Offseason Report: 1932 UA & NPL Awards

November 4, 1932

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With the nation still abuzz from the Delle Stars’ back-to-back Windsor Cup championships, the UA and NPL once again held a joint awards banquet in Tiny Sea.

This is the second time the leagues have united to present their season awards. Officials from both leagues have been tight-lipped about the prospect of more cooperation in the future, but this year UA commissioner Jim Windsor opened up to the media about the prospect of the UA and NPL sharing more than just one night a year:

“It’s something I think we’d be open to at some point. Whether it’s an exhibition series or something else. We think, and I believe Shannon [Mukai] and [the NPL] feel the same, that the game and its fans deserve the world, and both leagues are committed to giving those fans the best product possible.”

With the implementation of Crystalline Casting’s broadcast technology bringing baseball to screens nationwide, along with the captivating narrative of the Stars’ second championship run in honor of their fallen teammate, Yassine Joseph, interest in baseball is at an all-time high as we wrap up Uplantic baseball’s fifth season.

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.

Baseball History

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News:

The Plains City Reapers have retained 1B Antonin LeGrand for another 2 seasons. The 36-year old star will receive $4.22 million per season to play for the 1932 NPL champs. (9/20)
A number of well-known players officially retired today. Among the biggest names on the list: 2B Carlos Martinezto (SAL), SP Justin Morris (NOR), 2B Francisco Aguilera (NOR), SP Julio Martinezto (PLA).
The Wight Spiders of the NPL and the Railey Rivals of the UA have finalized a trade that will send 29-year old closer Kevin Gomez to Wight in exchange for two young infield prospects. This is the latest in a trend of big name players heading to the NPL from the UA, fueling speculation that the leagues may approaching some kind of merger deal in the not-too-distant future. (10/16)
Deerborn White Sox 3B Rygh Ogg has been hospitalized for mild heat stroke. He will be released from doctor’s care tomorrow. (10/18)
LH SP Morgan Burnett has been traded from the Carver Canaries to the Petchon Carp in exchange for young 1B Felipe Songoro and two other young prospects as the Canaries aim to rebuild after a disappointing 1932 season, while the Carp look to build on their unexpected success this year. (10/19)
The NPL’s Carver Canaries send RH RP Jeremy Greene to the UA’s Platte Bears for two prospects as Carver’s rebuilding effort continues. (10/24)
C George Cool has been traded from the Elderwood Lakers to the Tiny Sea Metros in exchange for 21-year old pitching prospect Moise Leroy. Cool brings a lifetime .270 batting average to the Metros as they gear up to make another run at the National Cup after coming up just short to the Reapers this season. (10/24)
White Sox 3B Rygh Ogg has been readmitted to the hospital today after once again suffering symptoms of heat exhaustion. There is some concern that this could be indicative of a larger problem for the 5-time all-star, but there has been no official work from Ogg or the team. (10/24)
The Railey Rivals have hired fromer Taawa Chargers third base coach Cecil Taylor to be their next manager. This is first manager job. (10/25)
The Canaries have made another trade, this time with the arch rival Wight Spiders, dealing RH RP Tanner Durakotos to Wight and receiving two 19-year old prospects. (10/30)
After a third straight Windsor Cup Finals defeat, the Deerborn White Sox have nonetheless brought back GM Tom Anderson for a 4-year contract extension. Despite the lack of recent success in the Finals, the White Sox have won more games and regular season accolades than any other UA team. (10/15)