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

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Most of the top free agents in the 1953 offseason were opt outs from relegated teams, especially from Toronto. Second baseman Dale Bjorgum formally of the Blue Jays ended up signing the largest salary deal, as the 33-year old would be due $292,000 in 1954 on a five-year deal to the New York Yankees. A sprained knee in spring training though would already make some Yankees fans leery of the new highest paid man in the game.

Another former Blue Jay, Rostyslav Brovarskyi, signed a big deal. The 27-year old Ukrainian first baseman signed an eight-year, $2,056,00 deal with Tijuana. This is the largest total contract, Former Hollywood third baseman Tim Frost signed with Boston. Former Houston first baseman Jerold McAlvey stayed in Texas, but switched over to Austin.

As for pitchers, the two highest rated pitchers, AJ McArthur and Payton Nolan, were unsigned entering the season as both recovered from major injuries. Nolan is thought to be back form a torn UCL in the summer while McArthur’s rotator cuff tear may leave him out of the 1954 campaign entirely. The major contract for free agent pitchers went to Ventura Valles, formerly of Miami. The New York Giants gave him a five-year, $1,020,000 deal. The full list of free agent signings are below.




Here are the best players in baseball entering the 1954 season.

Hitters



Pitchers

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Here are the standings in the First League entering May 1954. The best record is the New York Yankees at 25-8 for the East-Midwest Conference and the Phoenix Firebirds at 24-10 in the West-South Conference. The most notable hitter injuries of the first month was defending WSC batting champ Luis Quezada going down for three months on a fractured ankle and Juarez outfielder Bryson Dickson’s broken kneecap, putting him out four months. Cleveland pitcher Keenan Williams suffered a strained oblique, putting him out for about two months.



On April 30, Detroit’s Rafael Lara no-hit Vancouver, walking four and striking out nine in the effort.



Here’s the Second League entering May 1954.



The Third League…



The Fourth League…



The Fifth League…



The Sixth League…



The Seventh League…



And the Eighth League.



Here’s the college baseball standings and Associated Press Top 25 rankings entering May.

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Entering June 1954, the New York Yankees have the best record in the First League at 47-12. Edmonton suffered a huge blow early in the month as outfielder Franklin Singleton, the leader in RBI last year, suffered a torn calf muscle. If they’re lucky, he might be back if they make the postseason. Payton Nolan, the former Toronto all-star, signed with Baltimore for one year and $202,000. The 28-year old hasn’t pitched since his torn UCL last July, but the Orioles hope to have him ready to go in June.



In the Second League…



The Third League…



The Fourth League…



The Fifth League…



The Sixth League…



The Seventh League…



And the Eighth League

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Below are the final NCAA baseball standings for the 1954 season and the final Top 25. Army set a new single-season wins record at 51 as the Eastern Intercollegiate Baseball League champ. Southern Conference champ William and Mary also cracked the 50 win mark. They are #1 and #2 ranked, followed by Tennessee, Gonzaga, and Miami. Unlike prior years with Top 5 turnover, three of the 1954 Top 5 were also in the 1953 one. The big drop is Delaware, last season’s #1 who missed the playoffs at 31-35.



Tennessee won their fourth straight Southeastern Conference title. Also winning back-to-back league titles were William & Mary, Santa Clara, Army, and Bradley; while Miami was again the best team in the independent coastal group. San Jose State and Montana both made it to the postseason, having made it in all five seasons to date.







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The 1954 NCAA postseason began with the double round-robin group play. In group A, unranked Princeton went 5-1 and #14 Western Michigan went 3-3, advancing and stunning #1 Army and #5 Miami, who both went 2-4. #13 Bradley won Group B at 5-1 while both #10 Ball State and #24 Penn both went 3-3; the Cardinals advancing on the tiebreaker. Minnesota was last at 1-5. In Group C, unranked St. John’s were first at 5-1 with Big Ten champ #12 Purdue advancing at 4-2. Eastern Michigan went 2-4 and #22 Maine was 1-5. And in group D, #21 Butler went 4-2 to win it. Previous regional champ #20 The Citadel and #2 William & Mary both went 3-3 with the Tribe losing out on the tiebreaker. #23 Michigan State was 2-4.

