THE SPEER LEAGUE

1. LEAGUE STRUCTURE

   1. The Speer League, hereinafter called TSL, is an APBA   baseball league consisting of 12 teams  

       divided into three divisions of four teams each. Games can be played either head-to-head (face-

       to-face) or using written instructions provided by the “visiting” manager.

 

   2. The three divisions are named the Bryce, Coats, and Pendleton Divisions.

 

   3. Teams will be assigned to a division at the beginning of each year. Teams will be placed in the 

       division most appropriate for  their geographic location. The President shall assign the teams and

       his/her decision will be final.

 

   4. There will be two types of membership in TSL: manager and alternate. The alternate will not have

       a team but will receive all league mailings and information and be given a team if a manager

       leaves the league.

 

  5. There will be one manager for each team.

 

  6. The number of alternates will be at the discretion of the President. Each alternate with have 1/2  

       vote on TSL ballots.

 

2. LEAGUE OFFICERS

  1. The TSL will have an Executive Board consisting of the President, Director of Player Personnel, 

       and Newsletter Editor.

 

  2. Duties of the President:

       (1) Responsible for all league operations. Recruit new managers when vacancies occur and 

             maintain a list of qualified alternates.

 

       (2) Rule on the validity of protests in any game in which he/she is not involved. If he/she is involved,

             the Director of Player Personnel or the Newsletter Editor will be asked to rule on the protest.

 

       (3) Submit proposed rule changes to the membership for a vote.

 

       (4)  Provide all managers with the appropriate electronic TSL tools and templates, as needed.

 

        (5) Conduct the voting for the overall All-Star Team, Manager of the Year, Rookie Hitter and

               Pitcher of the Year, Most Valuable Player, and Cy Young Award winner.

 

        (6) Direct the League and make rulings in the best interests of the TSL.

 

  3. Duties of the Director of Player Personnel:

        (1)  Maintain official, correct, and current rosters for each team.

 

        (2) Conduct the rookie draft each year.

 

        (3) Keep track of all player transactions and advise the Newsletter Editor of all roster changes for 

             publication.

 

        (4) Determine player eligibility for the rookie and waiver drafts.

 

  4. Duties of the Newsletter Editor:

       (1) Publish the monthly TSL Newsletter and the annual Yearbook.

 

       (2) Work with the President and Director of Player Personnel to help settle disputes and insure 

              that the TSL functions smoothly.

 

3. TSL NEWSLETTER

  1. The TSL Newsletter will be sent to all TSL managers and alternates on a frequency of once per 

       month during the season, and as the Newsletter Editor deems appropriate during the offseason.

 

  2. The Newsletter will include information that is of interest to TSL Managers including current 

       standings, league leaders, team highlights and players of the month.

 

4. TSL REPORTING

  1. Electronic reporting tools, as discussed below, can be provided by the President for use by TSL 

       Managers.

 

  2. Series Summary - All series statistics will be accumulated in a Series Summary format with a copy

       provided to the visiting manager.

 

  3. Hitting Statistics - Cumulative hitting statistics will be maintained for all players, by their respective

       manager.

 

  4. Pitching Statistics - Cumulative pitching statistics will be maintained for all pitchers, by their

       respective manager.

 

  5. Pitching Rotation - Pitching rotations must be used that are in conformance with Rule 19.4.

 

  6. Newsletter Report - Completed by each manager at the end of each month and sent to the

      Newsletter Editor for inclusion in the monthly TSL Newsletter.

 

  7. Instruction Sheet - Used by each manager to provide instructions to the home team manager.

 

  8. Scoresheet - Individual game scoresheets are used for each  

      game and the original or scanned scoresheets, along with the Series Summary, are sent to the 

      visiting manager.

 

5. CARDS

  1. APBA cards from the previous season (current edition) are used.

 

  2. Extra Cards (XC’s) are not used. XC players may be kept on a team roster or traded, but are not 

       eligible to be used as long as they are XC carded players.

 

  3. Position players who totaled at least  200 MLB At Bats  are eligible to be drafted and used in the

       current season, except no XC player will be used.

 

  4. Pitchers, who were used mostly as a starter and made at least15 MLB Starts, or pitchers who

      were used mostly as a reliever and totaled at least 50 MLB Innings pitched, are eligible to be

      drafted and used in the current season, except no XC player will be used.

 

  5. Players on a roster at the end of a TSL season are eligible to be used in the following TSL season, 

       regardless of their MLB At Bats, Games Started, or Innings Pitched, unless they are XC carded

       players, which are not eligible to be used.

 

  6. Each manager must have a complete set of cards. No cards are exchanged through the mail.

 

6. MANAGER’S RESPONSIBILITIES

  1. Be prompt and fair in all dealings with other managers.

 

  2. Keep accurate individual statistics for all players on the team’s roster.

 

  3. Email instructions to home team managers by the 1st of each month.

 

  4. Email the visiting manager the scanned scoresheets and a Series Summary for each home

       series. These documents must be emailed by the 20th of each month (15th if you choose to send 

       by mail rather than email). The home manager should keep a copy.

 

  5. Email Newsletter Reports, team statistics, and team leaders in all categories, to the Newsletter 

      Editor by the 25th of each month.

 

  6. Keep a copy of all scoresheets and summaries on file, in case they are needed to reconstruct a 

       team’s statistics, until the season is over and all statistics are published.

 

  7. Submit scoresheets and current statistics to the Newsletter Editor and Director of Player 

      Personnel if there is resignation or dismissal from the TSL.

