Offseason Report: 1931 UA & NPL Awards

October 27, 1931

Let’s put a bow on the 1931 baseball season!

Champions have been crowned and both leagues have given out their awards for 1931 at a joint banquet in Tiny Sea. This is the latest alliance between the two professional leagues, fueling speculation that the UA and NPL may be in talks to form some kind of mutual association or even combine into a single league. To date, representatives from neither league have indicated any official word on plans for future unification.

(Jump to awards list)

Players have now filed for free agency in both leagues. As the elder league, the UA has a 1-day advantage when it comes to their first year player draft, but the NPL gets a 3-week head start to sign free agents in the fall. Of course, players must choose to individually file for free agency in each league, but so far the majority of free agents have filed in both. While the UA has a higher salary cap and generally wealthier budgets than teams in the NPL, we have seen front offices in the upstart league spend big on a few marquee names, bringing fans to the ballparks and legitimizing the NPL in the eyes of average Uplanticans. It’s easy to forget that the UA is only a few years older than the NPL, and the new league seems to be gaining on the UA’s established foothold after its first two seasons.

News:

The Wight Spiders make the first big splash in NPL free agency, signing RH RP Kevin Gomez for 1932. He has spent the last 4 years with the Deerborn White Sox in the UA, where he put up an impressive 0.76 ERA and 36 Ks over 35.1 innings in 1931. He is likely to take over as the Spiders’ closer in 1932. (10/5)
After a decent but down-trending 1931 with Railey in the UA, RH RP Emery Jackson returns to the NPL with the Petchon Carp. He signs a 2-year deal with the Carp, hoping to help them dig out of the basement and return as a champion contender. (10/5)
After 4 seasons as one the UA’s worst teams, the Redwood Owls have cut ties with GM Dave Benton and Manager Tyler Ross. Benton and Ross left on good terms with team owner Jim Tracy, but all parties agreed that it was time to try something new. We will await word on a new GM and coaching staff for the Owls. (10/7)
Taawa Chargers owner Micah Thurman has given GM Hedi Mounier the boot, along with team manager Francisco Tokorres. Thurman took over as the new owner for the 1931 season, and while he was ready to give the established leadership a chance, they did not live up to his standards, finishing in fifth place, 24.5 games out of first. The Chargers are expected to announce new hires to the media soon. (10/7)
Prissley Trail Blazers manager Don Young rounds out today’s firings. An anonymous team source said the Blazers have been concerned about distractions in Young’s personal life, but didn’t elaborate on what those might be. The embattled manager has long been the subject of unconfirmed rumors of substance addiction. The team’s performance under Don Young has been truly terrible, with the team finishing at or near the bottom of the standings in all 4 of Young’s seasons as manager. We’ll await word from the Prissley front office on a new skipper. (10/7)
The UA’s Platte Bears and NPL’s Wight Spiders have swapped some players. Slugging 1B Dave Phillips and high-level 1B prospect Augusto Hazem head to the Bears, and the Spiders acquire veteran RHP Manuel Pinto and 22-year old OF prospect Carlos Kiano. (10/20)
The UA’s Salvation Brothers send RHP Tony Rodier to the Tiny Sea Metros in the NPL, along with 20-year old pitching prospect Mike Collignon. The Brothers receive a handful of prospects, headlined by 21-year old IF Armando Moraltes. (10/22)
A big trade in the UA: The Northsouth Guardians have added one of the league’s top relievers, RHP Len Odden, in a trade with the Salvation Brothers. Salvation receives infield prospects Alix Gerard and Tony Sellimi. (10/24)
The UA’s Delle Stars deal playoff hero OF Robby Hawk to the Carver Canaries in the NPL. Delle receives prospect catchers William Jackson and Wassim Favre. (10/25)