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1 LEAGUE RULES
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1.1 League Structure
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1.1.1 League Teams
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The Hillcrest League Baseball is made of two divisions: the American League and the National League. The number of teams in MLB historical division of like name in the year of League play will determine the number of teams in each League division. Each League will have one fewer team than the MLB league of like name as a maximum and a minimum of five teams. Should additional franchises join the League, they may not be added in such as manner as to have the franchise count of either League differ by more than one from the other League. The League will start with the historical 1919 season. | |||||||||
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Owners may own more than one franchise. However, an individual owner or group of individuals acting an Owner, may own only one franchise in each League. Franchises may only be added between League seasons. | |||||||||
1.1.2 League Play
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The League will play season games in fortnightly sessions. At each session, managers will play a minimum of two games.[1] | |||||||||
1.1.3 Regular Season
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The League will play a regular season schedule based on three home games and three games as visitor against each division team. Depending on the number of owners for each division, the Divisions may play sequentially, American then National, or concurrently. | |||||||||
1.1.4 Post Season
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The post-season play of the historical MLB season currently in play will determine the Leagues' post season. As an example, for the initial season, 1919, the post season will be a World Series between the American League and the National League encompassing a best of nine game series. | |||||||||
1.1.5 Playoffs
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Should two teams tie for a League championship, there will be a three-game playoff after a one-day rest. Game one will be played at the ball park of the team with the most losses in head-to-head competition (or the loser of a coin toss in the event of a split) and, following a one-day rest, two games will be played on successive days at the other team's park as necessary. | |||||||||
2 Drafting
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2.1 Initial Draft
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2.1.1 Eligible Players
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The initial draft will come from the historical 1919 season. Historical MLB American League teams contribute players to the American League. Historical MLB National League teams contribute players to the National League. All players making historical major league appearances in the season are available for their appropriate division's draft. Only players with Ball Park Baseball cards are available to play in the League's regular or post season games. The term 'Prospect' describes a player making historical MLB appearances but without a BPB card for this or previous League Seasons. | |||||||||
2.1.2 Draft Sequence
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Random number selection will determine the pick sequence for each League. BPB random number selections (referred to as a 'roll' or 'rolls' whether using dice or number selection device) will determine the sequence with the sequence ranging from lowest with the first pick to highest with the last. Additional roles between ties in the initial roll will determine the sequence of the tie rolls. A tie in the initial roll is broken only between the tied individuals. A tie will not require redetermination of the entire draft sequence. The draft sequence for each League is independent of the other. | |||||||||
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For each round of the draft, the sequence will reverse in a 'flip flop' format; i.e. Round 1 ' 1-2-3-4-5, Round 2 ' 5-4-3-2-1, Round 3 ' 1-2-3-4-5, Round 4 ' 5-4-3-2-1 and so forth. | |||||||||
2.1.3 Roster Constituents
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Teams must stop drafting players when their rosters reach 30 players. Trades may not modify the maximum limit of players on the final roster. Players remaining after all teams have acquired 30 players form a "minor-league" pool for subsequent use. Such pool players may only be added to fill-out a 25-man roster. These players are considered "free agents" and return to the draft pool at the end of the season. | |||||||||
2.2 Subsequent Drafts
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2.2.1 Protected Players
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After the completion of each League season, each franchise may protect a roster of 16 players before the draft of the subsequent year. Franchises must distribute a roster of protected players at least one week before the draft. This roster of protected players may include any combination of players, pitchers, Prospects or out-of-League players (players previously on the roster but having no card in the current year). The year a minor league or out-of-League player returns to active status (has a BPB card), he must be on the roster of the 16 players to be protected. Any players not specifically protected will be eligible for the general draft pool when they return to the league. All unprotected and new players are in the draft for a given year. | |||||||||
2.2.2 Draft Sequence
