TWIST w/ a HERO - SEASON 40:
BATTLE OF BEVERLY HILLS

1. dcates - 1962 St. Louis Cardinals
2. Boddicker - 1963 Chicago White Sox
3. richabbs - 1964 St. Louis Cardinals
4. mars2010 - 1966 Philadelphia Phillies
5. fatboydad54 - 1967 St. Louis Cardinals
6. pmwksw - 1968 Detroit Tigers
7. gees51 - 1968 St. Louis Cardinals
8. barracuda3 - 1969 Chicago Cubs
9. Rattlers - 1969 San Francisco Giants
10. MisterBBQ - 1970 Atlanta Braves
11. dlchow - 1971 St. Louis Cardinals
12. sawbuxx - 1984 Montreal Expos

13. sfile - 1987 New York Mets
14. jgaleo062066 - 1990 Cincinnati Reds
15. darny10 - 1991 Chicago Cubs
16. fatguyrd - 1991 Los Angeles Dodgers
17. finn2030 - 1993 Atlanta Braves
18. mfumar - 1993 Texas Rangers
19. sawbuxx - 1994 Baltimore Orioles
20. mars2010 - 1996 Florida Marlins
21. MisterBBQ - 1997 St. Louis Cardinals
22. 82689 - 1998 Cleveland Indians
23. richiebrown6 - 1999 Boston Red Sox
24. Jesters - 2000 Arizona Diamondbacks


SITEMAIL LIST:
mars2010; mfumar; Rattlers; Jesters; richiebrown6; 82689; fatguyrd; darny10; sfile; sawbuxx; dlchow; MisterBBQ; richabbs; Boddicker; dcates; barracuda3; finn2030

SIGN UPS FOR SEASON 40 ARE NOW OPEN!

We soon will be launching Twist with a Hero (Season 40) – BATTLE OF BEVERLY HILLS. This will be the 40th of what I hope to be at least 50 seasons for Twist with a Hero. With Season 39 wrapping up very soon, we are ready to begin filling the open spots for our next season.

THE PREMISE:

I love twist leagues, but some of the teams I’d like to use aren’t ideal because they are extremely weak at one position or because they come from an era in which the WHIPs and OAVs are a little too high. Being able to select a “franchise hero” could help even things out a little. (Imagine if you could improve the 1968 Detroit Tigers by adding either 1987 Alan Trammell or 2013 Max Scherzer!)

Another thing that bugs me is that the same few choices get used in virtually every single twist league. It seems like it’s hard to be competitive if you don’t select one of those oft-used, cookie-filled teams. To curb that effect, each iteration of the Twist w/ a Hero League will feature a sub-theme to significantly narrow the list of teams to select from.

Season 40’s sub-theme will be BATTLE OF BEVERLY HILLS. Teams from one league will come from the years the Beverly Hillbillies first aired on television (1962-1971); Teams from the other league will come from the years Beverly Hills, 90210 first aired on TV (1990-2000). Teams from the year Beverly Hills Cop & Beverly Hills Cop 2 were released (1984 & 1987) will be allowed, as well. Teams are allowed 1 Hero (salary must be less than $10M).

NOTE - We WILL NOT be using DESIGNATED HITTERS during Season 40.

Other future possible sub-themes are listed below

THE RULES:

1. Basic rules--

• $110 MM cap.
• Clones – No
• DH – NO FOR SEASON 40
• WW- No
• Trades - No
• AAA – No.
• Injuries – On.

2. Your team. Subject to restriction by the "sub-theme," you may pick any single season team from MLB history, and twist any player on their roster. (Rosters are determined by baseball-reference.com). For Season 40, you may select two teams, but keep in mind that divisions will be mapped out chronologically, so you must select your teams in a manner that ensures that your teams will be in opposite leagues.

NOTE: No <$300K exceptions will be allowed.

NOTE: One <$300K exception will be allowed per team. If you cannot field a 25-man team under the parameters described in these rules, your roster may include ONE <$300K player that did not play for your franchise during the selected season. The settings for that player must be set at “Rest” for the entire season.

3. Your Hero. You are allowed to select one “Hero” to improve your roster. A “Hero” must come from the same franchise as the team you have selected, and cannot have a salary over $9,999,999.

4. Team blacklist. Teams are exclusive each season. Teams that make the playoffs will be blacklisted for all future seasons. See below for the listed of blacklisted teams.

