Been kicking this idea around for a while now, but here are the basics.
As the title suggests this league will be based on rookies for each franchise. It will be a 20-team league based on the franchises in existence as of the original expansion of 1961-1962. The 16 franchises in existence prior to expansion will select 1 rookie hitter and 1 rookie pitcher from each decade (1901-2019). The 4 1960's expansion clubs (Mets, Angels, Sens/Rangers, Colt 45s/Astros) will select 2 rookie hitters and 2 rookie pitchers from their available decades (1961-2019). This gives every team 24 players...I'll discuss the 25th player in a bit.
How do we start? 20 owners will draft one of the franchises. They will then put together their roster of players from rookies for each decade. Example: the Yankees may select Mickey Mantle as their 50's hitter, which means that no other rookie hitter from the 1950's Yanks can be put in play leaving players like Kubek, Martin, Skowron, Howard, Richardson on the sidelines. You would keep the Mick on your roster progressing him a year with each season until he retires or you decide to cut him. Once that happens he is gone forever and you need to go back to the 50s rookies and designate a new hitter. Now very likely Joe Dimaggio would be your selection for the 1930's hitter. So, does it look like you could develop a superstar laden team? Maybe. But there is a caveat. The salary cap is $100 Million. So you can't just pick every superstar your franchise ever developed. And at some point you may need to cut a very good player just to stay under the cap. So you will have to manage your club's finances very well. Also, remember, the Yanks won't have the Babe or Reggie, the Red Sox and the A's will.
Once the 24-man roster is built, we will have a second draft for the 25th man. That player will come from a pool of rookies from every franchise not represented, essentially all the expansion franchises from 1969 to present. The puts Gwynn, Brett, Dawson out there to be picked up. Each season we will hold this one-round draft for any/all teams that may need to replace that 25th guy. The original decade players will be the choice of the owner.
Franchise names will incorporate the city/state of your franchise and you will get to choose any of the stadiums they played in. Nicknames can be anything you choose, but it may be appropriate to just use real team names. Divisional alignment per AL/NL by geographic means, east to west.
Keep in mind that you will be picking rookies so you will potentially need IPs and ABs that 1st season. Keep in mind the salary cap will restrict you as your players progress and start demanding more money (those blaguards). Also, if a player misses a year, just skip it and move to his next available WIS season (ie: the guys who went to war). If he stinks it up for a year, you're stuck with him, or you can cut him never to return.
Oh and one more thing....there is no waiver wire, AAA, DH, or trading. So if you're a wheeler-dealer, this league isn't for you.
Just so we all understand. I thought about the concept but not about how it might all play out. That's the part that we will have to wait and see, and maybe make some necessary adjustments. Yes, it looks like the Yanks with their rich history could be strong, but frankly there are eras where they bought their best players and these guys won't be available to the Yankee franchise in our league. Also, teams like the old KC Athletics that sold off players could end up being strong because they get to keep their prospects. And, you may be able to reap the rewards of not having great prospects moved by idiot GMs. Look at the Phillies still having Fergie Jenkins or the Cubs Lou Brock for their full careers.
Feel free to ask questions below. Or hopefully sign up for a franchise! I will be adding some specifics as we go.
3/9/2023 12:11 PM (edited)