Retro 50s Baseball League (RABL) 1950 – 1953

THE 1953 RABL CONSTITUTION



League Requirements: The league requires all managers to own the latest version of Action PC Baseball and the season league file that will be used during the current season. This is not a salary cap league.

Gameplay: All games must be played head to head. If you are unable to play your team in a timely manner, please find a substitute manager; if one is not available, notify the commissioner so he can get a replacement. If neither manager is unable to complete the games in a timely manner, an extension can be granted by the commissioner if a date is scheduled where both managers can play. If no other option is available, the commissioner will have them played by other managers or auto played so that the league is kept current.

Rookie/Free Agent Draft: All rookies and players that are not on rosters in the upcoming season will be eligible for the draft. The draft will be held before the season begins. All teams must cut their rosters to a maximum of 23 players before the draft. A manager may save less than 23 players. The draft will consist of enough rounds to fill out the rosters. Trades for draft picks can only be for made through the year following the current season (Example: Picks may be traded before the 1951 draft for 1952 but not for 1953). Only draft picks that are usable may be traded and no picks after round 7 may be traded.

Use Him or Lose Him rule = 50% You must use any player 50% of their MLB PA or IP to keep him the following season.

Free Agents –Once each team has selected 30 players, no additional drafting will be done by that team. Teams can add free agents during the season if a roster spot is open from a trade or a player being released. At the end of the year, the added player will go back into the free agent pool.

Missing in Action - Players that are carded one year but not carded the next may be maintained on a team’s roster at no cost (limit 5 spots). If an owner wants to save 6 or more missing players, that will each cost a roster spot. The beginning years are during the Korean War; thus, there are players that will be gone for as long as two years. Since the carded players are already determined, it will be up to the team manager if he wishes to maintain the slot vacant (no active player) so he may keep the uncarded player. In the event a team drops an uncarded player, that player may not be drafted again until the next year that he is available and is carded. (Example: Team A has Faye Throneberry but drops him when he is not carded (serving in Korea). Throneberry may not be drafted by Team B until he is actually back to playing baseball and is included in the game rosters. Of course, depending on the order of the draft, Team A may be able to redraft Throneberry prior to anyone else drafting him).

Injuries – Not used

Rosters: All rosters will consist of 25 active players until September 1, when the roster opens up to the maximum amount of players. There is no limit to the number of roster moves for the season. Any time a roster change is made, an updated CM should be emailed to your next opponent and the league commissioner. The roster must have at least one backup for every position. Players with multiple positions can be counted as your backups at all positions in which they are rated. The active playoff roster will consist of 25 players.

Schedule: Games are played in order by date, one series per week. Any games not completed by the week's deadline will be auto played or played by subs per commish, if no extension has been requested and granted.

Trades: Teams will be allowed to make trades until the trading deadline. The trading deadline will be midnight July 31 on the schedule. All trades must be reported on the slack work area official channel for trades & confirmed by both teams. If due to a trade, a team has fewer than 30 players, the team will be allowed to add players to fill roster spots. Conversely, if a team has more than 30 players after a trade, the team must cut enough players to have a roster of no more than the MAX roster limit.

Trade Observation: Trades will only be monitored if it is clearly evident that the trade is very one-sided. Any manager may contact the commissioner about a trade issue and ask that it be reviewed.

Usage Rules: There are no usage limits. However, players used in excess of 110% of plate appearances and innings pitched will realize a 50% decrease in performance after reaching 110% of usage. This can be reviewed through the game's "Usage Rules" feature.

Usage Rules: Players may only play positions for which they are rated EXCEPT for the “Outfielder Mobility Rule” and special situations under the caption “Player Usage Comments.” See below.

Outfielder Mobility Rule: Players rated at any one (or more) outfield position(s) may play at any other outfield position.

Special Pitcher Usage Rules: A starting pitcher cannot be used in relief if he did not pitch in relief in MLB with one the exception: a starter may pitch in relief IF the game has gone into extra innings AND the team has used all of its relief pitchers (includes using relief pitchers with the (s) designation. A relief pitcher cannot be used as a starter if he did not pitch as a starter in MLB.

During each series of game play, each roster shall have 4 SP’s active that won’t be used as a RP except for extreme extra inning situations mentioned above. (where the entire bullpen is used up).

Starting pitchers can start on 3 days rest if desired, although any game fatigue or pitch count penalties will be used if applicable. Starting pitchers can start 100% of their actual GS +2 additional if needed. You’re welcome!

Player Usage Comments: All pitchers will be affected by the overuse penalty available in league settings. Position players will be affected by the same league rule settings. The penalties are severe if a pitcher exceeds 110% innings pitched. For pitchers, hits are increased by 50%. Hitters will suffer a 50% reduction in hits once they exceed 110%. The full reduction of 50% will be in place for the duration of the season for that player (does not affect post season play). If a player played at least 1 game at a certain position and is rated at that position, he could be used for the whole season at that position. You are free to use your position players how you want per game ratings.

Playoff Usage:
Batters must have a minimum of 50 at bats in MLB to be eligible for a playoff roster. Pitchers must have a minimum of 25 innings pitched in MLB to be eligible for a playoff roster.
Starting Rotation: Teams must use a minimum 3-man rotation in any playoff series.
Starting Pitchers must have a minimum of
8 starts in MLB to be eligible to start in a playoff game.

Players will be prorated for playoff usage.

Team Names: Managers may use any name for their team.

Lineups: The DH will not be used in the 1950 season. The DH rule begins during the 1973 season.

1950 Playoffs: A.) Top 3 teams from each league will advance to the playoffs. Seedings will be determined by Win %. Seed #3 plays at seed # 2. The winners of that series will then meet the # 1 Seed for the league championship. All series will be 7 games. The winners of each league will then play each other in the R50BL championship series. Any ties will be determined by h2h record, runs scored vs runs against and then by hits minus hits allowed.

1951 Playoffs: There will be 2 leagues. Top 3 teams from each league will make the playoffs. All series will be seven games. Any ties will be determined by h2h record, runs scored vs runs against and then by hits minus hits allowed.

Stadiums: Stadiums will be based on the actual stadiums that were in use in the league year. Beginning in 1950, stadiums must have been used during that MLB season. Stadiums will be chosen in a separate draft in the opposite direction of the player draft.

You MUST use your ballpark for at least 2 seasons. If you wish to change stadiums after that time, then a change of venue request must be submitted by the end of the current season’s World Series. AL teams playing in Shibe Park and Sportsman III Park will relocate to new ballparks in the year that their MLB team moves to those stadiums. Any time a team plays in a new ballpark, our league will copy MLB relocation protocol.

Draft Order: After the initial 1950 season is played, draft order will be based on worst record to best record. Teams with the worst record will draft first, followed by the next-worst team. Any ties will be determined by h2h record, runs scored vs runs against and then by hits minus hits allowed. TIE BREAKER WINNERS get the BETTER pick! Play Hard always!!

ETC. – Anything that is not included in these rules will be interpreted as closely as possible to the actual baseball rules. All questions should be sent to the commissioner.