5. Heroes blacklist. Heroes used in one season will be blacklisted for use as heroes the following season. They will be removed from the blacklist before the season after that. (Example: If a team used 1920 Eddie Collins as their hero in Season 39 no team can use any version of Collins as its Hero in Season 40. All <$10M versions of Collins would be available to use as a Hero again in Season 41.) See below for the list of Blacklisted Heroes for Season 40.

6. Stadium. Use the stadium your team actually played in during your selected season. If that stadium is not available in WIS, then use WIS Park.

7. Division alignment. Divisions will be realigned and teams will be placed in chronological order of the selected seasons.

8. Team Names. Please include your selected season and franchise in your team name.

9. Sub-Theme. Season 40’s sub-theme will be BATTLE OF BEVERLY HILLS. Teams from one league will come from the years the Beverly Hillbillies first aired on television (1962-1971); Teams from the other league will come from the years Beverly Hills, 90210 first aired on TV (1990-2000). Teams from the year Beverly Hills Cop & Beverly Hills Cop 2 were released (1984 & 1987) will be allowed, as well. Teams are allowed 1 Hero (salary must be less than $10M).

Other future possible sub-themes are listed below.

I will have two teams in Season 40. I will select my teams no earlier than 12^th and 24^th.

---------

NOTE: If I didn't already announce this somewhere else, I'm going to make an executive decision on Federal League teams. Since those franchises only existed for a a maximum of two years, if you select a Federal League team, your Hero can be any <$9,999,999 player from the Federal League from that same season.

Example: If you select the 1915 Chicago Whales as your team, you may use 1915 Benny Kauff of the Brooklyn Feds or 1915 Ed Reulbach of the Newark Peppers as your Hero.

BLACKLISTED TEAMS

*Teams that made the playoffs in previous seasons.

