May 31, 1935
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Season 8 of Uplantic Baseball starts 5/12/26!
Uplantic Baseball is back! Coming off of record setting attendance and Crystalline Casting viewing in Uplantica’s major pro football league and brand new basketball league, the original pro sports sensation is back for Season 8. Will Mario Olivo and the Delle Stars dynasty continue to dominate the league, or will we see a new Windsor Cup champion for the first time in five seasons?
The Uplantic Association’s spring program in Amblint finished yesterday, as did the National Professional League’s spring schedule in Vodderelle. Opening Day will kick off the Regular Season for both leagues this Monday, June 3.
This is the second season under the UUBO merger. The UUBO relegates the UA’s bottom team to the NPL and promotes the NPL’s top team to the UA at the end of each season. The Lia Puedris Kings will play in the premier UA league this year, while the Carver Canaries have been sent back to the NPL after a dismal first season in the UA last year.
(Jump to Final Spring Standings)
My personal predictions:
- A Division: Delle Stars
- B Division: Wight Spiders
- C Division: Redwood Owls
- D Division: Platte Bears
- Wildcards: Salvation Brothers, Railey Rivals
- Windsor Cup: Wight Spiders over Redwood Owls, 4 games to 3.
- Relegation: Lia Kompos Miners
- Promotion: Trimble Toppers
Offseason Breakdowns
Some longstanding contenders and some up-and-coming squads will hit the field with new looks in 1935, as another wave of free agency and trades has shaken up rosters across the UA.
Division A
The Delle Stars have won the last four Windsor Cup Finals. They are poised to be a major force in the league again this season. Offensively, the Stars core lineup returns. They’ve added 2B Sami Quille (a blockbuster trade with Tiny Sea for SP Morgan Burnett days after their Finals matchup) and veteran 3B Miguel Naggenda (trade with Farport). Their pitching staff has been shaken up a bit. After losing SPs Morgan Burnett (trade with Tiny Sea), Jeff Rogers (free agency), Jeffrey Irvin (free agency), and RP Tony Rodier (free agency), they’ve added SP Francisco Lia Taawa (1933 NPL Pitcher of the Year, in a trade with Salvation), with SP Jaime Ruiz ( 5-time All-Star free agent from Northsouth) and RP Jeff Tardiff (journeyman free agent). The Stars will be in the mix for the A Division pennant and the Windsor Cup again this year.
The Lia Puedris Kings have a long history as a destination for top talent in the pre-UA baseball world. This season they will play in the nation’s top league for the first time. They won the NPL’s National Cup last year with several one-season rentals, and have employed a similar strategy for their first season in the UA, engaging in a flurry of trades leading up to opening day. Their biggest pickup is 2-time All-Star OF John Bunce (free agent from Prissley). Their losses are much more noteworthy, including 1B Luis Rokodriguez, 2B Ernesto Terawaa, SPs Vic Mitchell and Greg Crepin, and 3B David Holmes. The new-look Kings are expected to perform poorly.
The Prissley Trail Blazers had their best season last year, finishing 50-50, just two games out of a playoff spot. They’ll be in a tough Division A this year. They lost star OF John Bunce and veteran OF Joe Katakien to free agency, but have shored up their offense with veteran leaders in 1B Luis Rokodriguez (1930 NPL MVP and an NPL record 53 RBI last year with the Kings), RF Curt Sawyer (2-time All-Star with consistent output in big-market Deerborn), and 2B Gerald Lewis (a clubhouse mentor and skilled fielder whose career started with the Blazers).
The Railey Rivals finished just a game out of a playoff spot in 1934, and are expected to be formidable contenders in 1935. While the Rivals lost OF Julio Kastro and SPs Eugene Kiteoko and Manny Vazquiza, they orchestrated a series of trades to add 40-year old legend OF Jorge Akil and 36-year old 3B Hichem Colle from Lia Kompos, as well 36-year old 1B Andy Thompson from Plains City. The trio of veterans show Railey’s dedication to winning now. They also added free agent SP Fred Lia Itoldino and 1B Gabriel Martinezto. They’ll have their work cut out for them in Division A, especially with star RF Gary Holland out for at least the first three to four weeks of the season with bone marrow edema in his knee. Jorge Akil will also miss the first two weeks a broken thumb.
Division B
The Lia Kompos Miners have been basement dwellers for their entire existence. Their reputation as one of the worst teams in the UA will likely not change much this year, and they may find themselves grappling with relegation as the season winds down. In a rebuilding effort, they let fan favorite and 3-time All-Star 3B Hichem Colle and OF legend Jorge Akil go in a trade with Railey. They also lost SP Henry Brown and LF Jimmy Hamm to free agency. Their biggest pickup this offseason was 3B David Holmes, who should help pick up some slack. They also added free agent SP Manny Vazquiza.
The Northsouth Guardians have found themselves close to the playoffs many times, but have only appeared once, in 1931. Last season, they lost a single game tiebreaker for the final playoff spot. This offseason, the Guardians lost SPs Jaime Ruiz and Fred Lia Itoldino to free agency, along with clubhouse leader Gerald Lewis. They made up for it by adding well-rounded hitter 2B Ernesto Terawaa in a trade with the Kings, and free agent pitchers Orlando Lia Puedris and Henry Brown. This year may be a step back for Northsouth, but if the cards fall their way they could see success.
Last year, the Tiny Sea Metros shocked the baseball world by advancing to the Windsor Cup Finals in their first season since coming up to the UA from the NPL. They are back this season with much of their core roster intact. They lost C Yoni Beaulieu and 1B Francisco Kosgei to free agency, and sent 2B Sami Quille to Delle in a trade that gave them All-Star lefty starter Morgan Burnett. They then snagged 4-time All-Star and 1932 Reliever of the Year CL Carlos Garcika from free agency. The Metros also added 2-time All-Star free agent LF Joe Katakien.
