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DYNASTY League Baseball Official Rulebook © 1999

DYNASTY LEAGUE BASEBALL OFFICIAL LEAGUE RULES

THE IMPORTANCE OF STANDARDIZED LEAGUE RULES
The DYNASTY League Baseball Official League Rules, represent a long awaited and necessary movement to organize baseball simulation leagues. These rules combine the best of both worlds between Fantasy leagues and baseball simulation games. Existing leagues will be encouraged to change and will be able to enjoy the benefits of standardized rules. These benefits include the ability to compare leagues against each other in order to establish benchmarks and statistical records. It will also be much easier to get new players to join your league since they know the rules and will be more confident that the league will be well run. If you move, it will be easy to catch on with a new league and you'll know exactly how the league rules work. Standardized rules will also help to eliminate disputes.

These rules have been play-tested over the last seven years and work very well in insuring league parity, fairness and allowing expansion teams and teams taken over by new owners to have a good chance of winning. Tips on how to win and draft information will be provided in the DYNASTY Report newsletter and everyone will benefit because they're playing by the same rules.

FRANCHISE APPLICATION
Your first step in starting a new league will be to determine how many franchises will be awarded. Each franchise consists of the team name, ball park, accompanying weather conditions, General Manager and Manager. Franchises are awarded on a first come first serve basis in the order of entry into the league.

FINDING PLAYERS FOR YOUR LEAGUE
If you wish to be a Commissioner and are looking for players in your league, the best place to start is to check with your friends. Next you can try the DYNASTY League Baseball PLAYERS and LEAGUE LISTINGS. These listings are continually updated with new players and leagues. You can receive a free copy by writing or calling Design Depot. Where else should you look for players? You might know of players who play other baseball simulations or are in a fantasy league. Tell them you are starting a league and have them come over to play a game of DYNASTY League Baseball. Try friends at school, work, church, teammates on your softball league or anywhere else you come into contact with people interested in baseball. You can also ask your local hobby game dealer if he'll place a notice in his store or possibly even in a mailing.

Designer's Note: Each season I'll be continuing to personally conduct Tour/Tournaments to Ball Parks around the country. This has proven to be a great way to find new players for your league or to join an existing league. Look for them in the quarterly newsletter mailed to all game owners.

Tips for recruiting success:

1. Show enthusiasm about the league.

2. Be sincere and courteous.

3. The most common reason people will give you for not joining a league is they don't have the time. Tell them right away you'll be playing a short schedule and emphasize that you'll be playing 2-3 times per month for about 2 hours per meeting. Most people can fit that into their schedule.

LEAGUE SIZE
If you live in a small town, most likely you're going to have a smaller league than if you live in a big city. Don't feel like you have to have a large league to enjoy playing. Smaller leagues of 3-5 players can be as much or more fun than larger leagues. Certainly small leagues are easier to manage and you can be more selective in choosing members.

LEAGUE REGISTRATION
There are several benefits of registering your league. Your league champion will receive a free award certificate. In addition your league will be listed in the DYNASTY League Baseball PLAYERS and LEAGUE LISTINGS. This will be a big help in recruiting for your league. To register your league, write to Design Depot and include your league name, age range (see below) and commissioner's name, phone and address.

JOINING AN EXISTING LEAGUE
The DYNASTY League Baseball PLAYERS and LEAGUE LISTINGS provides information on existing leagues. Don't get discouraged if you are anxious to join a league and there are presently none in your area. You can start your own league right away with as few as three owners and expand in future seasons.

CHANGING YOUR RULES WITH AN EXISTING LEAGUE
If you have an existing face-to-face league and are dead set against changing to the DYNASTY League Baseball Official League Rules, you might consider keeping your present league and starting a new league to try out the rules. With a short schedule it won't take up that much extra time.

WHERE AND WHEN TO PLAY YOUR GAMES -- LEAGUE MEETINGS
It is essential to pick a day of the week and time that you will regularly play your games. You might for example pick Monday night at 6:00P. The reason this is so important is that it will be the glue that keeps your league continuity together. If you simply schedule games with no date and time to be played, it insures that players won't get league reports unless the Commissioner mails them, and you're bound to spend all kinds of time trying to coordinate people. If scheduled games are missed, they can be made up at the next league meeting or at a time both players can agree on. The Commissioner's or Co-Commissioner's home is a good place to play. You'll discover that getting everyone together and playing all at once makes it more fun by enabling you to follow how the rest of your league is doing. Having your league play at a sports bar, batting cage or other public place is a good way to attract interested people to your league and will give you a list of backup owners when an owner needs to be replaced.

MIXED LEAGUES/COMPUTER AND BOARD GAME
Mixed leagues of computer and board game players are fully compatible. The computer version of DYNASTY League Baseball is a direct translation of the board game.