1891 Boston Reds
1896 Philadelphia Phillies
1899 St. Louis Perfectos
1902 Baltimore Orioles
1902 Cleveland Bronchos
1904 New York Giants
1906 New York Highlanders
1907 Boston Americans -- SEASON 1 CHAMPS ("Lovable Losers")
1907 Chicago Cubs -- SEASON 38 CHAMPS ("Heroes & Sidekicks")
1908 Boston Red Sox
1908 Chicago Cubs
1908 Chicago White Sox
1908 New York Giants
1908 Philadelphia Athletics
1909 Chicago Cubs
1909 Philadelphia Athletics
1909 Pittsburgh Pirates
1910 Chicago Cubs
1910 Cleveland Naps
1910 Pittsburgh Pirates
1911 Chicago Cubs -- SEASON 25 CHAMPS ("Revenge of the Blacklist")
1911 Pittsburgh Pirates
1912 Chicago Cubs
1912 Chicago White Sox
1912 Philadelphia Athletics
1912 Pittsburgh Pirates
1913 Chicago Cubs
1913 Chicago White Sox
1913 Pittsburgh Pirates -- SEASON 18 CHAMPS ("Run for the Border")
1914 Boston Red Sox
1915 Boston Red Sox
1915 Chicago Whales
1915 Chicago White Sox
1915 Pittsburgh Pirates
1916 Brooklyn Robins
1916 Chicago Cubs
1916 Chicago White Sox
1916 New York Giants
1917 Boston Braves
1917 Chicago White Sox
1917 St. Louis Browns
1918 Chicago Cubs
1918 Chicago White Sox -- SEASON 13 CHAMPS ("Been Caught Stealing")
1919 Chicago Cubs
1919 Cleveland Indians
1919 New York Giants
1919 St. Louis Browns
1920 Cleveland Indians
1920 Detroit Tigers
1921 Cleveland Indians
1921 New York Giants
1921 New York Yankees -- SEASON 16 CHAMPS ("Longball Legends")
1922 Cleveland Indians
1923 New York Giants
1925 Washington Senators -- SEASON 31 CHAMPS ("Cy Young Award")
1927 Philadelphia Athletics
1927 Washington Senators
1928 Philadelphia Athletics -- SEASON 3 CHAMPS (“A.L. Juggernauts”)
1932 New York Giants -- SEASON 28 CHAMPS ("Original Sixteen")
1933 New York Giants
1933 St. Louis Cardinals
1934 New York Yankees
1934 St. Louis Cardinals
1939 Cincinnati Reds
1939 New York Yankees
1940 Detroit Tigers
1940 New York Yankees
1941 Boston Red Sox
1941 Brooklyn Dodgers - SEASON 15 CHAMPS ("FDR to JFK")
1941 New York Yankees
1941 St. Louis Cardinals
1942 Brooklyn Dodgers
1942 New York Yankees
1942 St. Louis Cardinals
1943 St. Louis Cardinals
1946 New York Yankees -- SEASON 22 CHAMPS ("Ball Four")
1947 Pittsburgh Pirates
1947 St. Louis Cardinals
1948 St. Louis Cardinals
1949 Cleveland Indians
1950 Cleveland Indians – SEASON 14 CHAMPS (“Field of Dreams”)
1951 New York Yankees
1954 Cleveland Indians
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers
1955 Cleveland Indians
1958 Cleveland Indians
1960 Milwaukee Braves
1961 St. Louis Cardinals
1962 Los Angeles Dodgers
1962 San Francisco Giants
1963 Cincinnati Reds
1963 San Francisco Giants
1964 San Francisco Giants
1965 Baltimore Orioles
1965 Chicago Cubs
1965 Cincinnati Reds
1965 Houston Astros -- SEASON 9 CHAMPS ("New Kids on the Block")
1965 San Francisco Giants -- SEASON 4 CHAMPS ("National League Rivals")
1966 Atlanta Braves
1966 Chicago Cubs - SEASON 19 CHAMPS ("Play It Again, Sam")
1966 Los Angeles Dodgers
1966 New York Yankees
1966 San Francisco Giants
1966 St. Louis Cardinals
1967 Boston Red Sox
1967 Chicago White Sox
1967 Houston Astros
1967 New York Yankees
1967 San Francisco Giants
1968 Baltimore Orioles
1969 Baltimore Orioles
1969 Minnesota Twins
1969 Oakland Athletics
1969 St. Louis Cardinals
1970 Baltimore Orioles -- SEASON 8 CHAMPS ("Super Skippers")
1970 Chicago Cubs -- SEASON 5 CHAMPS ("That Seventies League")
1970 New York Mets
1970 Oakland Athletics
1970 St. Louis Cardinals
1971 Baltimore Orioles
1971 Los Angeles Dodgers -- SEASON 33 CHAMPS ("Played with Pujols")
1971 Oakland Athletics
1972 Baltimore Orioles
1972 Boston Red Sox
1972 Los Angeles Dodgers
1972 Oakland Athletics
1973 Baltimore Orioles
1973 Oakland Athletics
1973 San Francisco Giants
1974 Boston Red Sox
1974 Los Angeles Dodgers
1975 Cleveland Indians
1975 Los Angeles Dodgers
1975 New York Mets
1975 Oakland Athletics
1976 Oakland Athletics
1976 Philadelphia Phillies
1977 Cincinnati Reds
1979 Montreal Expos
1979 New York Yankees
1980 Los Angeles Dodgers
1980 New York Yankees
1981 Houston Astros -- SEASON 26 CHAMPS ("Expansion Alums")
1981 Los Angeles Dodgers
1981 Milwaukee Brewers
1981 New York Yankees -- SEASON 37 CHAMPS ("Interleague Play")
1982 California Angels