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Based on the standings from the preceding year, the order of the draft is as follows: | |||||||||
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First Round: The previous season's League pennant winner automatically receives last pick in the first round. Remaining franchises have equal chance for the first pick in the first round unless any have received a first round-first pick in one of the past two seasons. A roll will determine the draft order for the remaining franchises. Each owner will roll once with the remaining franchises drafting in ascending order according to their rolls. However, no franchise will have more than on first pick in the first round in any three consecutive seasons. Should the initial roll result in a franchise which had first pick in either of the two preceding seasons receiving the first pick in the first round, that franchise must roll again until the number of the roll, went placed in ascending order with the other franchisee's roles, is no longer the lowest number. The order of the first round of the draft will be determined at the same time as the draft. | |||||||||
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Second Round: The team with the worst W-L record gets the first pick in the 2nd round, followed by the next worst team W-L record who gets the second pick, and so on until the last pick of the 2nd round which goes to the pennant winner (regardless of his actual W-L record). When two or more teams have the same W-L records, the team with the worst head-to-head record gets the first opportunity to draft in the second round. If the head-to-head record is tied, a coin toss will determine who gets the first opportunity to draft in the second round. Whomever actually gets the worst pick in the second round, gets the higher (better) selection in the 3rd round, with the draft order "flip flopping" during all subsequent rounds. | |||||||||
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Third Round: The pennant winner gets first pick in the 3rd round, and the remaining picks are the reverse of the 2nd round. | |||||||||
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Subsequent Rounds Even numbered rounds follow the sequence described for the second round. Odd numbered rounds follow the sequence described for the third round. | |||||||||
2.2.3 Roster Constituents
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See section 2.1.3. | |||||||||
2.3 Expansion Draft
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Should an additional franchise enter a League, in the first year of the new franchise, the League will hold an Expansion Draft. | |||||||||
2.3.1 Protected Players
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For each expansion draft, preexisting franchises may protect a roster of 16 players before the expansion draft. Franchises must distribute a roster of protected players at least one week before the draft. This roster of protected players may include any combination of players, pitchers, Prospects or out-of-League players (players previously on the roster but having no card in the current year). The year a minor league or out-of-League player returns to active status (has a BPB card), he must be on the roster of the 16 players to be protected. Any players not specifically protected will be eligible for the general draft pool when they return to the league. All unprotected and new players are in the draft for a given year. | |||||||||
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For each expansion draft, each previously existing franchise may protect 16 players as described in section 2.1.1. For expansion drafts only, existing teams will deem 10 of the 16 player as 'untouchable'. Each team will divide the balance of the protected players (6) into two draft-enrichment groups of three. One player will be selected at random and independently of the second player from each of the two draft-enrichment groups, and enter the expansion draft as draft enrichment. | |||||||||
2.3.2 Draft Sequence
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The draft sequence for an Expansion Draft is the same as Section 2.2.2 with the expansion franchises deems to have the worst W-L record. Should two or more expansion franchises come into a League at the same time, a roll will determine the draft sequence amongst the expansion franchises. The lowest number rolled is deem to have the poorest W-L record amongst the expansion franchises progressing numerically with the highest roll deem to have the best W-L record amongst the expansion franchises. | |||||||||
2.3.3 Roster Constituents
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See section 2.1.3. | |||||||||
3 Trades
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Trades can be made during the regular season before completion of 25 percent of a team's regular season games (rounded down). Team are permitted to trade draft picks for the immediately upcoming draft only. Teams are not permitted to trade draft choices, in fact or in spirit, for other future drafts. Teams are permitted to trade for players "to be named later," but all such players must be named prior to the completion of 25 percent of a team's regular season games (rounded down). Trades are also permitted between HLB leagues. However, in any given season, BPB carded players may only play in the same HLB league as the historic MLB league on the player's BPB card. No trades are permitted between teams owned by the same people. | |||||||||