Switching regions, Group E was won by Pac 10 champ and unranked Santa Clara at 5-1. #7 Hawaii at 3-3 was the other to advance while Rice and #15 UC Irvine both were 2-4. Group F, the “group of death” had #8 Denver prevail at 5-1 and #6 San Jose State at 4-2 moved on, while #3 Tennessee was eliminated after going 2-1 and #17 Oklahoma State went 1-5. Group G’s top team was #16 Vanderbilt going 4-2. Both #19 Montana and #9 UTEP both finished 3-3 with the Grizzlies holding the tiebreaker while #18 Colorado was 2-4. And Group H, #4 Gonzaga won at 4-2. Unranked Nevada moved on at 3-3, holding the tiebreaker over #11 and defending national champ Georgia Tech, eliminating the Yellow Jackets. Unranked Clemson was 2-4.

Gonzaga at #4 was the highest ranked team to make the Sweet 16 with the other Top 10 teams to advance were #6 San Jose State, #7 Hawaii, #8 Denver, and #10 Ball State.

In the best-of-three Sweet 16 for the East Region, unranked Princeton continued to roll by sweeping #10 Ball State. #13 Bradley ousted #14 Western Michigan in two. #20 The Citadel won in three over St. John’s and #21 Butler downed #12 Purdue in three.

In the South-West Region, the most exciting series unranked Santa Clara upset #6 San Jose State in three. The Broncos took game one 3-2 in 12 innings, followed by a 1-0 Spartans win with the lone run in the top of the ninth. Game three went 17 innings, won by Santa Clara on a T.J. Chavez RBI double to win it.



#8 Denver swept #7 Hawaii. #16 Vanderbilt swept unranked Nevada, and #19 Montana upset #4 Gonzaga in three. The Grizzlies scored a run in the top of the ninth to win game three 4-3.

To the Elite Eight, the only team back from the prior year was The Citadel. Princeton kept rolling as they shutout #13 Bradley twice, 3-0, and 2-0. On the other side of the region, #20 Butler took game one over #21 The Citadel 4-2. But The Citadel took game two 6-3 and won the clincher 1-0, sending those Bulldogs to back-to-back-to-back regional finals. #8 Denver took game one 5-2 over Santa Clara, then the Broncos grabbed game two 9-0. Game three went to the Pioneers 6-4. Joining them in the regional final is Vanderbilt, as the 16^th ranked Commodores swept #19 Montana on 5-1 and 3-2 wins. Game two went 10 innings with a walkoff single.



In the East Regional Championship, Princeton and The Citadel the finalists despite being the last two teams in the East Region field. = Princeton took game one 3-2 in 10 innings, scoring the winner in the top half on a sacrifice fly. In game two, the Tigers won 6-4, moving them to the College World Series and preventing The Citadel from back-to-back regional titles. In the South-West region, #16 Vanderbilt defeated #8 Denver 4-2 in game one and 3-1 in game two.



The 1954 College World Series had a bit of a surprising pairing, with Vanderbilt finishing third in the SEC and Princeton third in the EIBL. The Tigers entered on a 10-game winning streak in the playoffs, but the Commodores snapped it with a 5-2 win in game one. Game two saw an 8-2 Vanderbilt win. Princeton avoided the sweep with a 2-1 win in game three and snagged game four 5-3, setting up a game five for the National Championship. In the grand finale, the Commodores edged the Tigers 2-1; the first title for a SEC team. First baseman Cris D’Angelo was the series MVP with five hits, two home runs, and five RBI.

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Here are the end of season awards for college baseball. Earning their second career All-American honors for hitting were UTEP second baseman Rhett Colburn and Nevada centerfielder Jonathan Evans. East Carolina catcher Richie Anthony won his third All-American Fielder award. Getting their second were Creighton left fielder Leon Weaver and Iowa State third baseman Luke Kowal.



Indiana State sophomore Reid Mallard was the East Region Pitcher of the Year while Tennessee junior Tony Rosario won it for the South-West Region. Rosario compiled 14.4 WAR as a starter for the Volunteers, but as he only has two (albeit excellent) pitches, draft writers expect him to be a bullpen piece in the pros.

MVP for the East Region was freshman outfielder Vince Hansen of Eastern Michigan University. Vanderbilt freshman Cris D’Angelo, who won College World Series MVP, was also the overall South-West Region MVP.