1982 Milwaukee Brewers -- SEASON 2 CHAMPS ("World Series Losers")
1982 New York Yankees
1982 St. Louis Cardinals -- SEASON 12 CHAMPS ("Saving Nolan Ryan")
1983 Milwaukee Brewers
1983 New York Yankees -- SEASON 34 CHAMPS ("Darn the Sox")
1983 Philadelphia Phillies
1984 Milwaukee Brewers
1984 Philadelphia Phillies
1985 California Angels
1985 New York Mets - SEASON 36 CHAMPS ("Average Joes")
1985 New York Yankees - SEASON 24 CHAMPS ("3,000 Hit Club")
1985 St. Louis Cardinals
1986 Chicago Cubs
1986 Chicago White Sox
1986 Cincinnati Reds
1986 New York Mets
1987 California Angels
1987 Cincinnati Reds -- SEASON 30 CHAMPS ("Escape from New York")
1987 Cleveland Indians
1987 Oakland Athletics
1987 St. Louis Cardinals
1988 Chicago Cubs
1988 Cincinnati Reds - SEASON 20 CHAMPS ("Up the Middle")
1988 New York Mets
1988 Oakland Athletics
1988 Los Angeles Dodgers – SEASON 6 CHAMPS (“October Baseball”)
1988 Minnesota Twins
1988 St. Louis Cardinals
1989 Los Angeles Dodgers
1989 Montreal Expos
1989 New York Mets
1989 Oakland Athletics – SEASON 11 CHAMPS (“Pennant Winners”)
1989 San Francisco Giants
1990 Oakland Athletics
1990 Pittsburgh Pirates
1990 St. Louis Cardinals
1991 Houston Astros
1991 Toronto Blue Jays
1992 Chicago Cubs
1992 Los Angeles Dodgers
1992 New York Mets
1992 Pittsburgh Pirates
1992 St. Louis Cardinals
1992 Toronto Blue Jays
1993 Chicago White Sox
1993 New York Mets
1993 New York Yankees
1993 San Francisco Giants
1993 Toronto Blue Jays
1994 Cleveland Indians
1995 Atlanta Braves
1995 Baltimore Orioles
1995 Cleveland Indians
1995 New York Yankees
1996 Atlanta Braves
1996 Cleveland Indians
1996 New York Yankees
1997 Atlanta Braves
1997 Baltimore Orioles
1997 Cleveland Indians
1997 New York Yankees
1997 Seattle Mariners
1998 Atlanta Braves
1998 Baltimore Orioles
1998 Houston Astros
1998 New York Yankees
1998 San Francisco Giants
1998 Toronto Blue Jays
1999 Atlanta Braves
1999 Baltimore Orioles
1999 Cleveland Indians
1999 New York Mets
1999 New York Yankees
2000 Atlanta Braves
2000 Baltimore Orioles
2000 Boston Red Sox
2000 Houston Astros
2000 Los Angeles Dodgers
2000 New York Yankees - SEASON 7 CHAMPS ("Hall of Fame Ballot")
2001 Atlanta Braves
2001 Boston Red Sox
2001 New York Yankees
2002 Boston Red Sox
2002 New York Yankees
2002 San Francisco Giants
2003 Los Angeles Dodgers
2003 New York Yankees
2003 Seattle Mariners
2004 Boston Red Sox
2004 Houston Astros
2004 New York Yankees
2004 St. Louis Cardinals -- SEASON 10 CHAMPS ("Big Winners, Big Losers")
2005 New York Yankees
2005 St. Louis Cardinals
2006 Los Angeles Dodgers
2006 New York Mets
2006 New York Yankees -- SEASON 27 CHAMPS ("21st Century")
2007 New York Mets
2007 New York Yankees
2007 San Diego Padres -- SEASON 35 CHAMPS ("Forgotten Ones")
2007 St. Louis Cardinals
2008 Detroit Tigers
2008 Los Angeles Dodgers
2008 New York Mets
2008 New York Yankees
2008 San Diego Padres
2008 Toronto Blue Jays
2009 Boston Red Sox
2009 Los Angeles Dodgers
2009 Philadelphia Phillies
2009 San Francisco Giants
2009 St. Louis Cardinals
2010 Atlanta Braves
2010 Boston Red Sox
2010 Los Angeles Dodgers
2010 St. Louis Cardinals
2011 Texas Rangers
2012 Los Angeles Angels
2012 Los Angeles Dodgers -- SEASON 23 CHAMPS - ("Y2K")
2012 St. Louis Cardinals
2012 Texas Rangers
2013 Detroit Tigers
2013 Los Angeles Dodgers
2014 Los Angeles Dodgers
2015 Los Angeles Dodgers
2015 Toronto Blue Jays
2016 New York Yankees
2016 Washington Nationals
2017 Boston Red Sox
2017 Chicago Cubs
2017 Cleveland Indians
2017 Houston Astros
2017 Los Angeles Dodgers -- SEASON 29 CHAMPS ("Batman & Robinson")
2017 Washington Nationals
2018 Boston Red Sox -- SEASON 17 CHAMPS ("Happy Holidays")
2018 Cleveland Indians
2018 Houston Astros
2018 Los Angeles Dodgers
2018 New York Mets
2018 Washington Nationals
2019 Cleveland Indians
2019 Houston Astros -- SEASON 21 CHAMPS ("Something Old, Something New")
2019 Milwaukee Brewers
2019 New York Yankees
2019 Washington Nationals
2020 Houston Astros
2020 Los Angeles Dodgers
2020 Philadelphia Phillies
2021 Los Angeles Dodgers
2021 New York Yankees
2021 San Diego Padres
2022 Los Angeles Dodgers
2022 San Diego Padres
2022 New York Yankees
2023 Los Angeles Dodgers -- SEASON 39 CHAMPS ("Cactus League")