NAMES OF FRANCHISES
Keep your franchise names realistic by using the actual team name of the franchise that you selected. It will make it much easier to remember which stadium each owner plays in as well as weather conditions, etc.

PLAYER POOL SIZE
Here's what a player pool consists of:
A player pool is the group of baseball players that are eligible to be in your league.

Ex: If five owners are in your league, with each of them selecting a franchise and respective ball park, and the franchises are Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Atlanta, San Diego and Cincinnati, the opening day rosters of each of these teams players would all be available in the draft, as well as one additional team.

Teams: You can choose all American, all National or an equal split of American and National teams. Additional teams noted above are selected by a vote of all franchises. Ties are broken by the Commissioner.

Players available in the draft: Consist of the players who are on the current 40 - man official roster, including Spring Training invitees listed in the March Spring Training roster issue of USA TODAY. These teams comprise the player pool. You will see that keeping the talent in the player pool at a realistic level is very important.

Player pool size limit and ratios: It's important to limit the player pool size for several important reasons. Anyone can draft a team of All-Stars, but not everyone can determine who are the better second and third line players, upcoming rookies and where to place your emphasis when drafting scarce talent. You'll find your results and statistics will be much more realistic if you can avoid the platooning of All-Stars and throw in a few Luis Salazars. If your league expands, you'll be able to add a new team into the player pool for each expansion team, giving expansion teams a fair chance to compete rather than having all of the talent locked away. Trying to build a winning team is much more challenging and realistic using these ratios.

Teams added to player pool and # of Leagues:

• 1 League
  3, 4, 5 and 6 franchises, add one additional team
  
  
• 2 Leagues
  8, 10 and 12 franchises, add two additional teams
  
  
• 2 Leagues, 4 Divisions
  16 franchises, add three additional teams
  20, 24 franchises, add four additional teams

DRAFT
The draft is a bidding style draft with a continuous ownership system. Each owner receives $300 of fictional money to spend on his team. A total of 30 players are drafted by each team, with a 25 man active roster. The draft consist of the following three phases:

Type of draft: Bidding style

Number of players selected in this phase: 25

The Regular phase consists of open bidding for the first 25 active players on each teams roster with each teams salary cap at $300. Owners take turns announcing the player up for bid until all teams have 25 players on their active roster. Players are announced by owners in a clockwise manner starting with the franchise owner with the worst won-lost percentage from the previous year, or by choosing numbers. Note that since everyone has the opportunity to bid on each player in the draft, there is no advantage in acquiring a player by announcing his name. Each owner must have at least $1 allocated to bid on each of the 25 players for his active roster.

Franchises are allowed to exceed the $300 salary limit after the draft and during the season when new players are acquired via trades, but must get below the $300 salary cap with at least $1 available to bid per player needed to fill out their 25 man roster before the regular phase of next years draft. Each of these drafted players are signed to three year contracts, with the fourth being an option year for the franchise at the same salary.

MINOR LEAGUE PHASE
Type of draft: Paired picks.

Number of players selected in this phase: 5

The Minor League draft consists of paired picks (1 and 10, 2 and 9, 3 and 8, etc.) which are determined on a "draw from the hat" basis from players who were not selected in the Regular phase of the draft.

These players have a different type of contract and salary then the players selected in the Regular phase of the draft. A player selected in the Minor League draft has a salary of $0 his first year. The franchise owner has the option of inviting the player back to the team the second year for a salary of $10 or releasing him back into the draft. The third year, the player must reenter the Regular phase of the draft.

PROSPECT PHASE
Type of draft: Pick in reverse order of won-lost pct.

Number of players selected in this phase: 2

At the end of the Minor League draft, a Prospect draft consisting of two rounds is conducted. Drafting order is in reverse order of won-lost pct. Players drafted in the prospect draft are those who have not been issued player cards and are currently in minor leagues or college. Prospects become active players the first year they receive player cards. Once this happens, the franchise owner has the choice of signing the prospect to a standard Regular phase contract for $10, or releasing him into the Regular phase draft.

Franchises can have no more than three prospects on their roster at anytime.

PLAYER CONTRACTS
Once a player has been drafted in the Regular phase, he must be kept on your DYNASTY League Baseball team for a minimum of 3 years unless one of the following occurs, which automatically releases the player from your team prior to the draft:

A player is automatically released from his contract:

1. He is traded to a real life team outside the DYNASTY League player pool.
2. He becomes a real life free agent and signs with a real life team outside of the DYNASTY League player pool.
3. He retires from Baseball.
4. He is released and is not picked up by a real life team in the DYNASTY League player pool.
5. For any reason other than injury, suspension or hold out, he is not on one of the 40 man roster or a Spring Training invitee of one of the teams in the player pool prior to draft day.