There are a number of high ranked pitchers in the 1954 Draft Class. Earning a five star potential rating is Nebraska’s Jan Roger Akeby, but there are two caveats for him. A, he’s from Denmark, meaning he can’t go until after the first two regional rounds. And B, he’s coming off a torn labrum and is considered fragile. Georgia Tech’s Calvin Akwari and Montana’s T.J. Mendoza are also not eligible in the regional rounds as they’re from Nigeria and the Philippines, respectively.

Three hitters are ranked 3.5 stars for potential. Marshall outfielder Pascal Hunkapiller is back after getting picked 18^th overall last season by Baltimore and opting to return for his senior year. Also getting attention is The Citadel centerfielder Tyler Vredeveld, the 1952 East Region MVP.

The draft pool and draft order are below.

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On June 4^th, Cleveland’s Santiago Nero set a First League record with a 10 RBI game in a 16-2 win against Philadelphia. Nero homered twice (including a grand slam) and doubled twice.



Baltimore’s Gideon Rivas was the top voted player for the East-Midwest Conference and San Francisco’s Connor Timmons the leader for the West-South Conference in the 1954 All-Star Game voting. Philadelphia’s Logan Purdy defeated Rivas in the Home Run Derby.

All-Star Game Starting Lineups

East-Midwest Conference
1, Woody Lido (2B, Detroit)
2, Timothy Pauley (DH, Cleveland)
3, Gideon Rivas (RF, Baltimore)
4, Eduardo Gomez (C, Chicago)
5, Logan Purdy (3B, Philadelphia)
6, Randall Richards (CF, Philadelphia)
7, Marcelo Camargo (LF, Chicago)
8, Jason Landry (SS, New York Giants)
9, Curt Tucker (1B, Brooklyn)
SP, Paul Knox (New York Giants)

West-South Conference
1,Richard Azim (2B, Phoenix)
2, John Domec (3B, Mexico City)
3, Connor Timmons (RF, San Francisco)
4, Wakefield O’Hara (LF, Atlanta)
5, Piglet Jagharian (1B, Jacksonville)
6, Sebastian Garcia (CF, San Juan)
7, Jeron Morin (C, Phoenix)
8, Aitor Alfaro (DH, Santo Domingo)
9, Jake Harper (SS, San Francisco)
SP, Jocelin Holmstein (Miami)

The EMC won the 1954 All-Star Game 6-2. It was 2-2 after the ninth, with the EMC scoring four runs in the top of the 10^th. Atlanta’s Wakefield O’Hara was the game’s MVP.



At the 1954 All-Star Break, the top two records in the First League are both in the Eastern Division. The New York Yankees are first at 67-28, but Boston at 66-31 is hot on their tail, having made up four games since the start of June. The New York Giants are third at 59-38, 6.5 games ahead of Philadelphia for the final playoff spot. Brooklyn at 35-61 is in relegation danger, but are 4.5 games from Pittsburgh and 5.5 from Staten Island.

The Midwestern Division is a three-team battle; Detroit at 60-36 is first with defending World Series champ Cleveland a half-game back at 59-36 and Columbus at 59-38 is 1.5 back. Chicago (six back) and St. Louis (eight back) are both still very much alive in the playoff mix. Cincinnati is last at 35-61, five away from newcomer Omaha.

Switching to the Southern Division, Miami at 60-38 has the lead with San Juan (57-39) and Mexico City (56-39) giving chase. Defending conference champ Atlanta is a distant fourth, 11 games away from the lead. Santo Domingo is last at 31-64, five away from Austin.

Phoenix still holds the Western Division at 56-41 despite going into the break on a seven-game losing streak. San Francisco is second at 54-44, 2.5 back; while Edmonton is 5.5 back. Vancouver (33-61) is last, four away from Denver.



By the advanced stats and even some traditional ones, Baltimore’s Gideon Rivas has been the best hitter in baseball. Logan Purdy in his Phillies debut leads the home run race at 36, already well ahead of his career-best 28. He’s avoided injury woes so far. Juarez’s Neal Edwards has the top marks for pitching.

