The 16 team, long-running (over 90 seasons) Real Life Progressive League is looking for a replacement owner for the 1955 New York Yankees, and will be starting off the clock next week, with the Yankees getting the 2nd or 3rd pick, and the 14th. This team had TEN players on the DL in 1954 (the previous owner left before the season), so it was a scramble to play 1954, but with six of those returning, it bounces back with a superb pitching staff in 1955, and solid hitting. Pitching is excellent for many years to come! AND you get a huge pick at #2 or #3! The top pitchers are Jim Bunning (60 WAR), Sandy Koufax and Larry Jackson (both with around 53 WAR). The top hitters are OF Roberto Clemente (95 WAR), 3B Brooks Robinson (78 WAR) and 3B Ken Boyer (63 WAR). The 14th pick of 16 in the first round will also net you a solid hitter. There are three superb SPs for 1955 and an excellent one (combined for over 900 IPs), plus two excellent relievers/starters with a total of 309 IPs. Total IPs is already 1502, of which 1327 are really good. HOF Hoyt Wilhelm doesn't really become superb until 1958, and last year's #5 pick, SP Billy O'Dell is superb starting in 1957. There are lots of long term batters on the team that are very good.

We restarted the 3rd iteration of the Real Life League in the 1946 season, with owners getting the exact team that year, so, nine seasons later, the Yankees look a bit different.

This progressive league, which has 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 upcoming 1955 draft, 3B Brooks Robinson, OF Rocky Colavito, P Hank Aguirre, P Lindy McDaniel and others started their careers in 1955 -- but are not WIS eligible to play until 1956 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 1955. 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.). 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.

New York Yankees (Need 6) -- Owner TBD

Keepers:
C: Harry Chiti, Bobby Shantz
1B: Dale Long, Eddie Waitkus
2B: Pete Runnels
3B: Don Hoak, Bob Kennedy
SS: Joe Demaestri
OF: Gus Bell, Bill Bruton, Henry Simpson
SP: Bob Buhl, Tommy Byrne, Joe Nuxhall, Sam Jones, Max Surkont
RP: Ray Moore, Bill WIght, Hoyt Wilhelm

DL: P Billy O'dell (57), SS Daryl Spencer (56), OF Bobby Del Greco (56), OF Dick Gernert (56)
Cuts: P Vic Raschi, P Corky Valentine, 1B Ron Jackson, 3B Pete Suder, SS Eddie O'Brien
Retired: P Ted Gray, 1B Tom Alston, 1B Bob Borkowski

Trades: Own Milwaukee's 1st