When any one of the above occurs, the player leaves the team and the salary paid to him goes back to the franchise owner, who can use that money for next year's draft to acquire new players.

NOTE: The five conditions for automatically releasing a player listed above also apply to players signed to guaranteed contracts.

1. New Franchises:
Up to 5 players can be released outright from their contract if your franchise is entering your second year. Up to 3 players can b released outright from their contract if your franchise is entering your third year. No players can be released outright from their contract after the franchise's third year.

2. Buying Out Contracts:
Franchise owners may choose to buy out a player's contract for an amount equal to half the player's salary (rounded up to the nearest dollar) for each year remaining on the contract.

EX: If Robin Yount was signed to a $40 contract during the regular phase of the draft (3 year contract plus option year) in 1990 and before the 1991 draft you wanted to get rid of him or had to get rid of him to get under the salary cap before the draft, it would cost you $20 [($40 X 1/2)=$20]. The buy out amount would be subtracted from the $300 of available money for drafting players in both 1991 and 1992 since those years are still remaining on his contract. So in the above example, your salary cap before the draft in 1991 would be reduced by $20 ($300-$20=$280) to bring you to $280 available for the new draft. This would be the only situation where the salary cap would be below the $300 mark. Salary caps can never be increased above $300. Released players then re-enter the Regular phase draft. Prior to the 2nd year draft, each franchise must submit their current roster to the commissioner and provide a list of players who they choose to release (if any). This is done in order to proved a listing of players available for the draft. Once releases and buyouts are submitted to the Commissioner, no further releases or buyouts can take place prior to the draft.

REGULAR PHASE CONTRACT OPTION YEAR:
A player's contract lasts three years with the fourth year being an option year for the franchise. This means that upon entering the fourth year of a player's contract:

1. The franchise owner has the choice of picking up the option on the contract for a fourth year at the same salary, after which the player will automatically re-enter the Regular phase of the draft.

2. The franchise owner has the choice of not picking up the option for a fourth year of the contract making that player a free agent. The player will then re-enter the Regular phase of the draft.

3. the franchise owner has the option of guaranteeing the contract for additional years. Once the guaranteed contract expires the player automatically re-enters the Regular phase of the draft. The player's salary is increased by $5 for each year the length of the contract is extended starting with the option year.

Ex: If you signed Don Mattingly originally for $30, and upon entering the 4th year of his contract, you decided to give him a 3 year guaranteed contract. His salary would be $45 [$30 + (3 yrs X $5)] for years 4, 5, and 6.

TRADING:
Trading can occur at anytime except for the following exceptions:

1. Between the trade deadline and the end of the season. Trading deadline is July 31, 12 Midnight. It's a great idea to organize an outing and bill it as a trade meeting on July 31. Going to a baseball game is ideal - you can talk trade all night. Remember to report all trades to the Commissioner.

2. Starting 48 hours prior to the draft and continuing through the end of the draft.

MOVEMENT OF A FRANCHISE:
An owner may not move his franchise to a new city or ballpark. The stability of your league will be improved by not having franchises pick up and leave every year.

MAKE-UP GAMES:
If a series of games is not played when scheduled, it is rescheduled and made up at a later time ASAP. For weather conditions, use the month the games are actually played in.

RAINOUTS:
Are considered as an off-day, with a double header scheduled the next day.

COMMISSIONER, CO-COMMISSIONER AND LEAGUE SECRETARY:
The most important attributes of a Commissioner are the ability to get along with people, flexibility and patience, yet be able to earn the respect of league members.

Responsibilities of a Commissioner:
1. League schedule.
2. Recruitment of members.
3. Creation and distribution of league reports (1 per month).
4. Settling disputes.
5. Overseeing the operation of the league.

Responsibilities of a Co-Commissioner:
1. Rosters.
2. First in line of succession for Commissioner.
3. Draft day duties:
... Creation of list of players available for the draft.
... Updating of rosters and draft list during the draft.

League Secretary responsibilities:
1. Draft day:
... Running total of money remaining for each team.
... Auctioneer of players.
2. Award ceremony.
3. Second in line of succession for Commissioner.

POST SEASON PLAY
The team with the best record plays at home for games 1-2 and 6-7 (if necessary). One off day is included after the end of the Regular season and after the end of the Playoffs (if applicable) prior to the World Series. Each series also includes an off day for travel after games 2 and 5. Assume a 7 game season to determine game availability and usage.

AWARDS
An Official Dynasty League Baseball award certificate is available for free to all registered leagues.