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In the Second League, Quebec City has the best record at 72-25, entering the break on a 14-game win streak. This has given them eight games on a solid Worcester (63-32), Buffalo (61-36), and New York Mets (59-37). Washington (37-59) and Toronto (38-60) are in the battle for the worst spot; a seven-game fall for the Blue Jays and 6-4 run entering the break for Senators have them tied.

In an unremarkable Midwestern Division, Louisville leads at 55-43. Des Moines, Gary, and Wichita are all within five games and even the Chicago White Sox and Toledo are within nine despite being below .500. Indianapolis (34-63) is last, 4.5 away from Kansas City.

San Antonio holds the Southern Division lead at 58-39, but Orlando (55-40), St. Petersburg (54-42) and Memphis (53-44) are all right in the mix. Tampa at 27-68 has the worst record in all of the 2L, but are only three away from New Orleans.

Honolulu is atop the Western Division at 65-60, six ahead of Colorado Springs and 6.5 on San Jose. Hollywood (28-68) is in danger of back-to-back drops, only Irvine (7.5 away) is reachable to avoid relegation.



To the Third League, only 13 games separates first from last, so there’s plenty of room for movement. Stamford (55-43) is first, one up on Wilmington, while Hartford and Montreal are tied for last at 41-55. The Midwest is a two-team race with Fort Wayne (60-36) two up on Springfield (59-39). Akron (33-61) is last, 3.5 away from Peoria.

Birmingham leads the Southern Division at 57-40, five ahead of Huntsville with three others within seven. Charlotte is last at 41-54, but only three away from Arkansas. Guadalajara leads the Western Division at 63-33, one over Spokane and 3.5 ahead of Salt Lake. Los Angeles is last at 40-57, 1.5 from Seattle.



In the Fourth League, Chesapeake has the best record at 73-24, taking a 12-game win streak and 12-game Eastern Division lead into the break. Newark is last at 39-59, Poughkeepsie is only 2.5 away. Lansing narrowly holds the Midwest at 57-40, a half-game better than St. Paul and 3.5 over Sound Bend. Sioux Falls is a distant last at 24-72.

Port St. Lucie leads the WSC Conference at 64-32, holding a 6.5 game lead in the Southern Division. Knoxville (17-81) has the worst record in the 4L. The West is a toss up with only 10.5 separating first from last. Stockton (55-39) and Long Beach (56-40) are tied for the lead at the break.



Scranton has a 12-game lead in the Fifth League Eastern Division with the 5L’s best mark at 70-26. Rockford (59-37) leads the Midwest with Flint 2.5 games back. Mississauga and Joliet are set for EMC relegation barring a big shift.

Plano has a 8.5 game lead in the South with a 66-31 mark, still 8.5 ahead of Athens despite the Admirals’ nine-game win streak. Boulder (59-37) is the top team in the Western Division, 3.5 ahead on Mexicali and four on Tacoma. Laredo and Las Vegas have the last place positions at the break.



The Sixth League has Dover atop the Eastern Division at 62-34, four better than Moncton. Atlantic City at 38-59 is last, four better than Jersey City. The Midwest sees Huntington first at 64-31, 4.5 over Appleton and five on Canton. Dayton is a distant last.

Lafayette at 59-37 holds a narrow half-game on Waco and four on Daytona in the South while Wilmington and Mobile are duking it out for last. Chandler at 70-26 is the Western Division leader with the 6L’s best record at 70-26, 7.5 ahead of Chula Vista. Santa Rosa is last, but Provo is still reachable.



Kitchener at 71-26 tops the Seventh League, 9.5 over Sherbrooke in the Eastern Division. Halifax is firmly last. The Midwestern Division is a two-team race with West Lafayette at 66-28, 2.5 up on Eau Claire. Lincoln (31-64) is last, but Fargo is 1.5 away.

Sandy Springs and Biloxi are tied for the Southern Division at 60-37 with Beaumont (56-40) and Hickory (54-41) both in the mix. Sarasota is last at 30-66, but a 17-game losing streak for Greensboro (36-61) has put them into the last place mix. Salinas at 65-33 has a 8.5 lead in the Western Division while Saskatoon is last.



In the Eighth League, an 11-game win streak has given Morgantown a five-game Eastern Division lead. Champaign has five games on Carmel in the Midwest. Tuscaloosa leads the Southern Division by six and Flagstaff holds a 4.5 game lead in the Western Division.