Original 1978 SBML Rules
Copied verbatim from a 1978 mimeograph copy found in Dick Dorsch's stash...
1. Original Owners
1. Eric Bondy Division: Jeff David, Rick Auer, Mike Hand
2. Neyman - Pearson Division: Kim Andriano, Wendell Ponder, Randy Carter
3. R. A. Fisher Division: Dick Dorsch, Kent Skalland, Steve Johnson
4. Commissioner: Dick Dorsch and Assistants: all other owners
2. Initial Draft
1. January 28, 1978; random drafting order; 24 rounds; zig-zag pattern
2. Draft picks may be traded as long as the draft is not unduly delayed
3. Pre-season matrix
1. 8 fielding positions and DH in any order; no distinction between OF positions
2. As many or as few players as desired may be listed for each position
3. All players listed at a position must have played there during the previous
season
4. The first and second players at a position must have played 10 or
more games at that position during the previous season
5. The first or second player at a position must have played 75 or
more games at that position during the previous season
6. Any player may be listed in the DH column
7. A player may be listed first only at one position, but he may be backup as
many positions as eligible
8. Each owner should send a pre-season matrix to the commissioner by March 1
4. Schedule of Games
1. The commissioner will see that a schedule is made up and sent to the owners
as early as possible
2. If an error in the major league schedules causes SBML games to be
scheduled on a day when not all major league teams play, the SBML games
will be rescheduled if possible, otherwise they will be deleted
5. Computing Scores
1. Runs = (1/AB)/(20S+30D+47T+52HR+7(SB+SF+SAC+HBP)) + (1/2)(OppE + OppPB) - 3
2. Use all printed box scores; use the first game only of doubleheaders
3. Fill each position from top to bottom; fill the team matrix from left
to right; if a position cannot be filled it receives an 0 for 4
4. A player must appear in the team part (top part) of the box score to be used
5. If the number of extra base hits listed for a player is greater than his
number of AB, then set his AB = number of extra base hits
6. Compute the runs scored to as many decimal places as needed to determine
the winner
7. Exact ties
1. Add the statistics of unused players (top to bottom, left to right,
one player per position as before) to the formula one at a time
from each team until the tie is broken
2. Stop when one team runs out of unused players; if the game is still
tied, reschedule it if possible otherwise it will not count
6. Seasonal Operations
1. The commissioner will appoint one owner to be in charge of each calendar
month during the SBML season
2. Matrix changes may be made by notifying the owner in charge of the month
prior to the 1st of the month by phone or mail; whatever the owner in
charge has on hand the 1st of the month will be used for the month; these
matrix changes may include specific day to day instructions within reason
3. If a player plays at a new position during the current season he may be
listed at that position in the next month's matrix; the same 10 and 75
game rules will apply as requirements for being listed in the top 2 rows
at a new position.
4. The owner in charge will mail all other owners the matrix updates as soon
after the first of the month as possible
5. The owner in charge will compute the scores for all SBML games during the month
6. As soon as possible after the last SBML game of the month, the owner in charge
will mail each owner the day by day scores and the updated standings
7. Discrepencies in game results
1. Check with the opposing team and the owner in charge of the month
2. Mathematical and lineup errors will be corrected
3. The box scores used by the owner in charge of the month will be final
4. Discrepencies should be resolved within 2 weeks of receipt of results
5. The owner in charge of the month will mail an errata if necessary
8. The owner in charge of Sept. will mail out the final standings as soon as
possible and also be in charge of the playoffs (using the Sept. matrices)
9. If ineligible player(s) play at a position and the opposing team "protests"
to the commissioner or the owner in charge of the month within 2 weeks of
the game, the game will be replayed giving the "ineligible position(s)" an
0 for 4.
Note: The April matrix must be based on positions played during the previous season,
not on spring training or speculations about the present season.
7. Trades
1. Trades may be made any time except Sept. 1 through the end of the SBML playoffs
2. Trades during the season will take effect on the 1st of the following month
8. Playoffs
1. 3 division winners and wild card (2nd place team with the best winning percentage)
2. Wild card will play the division winner (other than own division) with best win pct.
3. First round: 3 out of 5 series; winners meet in 4 out of 7 SBML World Series
4. Ties for playoff berths
1. All teams tied for division titles and/or wild card will play a one
game playoff
2. Division winners will be determined first, then the wild card team
9. Post Season Draft
1. Draft in reverse order of winning percentage
2. World Series winner will draft last, preceeded by the world series loser
3. Head to head competition (coin flip if necessary) will break ties in win pct.
4. Each owner must protect 16 players; all unprotected and non-SBML roster
players are eligible to be drafted
5. Round 1
1. Each team in order selects 2 players from those eligible
2. These draft picks are tradable, but the picks will still be tradable
6. Round 2
1. Each team in order selects as many players as needed to have 24
2. These draft picks are not tradable
7. No more than 4 players may be chosen from team X's unprotected players by
teams other than team X until after team X has drafted in round 2
8. Lists of unprotected players should be sent to the commissioner by Dec 15
10. Rules
1. The commissioner will be the final word in the interpretation of the rules
2. A 2/3 or more vote of SBML owners is needed to make changes in the rules
3. Comments and suggestions are always welcome
Miscellaneous (for now)
All Star Game; Individual and team statistics; SBML record book
Awards for division and world series winners (Simon Cup);
Selection of new commissioners; Expansion