Gentlemen,

After our discussions at the meeting in Boston, and based on some follow-up conversations I have had with some captains, I think there is a consensus that we are going to go ahead with the league idea this year.  I'm outlining the basics so that the clubs not represented at the meeting can get caught up.  I'm putting this up here because it seems to me that almost all the 1880s era clubs are  supporting this, but I don't mean to impose will on any clubs who haven't made their position clear.  

So here it is:  

-2 divisions:  East & West
-Clubs in red haven't committed, or I have not hear that they have committed.

-West-
Hartford Senators
Westfield Wheelmen
Whately Pioneers
Meddowe BBC (?)
Simsbury Taverneers (?)
Bridgeport Orators (?)
Pittsfield Elms (?)

-East-
New Hampshire Granite
Cornish Game Hens of Providence
Boston Colonials
Boston Beaneaters
Olneyville Temperance Cadets
Providence Grays (?)

-The divisions would basically be autonomous.  The club captains in the West would decide on their own number of required games for division teams, the method for determining a division champion (win %, a tournament, etc).  The same would follow in the East.

-The division winners must play a best-of three championship series to be held in October (18/19?) at a location to be determined.  This could be changed to a one-game championship if a series is too ambitious, I don't know how people feel about that.

In the East, we have more or less agreed on our guidelines.  Here are the highlights:

-Each club must play a minimum of 8 league games per season.  There is no limit the number of games a club can play.

-A league game is an overhand (any 1880-1888 rule set) game against a team in the East or West division.

-East division champion will be determined strictly by win %.  Tie-breaker is # of division wins.

-Games must go at least 5 innings to be official (weather, darkness, run out of beer).  Intentional 7 inning games are fine if agreed upon by both captains.

The point:

The idea is to take what we are already doing and incorporate the benefits that come from having standings and a championship.  In my mind, the added competition will improve player attendance and recruiting opportunities, as well as promote the formation of new clubs.

The best part is that most of our clubs will not have to do anything differently in the league than they would have already.  Now we just have something to call it.

If the clubs listed in red would like to commit or decline, please e-mail me at admin@...

This is so I can correctly post the info on the new newenglandvintagebaseball.com, which will be happening over the next few days.

Thanks,
Patrick "Blue" Reilly
Game Hens