HEROES BLACKLIST FOR SEASON 40
Appier, Kevin
Bieber, Shane
Bonds, Barry
Brown, Kevin
Chapman, Aroldis
Collins, Eddie
Cueto, Johnny
Guerrero, Pedro
Hernandez, Felix
Hollocher, Charlie
Hunter, Catfish
Jimenez, Ubaldo
Kershaw, Clayton
Lee, Derrick
Mathewson, Christie
Ott, Mel
Semien, Marcus
Siebert, Sonny
Tanana, Frank
Tatis Jr., Fernando
Titcomb, Cannonball
Walsh, Ed

Future Sub-Themes Include (not necessarily in the order listed):

1. World Series Winners - Eligible teams must have won World Series in the selected season.
2. World Series Losers - Eligible teams must have lost the World Series in the selected season.
3. Pennant Winners - Eligible teams must have won their league championship in the selected season.
4. October Baseball - Eligible teams must have made it to the postseason in the selected season.
5. Early Exits - Eligible teams must have made it to the playoffs, but not the World Series, in the selected season.
6. Wildcard Teams - Eligible teams must have been a wildcard team in the selected season.
7. Almost There - Eligible teams must have won their league pennant the following season. No repeats. Teams are ineligible if they won the pennant during the selected season.
8. Wait 'Til Next Year - Eligible teams must not have qualified for postseason play.
9. 100 Game Winners - Eligible teams must have won 100 games in the selected season.
10. .500 Club - Eligible teams must have finished the season with a record of no more than two games below or above .500.
11. Lovable Losers - Owners will be limited to selecting from among the teams that lost at least 90 games in the selected season.
12. More Lovable Losers - We will be repeating the first Twist w/ a Hero sub-theme when we make to Season 50!
13. Big Winners, Big Losers - Twelve teams who won at least 100 games in their selected seasons will make up the National League; twelve teams who lost at least 90 games in their selected seasons will make up the American League.
14. National League Rivalries - 6 Cardinals and 6 Cubs teams in the NL; 6 Dodgers and 6 Giants teams in the AL.
15. AL Juggernauts vs. The World - 6 Yankees and 6 Red Sox teams in one league; 12 different American League franchises represented in the other league.
16. Interleague Play - Divisions will be compiled from six big interleague rivalries (two teams each): Yankees vs. Mets, Indians/Guardians vs. Reds, White Sox vs. Cubs, Cardinals vs. Royals, Dodgers vs. Angels & A's vs. Giants.
17. Original Sixteen - Choose a team/selected season from 1901-1960, a 60-year stretch in which the MLB was comprised of sixteen teams.
18. New Kids on the Block - Choose a selected season from a franchise that came into existence in 1961 or later.
19. 1960s Expansion Alums- Choose a team/selected season whose roster includes at least one person who played either for the ’61 Angels, ’61 Senators, ’62 Colt 45s, ’62 Mets,’69 Expos, ’69 Padres, ’69 Pilots or ’69 Royals.
20. Expansion Alums - Choose a team/selected season whose roster includes at least one person who played for either the ’77 Blue Jays, ’77 Mariners, ’93 Marlins, ’93 Rockies, ’98 Diamondbacks or ’98 Devil Rays.
21. Average Joes - Joe DiMaggio, Joe Morgan, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Connor Joe... Your team/selected season must feature at least one player named Joe or Joey.
22. No Way, Jose - Jose Canseco, Jose Altuve, Jose Vidro, Felix Jose... Your team/selected season must feature at least one player named Jose.
23. Saving Nolan Ryan - Your team/selected season must feature at least one player who played with Nolan Ryan. (Example: Nolan Ryan and Ken Boyer played together on the 1966 Mets. You may select any team that features Boyer on its roster in the selected season.)
24. Iron Sharpens Iron – 12 teams/selected seasons feature at least one player who played with Lou Gehrig; 12 teams in the other league must feature at least one player who played with Cal Ripken Jr. (Example: Cal Ripken and Tim Raines played together on the 2001 Orioles. You may select any team that features Raines on its roster in the selected season)
25. Played With Pujols - Your team/selected season must feature at least on player who played with either Albert Pujols or Luis Pujols. (Ex. Luis Pujols and Joe Niekro played together on the 1977 Astros. You may select any team that features Joe Niekro on its roster in the selected season.)
26. Mickey & Minnie - 12 teams in one league must feature at least one player who played with Mickey Mantle. 12 teams in the other league must feature at least one player who played with Minnie Minoso. (Ex. Johnny Mize and Mickey Mantle played together on the 1951 Yankees. You may select any team that features Johnny Mize on its roster in the selected season.)
27. Remembering Roberto Clemente - Choose from teams that feature at least one player who won the Roberto Clemente Award (as determined by https://www.mlb.com/awards/roberto-clemente) given to a player committed to community and understanding the value of helping others.
28. Nice Guys Finish Last - 12 teams from one league must feature at least one member who played alongside Leo Durocher during his MLB career; 12 teams from the other league must feature at least one member who played under Durocher during his managerial career.
29. Run for the Border - 12 teams must feature at least one player who was born in Canada (as determined by https://www.baseball-reference.com/bio/Canada_born.shtml) and 12 teams must feature at least one player who was born in Mexico (as determined by https://www.baseball-reference.com/bio/Mexico_born.shtml).
30. Cactus League- Choose from teams that currently play Spring Training ball in Arizona.
31. Grapefruit League- Choose from teams that currently play Spring Training ball in Florida.
