams, but they played in the field (albeit mostly poorly) in their day and can do so again if you want to follow the rules of the era.

Anyway, let me know if there is a change of heart regarding Diamond Dope, as it does give a more even distribution of talent and I'd be happy to set up the draft and help people get through it.

1. Rigged Splits
2. Jayar
3. Cubbywoo
4. Dtal
5. Roadapple
6. lk3291
7. movertom
8. Terry101
9. BDWard
10.
11.
12.

BD, can you give some info on how a live draft there works. Can you have the computer autodraft for you? Does it keep track of salaries? Can you fill out a list and have the computer draft?

BD, can you give some info on how a live draft there works. Can you have the computer autodraft for you? Does it keep track of salaries? Can you fill out a list and have the computer draft?

RS: I'm happy to give you info on DD drafts. They are really quite simple and the best way to learn is just to participate in a draft.

But to answer your questions, it does keep a running total of the sum of the salaries for the players drafted on each team. Also, if a manager is unavailable to make a "live" draft pick when his turn arises, "proxy" picks can be pre-set and it will draft the highest player on the proxy list. A clock can also be set for the maximum time between picks and if the pick is not made on time, the pick is skipped, although the pick can be made at any time thereafter. Note that the clock is off at night, I think from midnight to 8:00 A.M. Eastern time, though picks can still be made while the clock is off. I usually set the clock at 3 hours or 6 hours and that is usually plenty of time for players to make their picks. There also is a no clock option.

The computer will not pick a player for a manager. The manager must either make all picks live or have proxy picks, from which the computer will take the next ranked available player from the manager's proxy list.

I hope this helps.

I have a few credits to burn, and am feeling nostalgic on the passing of my favorite player, Stan THE MAN Musial. I'm a Cardinals fan all the way, so will understand it if the Cubs faithful choose not to allow me entry to the league.

As a kid in the 60's and 70's, the Cards were and remain my team of choice. The 60's were a fantastic time to watch Cardinals baseball. (I listened to more games than I watched, truth be told, but with the voices of Harray Carey and Jack Buck, the game was a joy to hear in those days). I enjoyed the 70's as well even though my beloved team struggled during that decade. The 40's and 50's were before my time, but I'd like to give the Strat version in this league a try if I am welcome.

Let me know,
(diamond dope, DH or no DH, autodraft .... any combo is fine by me)
Rick "doc" Hack (hackra)