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Players involved in a trade are eligible to play for their new team only after the trade is reported to the League Trade Recorder's office. Trades become official when they have been reported to the League Trade Recorder. | |||||||||
4 Playing Games
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4.1 25-Man and 30-Man Rosters
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At the start of each season, each team is limited to an active roster of 25 players. The five players not on the 25-man roster are designated to the 'minors'. A manager may recall a minor league player when the player on the 25-man roster has exhausted the number of games allowed. A manager may choose to send a player down to the minors before he has played all his eligible games. | |||||||||
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After all teams complete 75% of their regular season games, each team may expand its roster to a maximum of 30 players. However, players added to the roster after completing 75% of their regular season games are ineligible for the post-season play. | |||||||||
4.2 Use of Excess Players Pool
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The Excess Player Pool is the BPB-carded players not drafted in a given draft. A team may take a player from the EPP only after it has exhausted the number of games allowed for a player being removed from the team's 25-man roster. The EPP player is returned to the general draft pool at the end of the season. | |||||||||
4.3 Playing Position Players,
Pitchers, Pinch Hitters & Pinch Runners
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The BPB Play Book will define the use of players, pitchers, pinch hitters and pinch runners, in both the regular and post season, except as defined in this section. | |||||||||
4.3.1 Pinch Hitters
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Intentional walks do not count toward the restricted number of PH appearances. | |||||||||
4.3.2 Naming Pitchers
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If neither manager wishes to announce his starting pitcher before the other manager, prior to a game, then the home team manager must announce first. | |||||||||
4.4 Sunshine Law
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Each manager's records of pitcher's and player's appearances must be available for inspection by other managers at any time. However, other records, such as strategy sheets, need not be subject to inspection. | |||||||||
4.5 Courtesy Rule
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With a runner on base, prior to drawing a number, the Offensive manager must assure the Defensive manger is ready to proceed, by, at a minimum, verifying the name of the upcoming batter. If the Offensive manager fails to extend such a courtesy, and with the presumption of Defensive manager having acted in good faith, the Defensive manager may employ a defensive strategy (change of pitcher, repositioning of fielders), and ask the number be redrawn. | |||||||||
4.6 Loss of Effectiveness for
Pitchers
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If the pitcher is experiencing loss of effectiveness, the offensive manager may choose the action symbol on the card rather than the result attributed to his loss of effectiveness. | |||||||||
4.7 Contradicting Results and
Conflicts
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4.7.1 BPB Play Book contradictions
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When a majority of the managers in attendance agree that the BPB Play Book gives contradictory results on a particular play, the in-the -field manager has the choice of which results will prevail. | |||||||||
4.7.2 Pitcher Availability
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A pitcher's availability to pitch in a given game or for a specified number of innings should be clarified by the managers reviewing the pitching chart, prior to the pitcher's appearance. | |||||||||
4.7.3 Procedural Error
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If a procedural error is detected in the course of the game, (e.g., adjusted speed positioning of fielders) and the error could have, by common agreement, affected the outcome of the game, the game should be replayed from the point at which the error occurred. | |||||||||
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Procedural errors detected after the game that do not affect the outcome of the game are to be ignored and the game is considered played. | |||||||||
4.7.4 Player Control Numbers
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Player-control numbers must be recorded on the score sheet before the start of the game. It is the responsibility of both managers to enforce player-control numbers. Should it be discovered it has not been done by the next-at-bat, the control number and its outcome are ignored. | |||||||||
4.7.5 Serious Procedural Errors
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More serious errors affecting the outcome of a game, such as the use of an ineligible player, that are not detected until after the game has been completed could result in the game being replayed if it is practical for the managers to do so, and the majority of the managers available agree the game should be replayed (both in terms of the likely impact of the error on the outcome of the game and the impact of the game on league standings). Should the two managers wish to replay the game, quite aside from the question of impact, this is strictly their decision. | |||||||||
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[1] Two games per session is an initial target. This target will move to three or four as experience accumulates. | |||||||||