32. Escape from New York- The Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, and Giants are off limits for this season.
33. Shortstops & Backstops- 12 teams must feature a Hall of Famer whose primary position was shortstop (as determined by http://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/hall-of-famers-by-position#shortstops-(26) ) in the selected season; 12 teams must feature a Hall of Famer whose primary position was catcher (as determined by http://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/hall-of-famers-by-position#catchers-(19) ).
34. Up the Middle – 12 teams must feature a Hall of Famer whose primary position was second base (as determined by https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/hall-of-famer-facts/hall-of-famers-by-position#second-basemen-(21)) in the selected season; 12 teams must feature a Hall of Famer whose primary position was shortstop (as determined by https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/hall-of-famer-facts/hall-of-famers-by-position#shortstops-(26)).
35. Super Skippers - Eligible teams must have been managed by a Hall of Famer (whether they were inducted as a manager or player) during the selected season.
36. Hall of Fame Ballot - Roster must include at least one player who appears on the 2018 Hall of Fame Ballot (as determined by http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof_2018.shtml)
37. Welcome to the Show - Select from teams whose rosters include a Hall of Famer in the season in which he made his major league debut. (Ex. Steve Carlton made his debut with the 1965 Cardinals, so the '65 Cards are an available team under this sub-theme.)
38. This Means WAR- 12 teams must feature rosters which include one of the Top 24 all-time career leaders among position players in Wins Above Replacement (as determined by https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_bat_career.shtml ); 12 teams must feature rosters which include one of the Top 24 all-time career leaders among pitchers in WAR (as determined by https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/WAR_pitch_career.shtml ).
39. Longball Legends - Select from teams whose rosters include at least one player with at least 500 career home runs.
40. 3,000 Hit Club - Select from teams whose rosters include at least one player with at least 3,000 career hits.
41. Strikeout Kings- Select from teams whose rosters include one of the Top 24 all-time career strikeout leaders.
42. No Hit Club - Select from teams whose roster includes at least one player who threw a No-Hitter or Perfect Game in his career (as determined by https://www.baseball-reference.com/friv/no-hitters-and-perfect-games.shtml).
43. Been Caught Stealing – Select from teams whose rosters include at least one of the Top 24 Active or Career Caught Stealing leaders (as determined by https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/CS_career.shtml or https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/CS_active.shtml).
44. Our Favorite Heroes - Select from teams whose rosters include at least one of the most commonly used Heroes from prior Twist w/ a Hero season.
45. Forgotten Ones - Select from franchises who have made no more than five trips to the postseason in Twist w/ a Hero's first 33 seasons. (Franchises include the Brewers, Diamondbacks, Marlins, Expos/Nationals, Padres, Rockies, Angels, Mariners, Rangers, Rays, and Royals, Senators/Twins, and Tigers).
46. Playoffs? Playoffs? - Channel your inner Jim Mora as the six franchises that have made the fewest trips to the playoffs in Twist w/ a Hero's first 40 seasons will each have four teams filling entire division. Someone is going to make the playoffs! Franchises include the Rangers, Royals, Rays, Rockies, Diamondbacks, and Marlins.
47. Darn the Sox - Twelve teams in one league must come from those whose rosters include at least one Hall of Famer who played at least one season with the Boston Red Sox (as determined by https://www.mlb.com/redsox/history/hall-of-famers); twelve teams from the other league must come from those whose rosters include at least one Hall of Famer who played at least one season with the Chicago White Sox (as determined by https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/history/hall-of-famers).
48. O Canada - Twelve teams in one league must come from those whose rosters include at least one Hall of Famer who played at least one season with the Montreal Expos; twelve teams in the other league must come from those whose rosters include at least one Hall of Famer who played at least one season with the Toronto Blue Jays.
49. Field of Dreams - Is this heaven? No, it's Iowa... Select from teams whose rosters include at least one player who was born or died in Iowa (as determined by https://www.baseball-reference.com/bio/IA_born.shtml and https://www.baseball-reference.com/bio/IA_died.shtml).
50. Talkin' Baseball - Celebrate the Terry Cashman song "Willie, Mickey, and The Duke" by selecting teams from the years those three legends played (1947-1973).
51. Deadball Era- Choose a team from 1919 or before.
52. The 1920s- Choose a team from the 1920s.
53. The 1930s- Choose a team from the 1930s.
54. The 1940s- Choose a team from the 1940s.
55. The 1950s- Choose a team from the 1950s.
56. The 1960s- Choose a team from the 1960s.
57. The 1970s (aka “That Seventies League”) - Choose a team from the 1970s.
58. The 1980s- Choose a team from the 1980s.
59. The 1990s- Choose a team from the 1990s
60. 21^st Century - Choose a team from 2000-2021.
61. Y2K - Eligible teams must include at least one player who was active in the Year 2000.
62. Something Old, Something New - 12 teams from 1919 or before; 12 teams from the 2010-2019.
