December 30, 1929
The NPL held its Commencement Draft on December 2 in Plains City. The exciting event allowed baseball fans to get familiar with the new league’s rosters, following along live as they were built. Keep reading for more information on the Commencement Draft.
News:
- UA: RHP Jesus Tse signs with Platte. Tse was somewhat disappointing in his debut season, but wound up winning the Windsor Cup with Deerborn, although he did not pitch at all during the White Sox’ playoff run. (11/27)
- NPL: The NPL Commencement Draft is held in Plains City. See below for more information. (12/2)
- UA: A big trade between the Trail Blazers and Stags: Prissley trades LHP Fabio Mora to the Stags in exchange for RF Vage Lek. (12/12)
NPL Commencement Draft:
Today, the National Professional League held its Commencement Draft to fill its teams’ rosters. The draft order was chosen randomly by a lottery the night before the draft at a festive soiree in Plains City, at the Roberts Ballroom in the Garner Hotel. The serious business of the draft proceeded the next day. The draft was held in the “serpentine” style, meaning that the order reversed each round for the sake of fairness. This was the draft order:
- Lia Puedris Kings
- Wight Spiders
- Petchon Carp
- Plains City Reapers
- Tiny Sea Metros
- Trimble Toppers
- Carver Canaries
- Elderwood Lakers
Some notable draft picks that hope to become stars in the NPL:
- With the first pick in the draft, the Kings selected fireball hurler, RHP Brian Bullock.
- The Reapers selected RHP Ed Austin in the first round. Austin won the Windsor Cup with the Brothers in 1928, with a 3.40 ERA and 86 Ks, but as released by the UA team in 1929.
- The Carp chose the first position player in the draft, 1B Pedro Bausi, named “best all-around hitter” in touring baseball for 1929 by Uplantica Sport.
- Power-hitting 3B Juan Korrea was the Metros’ pick in the first round. He was reportedly offered contracts by several UA teams, but chose to save his talents for the NPL. Korrea is thought by many to be the most talented player in baseball, but his attitude and penchant for hijinks is infamous.
- Soft-spoken 3B phenom Ryad Renaud, from New Flambeaux, was drafted in the first round by the Toppers.
- The Canaries chose 3B Bob “Flash” Jones, formerly of the Corley Buster touring club, in the first round.
- 3B David Little was drafted in the first round by the Lakers. Little is a fan favorite who has played for the Lakers his entire touring career, and he is excited to remain with the team in the new league. They began round two with their next pick, 1B Blake Mercier, who also used to play for the Lakers, but left the team in 1926 to join the Tawnton Dragons.
- The Toppers selected LF Karl Wilkie in the second round. He hit .310 in 1929 for the Rivals. He hopes to be a starter for the Toppers in the NPL.
- The Lakers chose RHP Alonso Rokodriguez in round eight. Rokodriguez struck out 46 in 40.1 out of the bullpen for the Stags in 1929.
- LHP Dan Knox was released by the Brothers at the end of spring training last season based on a personal issue with management, and it’s surprising nobody else in the UA picked him up during the season, because his curve and fastball are some of the best in the game.
- In round nine, the Kings picked SS Roy O’Danoghue, who won a Distinguished Defender award for the Guardians in 1928.
- RHP Tanner Durakatos was expected to be one of baseball’s best closing pitchers, but attitude issues got him released from the Bears and kept him out of the UA in 1929. He was drafted in round twelve by the Metros.
- LHP Tom Olavarria, who appeared in the Windsor Cup finals this fall for the Stags, was drafted by the Toppers in the 17th round.
Uplantic Sports Today 