The Union League was started in order to both enjoy the Start-O-Matic Career Historical Disks and learn about players from a bygone era who played this great game of baseball. The Union League name itself is a bow to the the Union Association, a 19th Century professional base ball league. The UL consists of two separate leagues of eight teams each, mirroring the classic setup from baseball's past. The two leagues themselves are also named after long defunct professional leagues: the Players League, which operated for only a single year in 1890, and the Federal League, whose history spanned a whopping two years, 1914-15. Nevertheless, these two leagues are part of baseball's rich history, and so as not to forget that legacy, we have applied those titles to our league. The general format of the league is one in which we play two seasons per year using the players from a specific CHD decade, e.g. 1900 or 1910, before moving on to the next decade. Starting at 1900, the seasons will be numbered in five (5) year increments, i.e. 1905, 1910, 1915, 1920, etc. Our Championship Series is referred to as The World's Championship Series, or WCS, and is seven games in length. The WCS was a nine game affair during the 19th century seasons, with the sole exception of 1876, which was a seven game series.

Those players who will comprise the player pool for each season will be selected mainly from a particular decade from the SOM CHD, or Career Historical Disks, e.g. 1940CH, 1950CH. Starting in the 1920 season, the decades will be further divided into two parts. All players who debuted in first five years of a particular decade (e.g. 1920-24) will be included in the first season's draft (in this example that would be 1920), while those who have a rookie year in the last five seasons of that decade (1925-29) would be entered into the 1925 draft. The remainder of players who compete in the league will be explained below (see "carryover players").

The criterion for eligibility is as follows:

All players are restricted to 110% of their rated PA/IP. If a player exceeds the 110% limit he could be determined ineligible for post season play. Further, his AB/IP could be reduced by as much as 25% the following season. If said player is in his last year of league play an appropriate penalty could be applied against the team by the league. It is incumbent on each GM to regulate overuse on their own teams.

Rosters will have a 28 player minimum, 30 maximum, "minor leaguers eligible". All teams must carry their full roster throughout the entire year. Each team must have enough rated innings to complete a 154 game schedule played to nine innings per game (1386 innings), and enough Plate Appearances to do the same (approximately), which will be set at 4900. The 10% usage bonus does not apply to these minimums. Rosters must be filled to the maximum of 30 players after the draft if there are sufficient players available. However, rosters may drop below that level during the season due to trading, but never below the 28 player minimum.

Player usage is unrestricted in the playoffs excepting those players rated with less than 100 PA or 8 starts, as rated by Strat. These players may not start any playoff game unless it's made necessary by injury. These rules are intended to allow the GM plenty of latitude in using his part-time players in an increased role during the playoffs if he wishes, while at the same time eliminating serious abuse of the same. If a player is intentionally used in a manner to circumvent these rules (e.g. not starting but playing most of every game), he may be declared ineligible for the remainder of the series.

Rosters will be set at 25 players for all postseason games, "minor leaguers ineligible" (25 players eligible, 5 ineligible). There will be no replacing injured players with a player not on the postseason roster during the round he was injured in. Eligible players may be changed between rounds, however. Playoffs will consist soley of a "World Championship Series" however, until the 1960CH stat set is used, when we will convert to a divisional format which will necessitate the institution of tiered playoffs.

The World Championship Series was initially a best of nine format. Starting in 1905 we changed over to a best of seven series. In this way we have reflected baseball history, in which the World Series was changed to a best of seven format in the 1905 season.

All eligible players (as defined earlier) are entered into the Player Pool. Teams will retain their Carryover Players. The draft will proceed in inverse order of the previous fourseasons record in a standard style draft until all players are drafted.

The Draft will be conducted using one or more of the following methods:

The particular method used will be determined prior to the start of each draft.

Team names must be historically accurate and no longer in use by a Major League ball club. Thus, Brooklyn Dodgers would not be acceptable, since the LA club is currently known as the Dodgers. However, Trolley Dodgers would be fine, as this moniker was used by both by an American Assocation team in the 1880's as well as being an informal nickname for the National League club still playing today back when they were based in Brooklyn. Negro League monikers are acceptable as well.

GMs are free to choose their own parks. Again, however, they must be historically accurate to the city or franchise in question. The base-hit and homerun ratings from Total Baseball will be used as outlined by Strat, and whenever possible we will adjust for L/R differential using actual dimensions and/or anecdotal evidence. If none can be found, the baseline for that park will be identical for lefty and righty batters. The league itself will determine any baseline L/R differential, although GMs are encouraged to contribute evidence to influence those decisions. Adjusting off the baseline to favor one side or the other is up to the individual GM. You may also "import" a park, with the provision that the year the park is imported from is as close as possible to the season being played. In other words, if you are using Forbes Field in 1935, you must use the `27 version over the `59 version. You can still adjust an imported park according to the rules outlined below. Every franchise must select a ball park from the from the same decade as the one being currently played whenever possible, and must always be within 10 years of the season being played.

Once the base numbers are established, each individual rating may be changed by two (2) splits per year, with a lifetime limit of four (4) from the baseline. In other words, the ratings must always be within four of the accepted league numbers. All changes must be made prior to that year's draft.

Weather effects will be used, and will be derived from existing SOM parks which are as close both geographically and chronologically as possible. The Ball Park doubles/triples option is also used.

All GMs are free to trade starting one (1) week before the Start-Up Draft until the season is 75% completed, or before the week of the 116th game is completed.

Trades by the League Presidents and computer controlled teams are required to be approved by the uninvolved League President.

All trades will be announced via E-Mail and also will be posted at the league Web site. Once trades are posted they are final and binding, barring clerical errors or rules violations.

There is a two (2) season limit on trading 1st Round draft Picks. In other words, in 1930 you can still trade your 1935 and 1940 1st Rounders, but not your 1945 1st. There are no restrictions on trading picks in the lower rounds.

Players may be released onlyafter the season ends but before the next season's draft begins. Once the first pick is selected rosters are locked, except, of course, in the event of trades.

GMs have the option of playing their team's away games themselves and their home games via instructions, or all games via instructions. All games, either home or away, can be Netplayed as well. Injuries will be cleared before each series. All boxscores, PBP and PAC should be submitted along with gamefiles for any Netplayed or solo games.

Game Instructions can include lineups for each game as well as the standard Computer Manager and Super Hal Settings. Great care will be taken to follow these instructions, but all in game decisions will be made by HAL.

We will typically play 15 schedule days per week. Once a week the updated league will be sent to all league members via email or posted at the League Web Site for download, as well as many stats being available at the Site.

Playoff Games will be conducted via NetPlay or face to face whenever possible.

We use the Super-Advanced set of rules, as well as all the max rules. The exceptions are the closer rule, which will be implemented later in the century at the appropiate time and the HR robbing rule.

All members are encouraged to voice their opinions on any league matter, and occasional votes will be taken on new rules, policy changes, etc. Any matter put to a vote will need a 2/3 majority to pass. On minor matters, the League may implement changes on it's own, although the GMs will always be informed of these changes and will probably also have advised on them.