PLAYER ETIQUETTE OF LEAGUE MEMBERS:
Win or lose, keep things in perspective and be a good sport. One of the things you should not do is play for money, it only encourages cheating and arguments. Play for the Official DYNASTY League Baseball award certificate. One of the worst things you can do as a league member is to fail to call your opponent well in advance if you can't make a league meeting. If you have a dispute, try to settle it using the fairest and most realistic solution to actual baseball.

REASONS WHY LEAGUES FAIL - AVOID THESE PITFALLS:
1. Can't find enough players to get started or replacement players to continue league.
2. Schedule too demanding and season never finishes.
3. Cheating, disputes, and arguments.
4. Lack of parity - League rules allows best teams to lock away and hoard talent indefinitely.

SEPTEMBER ROSTER EXPANSION:
On September 1, and for the remainder of the regular season teams can expand their rosters to 30 players.

Designer's Note: It's always been my philosophy to try to get as much enjoyment out of the process of playing each and every game and avoid playing the game just to crunch numbers to look at when you are finished.

Make up games that you miss ASP by contacting your opponent and making arrangements to play. The schedule runs from Opening Day in April just before the regular season starts to the last day of the regular season in October. Try to schedule holidays or holiday weekends as off-days to avoid conflicts with people being out of town.

Designer's Note: One of the main reasons for having 3 game series instead of 4 game series involves make-up games. During the course of the season you'll find there will be series that have to be made up. While it's possible to play six games or two series in an evening, eight games with two series is too many games to play in one night. Another reason for playing 3 game series within your division is you'll want to establish a winner of the series.

MINOR LEAGUE CALLUPS AND RELEASES:
Can occur before each new series and be in effect for the entire series. Players requiring rest can't be sent down to the minors. (i.e. you can't send down a pitcher who pitched the last game of your last series because you know he must rest and won't pitch in the next three game series).

"SCRUB" PLAYERS
Scrub players are used for emergency purposes to replace players who have been injured for 4 games or more. Teams are able to place players from the scrub pile on their roster (players from the player pool who were not drafted) for the length of the injury. The scrub player selected must be able to play the same position as the player who was injured. Scrub players must be released back in to the scrub pile when the player who was injured is eligible to return.

LEAGUE RULES CONCERNING PITCHER BATTING:
American Site: DH
National Site: Pitcher bats.

(NOTE: THIS RULE HAS BEEN NULLIFIED. THERE WILL NEVER BE A DH IN THE FAT ELVIS BASEBALL COLLECTIVE.)

OFFICIAL REPORTS:
Are made out at the end of each month starting at the end of April. THese reports will be available through the following month and will be available at each league meeting. Remember to bring your scoresheets from at least the two previous series to each meeting in order to check on pitcher availability. Report all injuries and the game number that the player was injured ASAP to the Commissioner's office.

STATISTICS:
Board game leagues should make keeping statistics optional. It is useful for teams to keep statistics, but requiring them to be kept and turned into the League office will be difficult for both league members and the Commissioner to keep up with.

Designer's Note: Small leagues of 6 or less may be able to make keeping statistics mandatory.

PENNANT RACE SCENARIO
This is a great way to play for one player, two players and even larger groups. Each player manages his favorite team down the stretch picking up the season for the final month. This always leads to red-hot finishes as you re-live the most exciting part of the season. If you and a friend played the great San Francisco - Atlanta pennant race from 1993, one player would manage Atlanta and the other San Francisco. If a series is scheduled that does not include both teams, the manager whose team wasn't included takes over for the opposing team. For example, if an Atlanta vs. Pittsburgh series is scheduled, the San Francisco Manager would manage as the Pittsburgh Manager and try to knock off Atlanta to gain ground in the pennant race for his team (San Francisco).

SAMPLE LEAGUE REPORT

SAMPLE LEAGUE ROSTER

RAIN OUTS
Rain outs are treated as an off day and count towards pitcher rest and injury duration. If more than one game remains of a series the next two games are considered as a double header. Pitchers do not receive any rest between games of a double header.

RESCHEDULED GAMES
Games that are missed must be made up as soon as possible. Always make sure to call your opponent and either the Commissioner or Co-Commissioner if you can not play him during the scheduled date. For weather purposes, use the month that you are actually playing the rescheduled game in.

ACTIVE ROSTER
Prior to any two, three or four game series you must determine your 25 man roster. Changes can not be made until after the series is over regardless of injuries.

POSITIONS
If injuries or ejections leave you with no players who can play a position, the most logical player (players who have played the position before in their careers, infielders playing other infield positions, etc.) is used for the remainder of the series and is assigned the worst possible defensive ratings. This situation must be remedied after the series either by a call-up from a teams Minor league, trade or acquiring a "scrub" player left over from the draft.

In extra innings, a pitcher may play the outfield or infield for one batter using the worst possible defensive ratings if the manager wants to make a double switch and bring in a new pitcher for one batter and keep the current pitcher in the game.