63. 20/20 Vision - The NL will be made up of 12 teams from the 1920s; the AL will be made up of 12 teams from the 2020s.
64. FDR to JFK - Each team in this league must come from the years 1933-1963... years that have been underutilized in Twist w/ a Hero.
65. Battle of Beverly Hills - 12 teams from one league will come from the years the Beverly Hillbillies first aired on television (1962-1971); 12 teams from the other league will come from the years Beverly Hills, 90210 first aired on TV (1990-2000).
66. Lucky Sevens vs. Crazy Eights- 12 teams must come from selected seasons ending in 7 (1887, 1897, 1907, 1917, 1927, 1937, 1947, 1957, 1967, 1977, 1987, 1997, 2007 or 2017); 12 teams must come from selected seasons ending in 8 (1888, 1898, 1908, 1918, 1928, 1938, 1948, 1958, 1968, 1978, 1988, 1998, 2008, 2018).
67. Senior Circuit- Choose from franchises that played in the National League during the selected season.
68. Junior Circuit- Choose from franchises that played in the American League during the selected season.
69. Beasts from the East- 12 teams must feature rosters from franchises that currently play in the NL East; 12 must feature rosters from franchises that currently play in the AL East.
70. Fly Over Country- 12 teams must feature rosters from franchises that currently play in the NL Central; 12 must feature rosters from franchises that currently play in the AL Central.
71. Wild, Wild West- 12 teams must feature rosters from franchises that currently play in the NL West; 12 must feature rosters from franchises that currently play in the AL West.
72. Coast to Coast – 12 teams from New York (Yankees, Mets, Brooklyn Dodgers and NY Giants) will make up the National League; 12 teams from California (Padres, Angels, LA Dodgers, SF Giants and Oakland A’s) will make up the American League.
73. Founding Fathers- Eligible teams must feature a player whose first or last name is either Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, Hamilton, Hancock, Revere or Jay during the selected season.
74. Rust Belt- Eligible teams must come from “Rust Belt States” of Pennsylvania, Ohio or Michigan or feature a player named “Rusty” (ex. Rusty Staub, Rusty Kuntz, etc.) during the selected season.
75. Stanley Cup- Eligible teams must have played in an “NHL Original Six” city (Montreal, Toronto, Boston, Chicago, Detroit or New York) or feature a player with the last name of “Stanley” (ex. Bob Stanley, Mickey Stanley, etc.) or first name of “Stan” (ex. Stan Musial, Stan Javier, etc.) during the selected season.
76. Olympic Showcase - We celebrate the Olympics by picking 24 teams, each representing a team in the Olympic Games. Charlie Lea was born in Orleans, France. Choose his 1984 Expos to represent France... Now we just need 23 more teams (each representing a different country with at least one player born there).
77. Batman & Robinson - Celebrate the heroes & villains of Gotham City. Eligible teams must feature at least one player whose name (first or last) is "Bruce" or "Wayne" in honor of Batman; or whose name (first or last) is "Robin" or "Robinson" in honor of his trusty sidekick... other qualifying names include "Gordon" (in honor of Commissioner Gordon), "Kyle" (in honor of Catwoman/aka Selina Kyle), or "Harley" or "Quinn" (in honor of Harley Quinn).
78. ROY G. BIV - Your team/selected season must feature at least one player whose first or last name is "Red," "Green," "Blue," "White," "Brown," "Black," or "Gray."
79. Rookie of the Year - Your team/selected season must feature at least one player who won the Rookie of the Year Award. (NOTE: You do not have to use that player's rookie season.)
80. Cy Young Award - Your team/selected season must feature at least one player who won the Cy Young Award. (NOTE: You do not have to use that player's award winning season.)
81. Most Valuable Player - Your team/selected season must feature at least one player who won the Most Valuable Player Award. (NOTE: You do not have to use that player's award winning season.)
82. Ball Four - Your team/selected season must feature at least one player who played with Jim Bouton on the 1962 Yankees, 1969 Pilots, 1969 Astros or 1978 Braves. (Ex. Jim Bouton and Phil Niekro played together on the 1978 Braves. You may select any non-blacklisted team that features Niekro on its roster in the selected season.)
83. Happy Holidays - Eligible teams must feature at least one player who was born between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day (December 21st - January 1st) or featured Matt Holliday or Bug Holliday on their roster during the selected season.
84. Revenge of the Blacklist - Eligible teams MUST come from Twist w/ a Hero's existing blacklist. (A second chance for blacklisted teams to win a World Series.)
85. Play it Again, Sam – Eligible teams MUST come from a list of teams previously used in Twist w/ a Hero and not on the existing blacklist. (A second chance to play with your favorite team that missed out on the TWAH postseason.)
86. Universal DH - You finally get to use your favorite D-/D- player! Same Twist w/ a Hero rules except all 24 teams will use the DH this season.
87. Two for the Price of One - 12 teams will be allowed to select a Hero with a salary as high as $16M; 12 teams will be allowed to select 2 Heroes (each with a salary as high as $8M).
88. Clone My Hero - Teams are allowed 2 Heroes, but they must be clones of the same player and both must be from the same franchise as your selected team.
89. Heroes & Sidekicks - Teams are allowed 1 Hero (max salary $9.999.999) and 1 Sidekick (max salary $4,999,999). Both must come from the same season (ex. An Astros team could select 2019 Gerrit Cole & 2019 Jose Altuve as its Hero & Sidekick).
90. We are open to other suggestions…