The Wight Spiders were a popular pick to compete for their division title last season despite it being their first season in the UA. They finished 50-50, 2 games out of the final playoff spot. In 1935, they have made several changes, and are once again being projected as a top contender. Their 1934 roster featured some single-season contracts that they have moved on from this year. Their most notable loss is 2B Jose Meza, who left as a free agent. The Spiders also lost LF Carlos Kayra to free agency. Wight has added a couple strong veteran hitters in 1B Francisco Kosgei (last year’s SemiFinals MVP with Tiny Sea) and OF T.J. Harrison. They also added versatile starter Michael Mercer to their pitching rotation. The Spiders will likely compete with Tiny Sea for the Division B title.
Division C
The Cherricaw Herders won their first division title last year after a history spent mostly in the basement. The Herders are back with some pitching additions that could make them formidable in 1935, although they will be competing in a tough C Division. The Herders’ top pickup is SP Vic Mitchell, who posted an NPL record 0.77 WHIP last season. They also added RP Greg Kiefer in a trade with Taawa.
The Redwood Owls exceeded all expectations in 1934, storming to their first-ever division title. The Owls have added two veteran pitchers in their quest to win Division C again in 1935. Their biggest offseason acquisition, SP Craig Ogg, is 39 years old but has been an All-Star for Platte the last three seasons. He’ll be joined by storied 36-year old closer Peter Hernankez from Northsouth, 1930 and 1934 Reliever of the Year and a 3-time All-Star himself.
The Roland Stags are coming off of their first-ever losing season last year, hoping to get back into the playoffs for the first time since 1929. With the exception of last season, the Stags have always been in the mix in late season races, but tend to end up on the outside looking in. Division C will be a tough test for them this year. Roland lost RH SP Michael Mercer to free agency, but were able to sign 36-year old lefty Greg Crepin, whose sub-one WHIP helped lead the Lia Puedris Kings to the National Cup last season. C Steve Austin also left as a free agent, but the Stags picked up free agent 2B Jose Meza a 3-time All-Star and 2-time Superlative Swinger who won the batting title in 1930.
In 1934, the Salvation Brothers finished last in the league’s toughest division with a record of 49-51, 3 games out of a playoff spot. They are back in what may be the toughest division in the UA this season and are expected to be competitive. The Brothers sent SP Francisco Lia Taawa to Delle in a trade and picked up 1933 Windsor Cup MVP pitcher Jeff Rogers in free agency. They also shored up their bullpen with veteran RPs Tony Rodier (he started his career helping the Brothers win the first Windsor Cup Finals in 1928 and was in the best form of his career last season for Delle) and Amin Roux (a solid fastballer who has spent his career in Delle).
Division D
The Deerborn White Sox have been perennial contenders. They took some big hits this offseason, perhaps most notably the loss of legendary 3-time Pitcher of the Year Jorge Takato along with 4-time All-Star and 1932 Reliever of the Year Carlos Garcika to free agency. Workhorse team leader, OF slugger Curt Sawyer also left the team as a free agent in the offseason. The White Sox executed some big trades, giving up some future prospects to acquire 3B Lura Opdhal (1934 NPL Golden Bat/Choice Fielder and NPL HR record holder with the Blue Sox) and 1B Lee Guitierrekaz (1932 NPL MVP and 3-time Golden Bat with Trimble). The White Sox’ offense and bullpen look strong, but their starting rotation could be a sore spot with starter Jacob Hudson missing at least two months with rotator cuff inflammation and Mathew Huertata dealing with what he hopes will be temporary shoulder pain.
After winning back-to-back NPL championships in 1932 and 1933, the Plains City Reapers struggled as one of four expansion teams that moved up from the NPL to the UA in 1934. Plains City has a strong young lineup that could make a splash if a few of them get hot in 1935. They dealt fragile veteran 1B Andy Thompson to Railey for prospects and added ace righty Ron Rivera from free agency. Unfortunately, Rivera will miss the first two months of the season recovering from elbow ligament surgery. The Reapers lost C Klaus Lier to free agency, but possibly upgraded the position with free agent C Luka Joubert, a 3-time All-Star, 2-time Superlative Swinger, and 3-time Distinguished Defender. Joubert struggled with Railey in 1934, but hopes to get back in top form this season.
The Platte Bears are a storied franchise, having made the playoffs in 4 of 7 seasons and having won the Windsor Cup in 1930. This offseason, they lost ace lefty Craig Ogg to free agency, along with righty Ron Rivera. Power-hitting lefty 1B Gabriel Martinezto also left as a free agent after a decline in production in 1934. The Bears added 1932 All-Sar RH SP Eugene Kiteoko in a trade with Railey, and picked up young slugger CF Myles Williams in a trade with Taawa. Williams had a rough 1934, but is hoping to bounce back in new surroundings, playing for a contender. The Bears will likely compete with the White Sox for the D Division pennant.
The Taawa Chargers have struggled during their entire existence. Loyal fans have begun to turn sour since the team’s sale to maligned owner Micah Thurman in 1929 and continual dismal on-field product. With ownership reportedly bandying relocation, the Chargers had their best season in 1934, finishing 45-55, 6 games out of the playoffs. The Chargers moved aggressively to strengthen their bullpen with an eye to the future this offseason by picking up a number of young arms. They traded away RP Greg Kiefer and star CF Myles Williams, who both struggled in 1934. The Chargers’ biggest signing coming into 1935 is RF Tony Katakien, who is coming off a Windsor Cup Finals MVP performance with the Stars in 1934. The 34-year old Katakien is reportedly excited to step into a team leadership role in Taawa with 5-year deal.
Final UA Spring Standings:
Final NPL Spring Standings:
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