The 16 team, long-running (over 90 seasons) Real Life Progressive League is looking for a replacement owner for the 1951 Pittsburgh Pirates, and has just started the draft off the clock, with the Pirates trading the 7th pick for SP Paul Minner and draft picks in 1952. This team needs IPs, and currenlty has only 873 heading into the 2nd round, where it has the 4th pick, so another solid pitcher should be available. In 1952, there is a deep pitching draft, and the Pirates will have one at or near the top of the 2nd, in addition to their 1st, so long-term pitching should be in good shape after that.

We restarted the 3rd iteration of the Real Life League in the 1946 season, with owners getting the exact team that year, so, five seasons later, there are a few changes to the Pirates. For the 1951 season, the Pirates are highlighted by OF Ralph Kiner, SS Pee Wee Reese, rookie SS Solly Hemus (one of the two stud SS would make good trade bait for pitching), and big slugger 1B Ted Luszewski. Unfortunately the team was left with only four pitchers, so Paul Minner (213 IPs in 1951, and four better years from 1952-1955) was acquired for their first rounder. Minner, Preacher Roe and Carl Erskine combine for 670 IPs between them, plus there is a superb closer and another SP with 125 IPs. So this team will require loading up with additional IPs for this season (the high 2nd will help), and juggling pitchers between AAA, but we had an even worse situation last draft, and a team going into the draft with only 450 IPs finished the season topping 36 wins and the right to pick OF Willie Mays with the #1 slot.

This progressive league, which has all 16 teams divided into four divisions, is like most, except that any player who started his career in a season is available to be drafted that season in the first round. In other words, for this season's 1951 draft, P Sam Jones (22 WAR, who previously played in the Negro Leagues), P Bob Turley (14 WAR), OF Bob Nieman (17.4 WAR), and some others started their careers in 1951 -- but are not WIS eligible until 1952 or later. These prospects (we keep a separate draft list to make it easy) join any players you have on the DL/IR until they are WIS eligible. If you select a prospect in the first round, you can pick up your 25th player in the supplemental draft round, which occurs after the normal draft is finished. The rest is pretty standard, with 8 AAA that you select from a list of pre-1946 players or whoever remains unclaimed from 1951. However, we have been around for over 90 seasons, and the rules are very detailed to prevent tanking, and to keep things close to real life, such as that no players may drop below 75% fatigue, pure relievers can't start games, players can only play their position or less capable positions (so only a SS can play SS, or he can play any other position besides C, while a 2B can't play SS or C, etc.), etc. Plus, we have a great group of owners in this 16 team league, with lots of friendly banter and plenty of trades.

Please sitemail if interested, and for further details.

1951 Pittsburgh Pirates - Need 10 (you can modify that)

C: Walker Cooper, Buddy Rosar
1B: Ted Kluszewski
2B: Sam Dente
3B: Bob Elliott
SS: Solly Hemus, Pee Wee Reese
OF: Ralph Kiner, Williard Marshall, Hal Rice

SP: Carl Erskine, Ken Heintzelman, Paul Minner, Preacher Roe
RP: Luis Aloma

Cuts: P Hank Borowy, P Luis Olmo, SS Buddy Kerr, OF Sherry Robertson
Retired: P Kirby Higbe, P Bill Pierro, P Johnny Vander Meer, P Bill Weik