Well now it's time to say good bye to Jed and all his kin.
And they would like to thank you folks fer kindly droppin in….
You're all invited back next week to this locality
To have a heapin helpin of their hospitality….
Hillbilly that is. Set a spell, Take your shoes off.

Y'all come back now, y'hear?

I’ll come on back …1963 Chicago White Sox, thank you kindly…..and of course, since we’re takin’ our shoes off…Joe Jackson is our hero- well lookee there!!!

I'm currently dating a woman that has the same name as one of the main characters on the original Beverly Hills, 90210. (I'll leave it to you to guess if it's Brenda Walsh, Donna Martin, Kelley Taylor, Andrea Zuckerberg, or Valerie Malone). With that tidbit launched into the WhatIfSports universe, I'll jump in with the 1996 Florida Marlins.

in-TBD

1971 Cardinals

Posted by darny10 on 5/2/2024 7:17:00 PM (view original):
League number?

I have competed setting up the league and sent out the league number this morning. See you there.

1969 Chicago Cubs, please.

Posted by barracuda3 on 5/3/2024 11:19:00 AM (view original):
1969 Chicago Cubs, please.

I just realized that dcates had the 1969 Cubs for the season that is currently concluding. Since he got so close to the playoffs, I'm willing to choose a different team if he wants to try them again.

Posted by barracuda3 on 5/3/2024 12:21:00 PM (view original):

Posted by barracuda3 on 5/3/2024 11:19:00 AM (view original):
1969 Chicago Cubs, please.

I just realized that dcates had the 1969 Cubs for the season that is currently concluding. Since he got so close to the playoffs, I'm willing to choose a different team if he wants to try them again.

For now I'll put you (barracuda3) down as a TBD. But I think you'll be good with the '69 Cubs. Since dcates selected the '62 Cardinals, he wouldn't be able to choose the '69 Cubs as a second team. Based on our chronological alignment, both teams would end up in the same league.

Sounds good, thanks.

Please mark me down for a second team. I am fairly certain which team I'll be selecting, but I figure I should let some of the others pick their first team before I pick my second.

1997 Cardinals - 2nd team