The USBL is a simulation baseball league, using the Strat-o-Matic board game and annual cards. What separates this simulation from most others, is that the General Manager function of running a major league front office is also simulated. Through the use of players being low-salaried during their first 6 years of major league service, to arbitration, to free agency, and of course annual rookie drafting, you get to build your team as you see fit. Clubs have a 33 man roster to play with, and of course a 26 man active roster. Lastly, salaries are actual real-life money, which go into the league and are paid back through teams earning winnings (based on standings, as well as playoff success). And any “profits” the league accrued pay for things like a league dinner, and/or hotel meeting room for the annual winter meetings.
We do not have “cutesy” rules like re-drafting every year, or only protecting a certain number of players and the rest go back into an annual draft, because that would not be realistic. We have had GM’s in the league previously who literally “blow their load” trying to “win now”, by dealing valuable draft picks for next year, and using current year draft picks on what we like to call “one-year wonders”. And, they give crazy free agent contracts to guys who are not expected to maintain their level of play in the future. And of course make a multitude of trades, most of which are made just for the sake of making trades. The result has been that these teams wind up paying the price for their irresponsible team building by being marred in mediocrity for years to come. But just as you don’t get a do-over in the majors, or in life, you do not get a do-over in the usbl. Build your teams wisely, and you will be rewarded. For this reason, the USBL is not for everyone. It is for the person who is 100% serious about taking on the challenge of building a successful, major league franchise.
Our league used to be a face to face league, as we are located in the Greater Toronto area. However, the covid era introduced the world (and us) to things like zoom, which has now resulted in 99% of our play being through zoom. This now allows the usbl to expand globally to anyone interested in making a long-term and meaningful connection with a great group of like-minded, baseball-loving guys.
If interested, please reach out:
- Michael:
- [email protected]