 

  8. Managers are encouraged to write a summary redcap of the teams’s season at the end of the

       year for inclusion in the Yearbook, and submit it by February 15th. NOTE: The Yearbook has not

       been published for several years, but could be revived some day.

 

  9. Be timely. Failure to send instructions, Newsletter Reports, or results to opponents on a timely

       basis will result in penalties being levied. Continued violation will result in dismissal from the

       League.

 

10. Promptly answer any trade offers or other correspondence from other TSL managers.

 

11. Promptly respond to any request from the President, Director of Player Personnel, or Newsletter

       Editor.

 

12. Keep accurate series and cumulative statistics for all players.

 

13. For playoff/championship series games, managers must submit copies of the scoresheets and a 

       summary sheet to the President and Newsletter Editor for each time for games played at his/her

       park.

 

14. Managers must submit final season statistics to the President, Director of Player Personnel, and 

       Newsletter Editor by February 1 each year.

 

7. PLAYING RULES

  1. All advanced APBA playing rules will be used.

 

  2. Players will generally be limited to their actual at bats from the prior MLB season.

 

  3. Only the Basic Game will be used.

 

  4. Rain outs are disregarded, but both current pitchers must be removed from the game and the

      play re-rolled.

 

  5. All injuries are limited to removal from current game only.

 

  6. The Designated Hitter rule will be used.

 

  7. Change Play Results 18, 19 and 20 on “Fielding One Bases Empty Boards” to read “Out at First.”

 

  8. Hit by Pitch and strikeouts should be kept as a regular hitting statistic.

 

8. SCHEDULE

  1. The schedule will be published each year and provided by the President.

 

  2. The schedule will consist of 158 games.

 

  3. Twenty games per month will be played from April 1 through October 31, and 18 games will be 

       played in November.

 

  4. Each series will consist of five games except in November, when each series will consist of three

       games.

 

  5. Each team will play every other team in their division 26 times and every team in the other

       divisions 10 times.

 

9. DIVISION PLAYOFFS

  1. Playoffs start in December. The three division winners and three non-division winners with the 

       best records (wildcards) will be in the playoffs. The two division winners with the best records will

       receive a first round bye in the playoffs.

 

  2. The division winner with the third best record will play the wildcard team with the worst record. 

       The remaining wildcard teams will play each other. After the first round, the division winner with 

       the best overall record will play the winner with the worst record and the division winner with the

       second best record will play the other wildcard winner.

 

  3. The division winners with the best record will play games 1-2-6-7 at home. If the two teams have

       identical records, the team with the best head-to-head record will be the first home team.

 

  4. When two or more teams in a division end with an identical record and tied for first place, the 

       champion must be decided by a best of seven series. If the tie is between just two teams, the

       team with the best record against the other will play games 1-2-6-7 at home. If the team’s head-

       to-head season record also ended in a tie, the President will decide which team plays games

       1-2-6-7. If three or more teams tie, the President will determine the format of the playoffs.

 

  5. If two or more potential wildcard teams tie, the wildcard team will be determined by head-to-head

      play. NOTE: If two teams records in head-to-head play are tied and they happen to play

      a playoff game to determine playoff seeding, the playoff game will serve to break the tie in head-  

      to-head play for purposes of determining draft order.

 

10. CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS

  1. The TSL World Series will be an 11-game series.

 

  2. The World Series will start on or before January 15th.

 

  3. The World Series will begin at the home of the team with the best regular season record with the

       following tie breakers:

              team with the best playoff record, team with the best head-to- head record and, if still tied, the

              President will flip a coin.

 

  4. The first home manager will play games 1-2-6-7-10-11 and the other manager will play games

       3-4-5-8-9 as necessary. NOTE: If two teams records in head-to-head play are tied and they

       happen to play a playoff game to determine playoff seeding, the playoff game will serve to break 

       the tie in head-to-head play for purposes of determining draft order.

 

11. RULE CHANGES

  1.  Any League member may propose a rule change.

 

  2.  Rule changes must be submitted to the President along with an explanation of how the rule

        would work if adopted.

 

  3. The President will submit proposals to the League for vote and a simple majority of those voting is 

       required for passage of a rule change.

 

  4. No rule changes submitted under Rule 11.2 will be instituted while a season is in progress.

 

  5. If it is determined after a season begins that a certain rule is unworkable or a new rule must be

      put into effect, the President may institute a rule change immediately to insure the survival of the

      TSL.

 

  6. Rule 11.5 will only be used under extreme or emergency circumstances and any rule change

      made under Rule 11.5 must be submitted to League members for vote at the earliest opportunity.

 

7. Any rule change proposal that is voted on and does not receive at least three (3) votes cannot be 

     submitted as a rule change for the following year.

 

12. PROTESTS

  1. If a manager feels that he/she has reason to protest a game, the manager may file protest with

      the President. The manager who committed the alleged infraction must be notified at the

      same time the President is notified.

 

  2. All pertinent facts must be submitted to the President so a ruling can be made. Protests which are

      not documented will not be allowed. The documentation must be submitted to the President

      within five days after the protest.

 

  3. Managers involved in a protested game should treat all statistics as official, but should be

       prepared to revise them if the protest is allowed.

 

  4. The President will rule on all protests except for those cases where he/she is involved. In such

       cases, the President will appoint the Newsletter Editor or Director of Player Personnel

       to rule on the protest.

 

  5. All decisions made by the President, or the appointed party, will be in writing and final.

 

13. PENALTIES

  1. Continued rule violations will result in dismissal from the League.

 

  2. It is each manager's responsibility to get his/her Newsletter Reports and statistics in to the 

       Newsletter Editor by the 25th of the month during the season. If road results and/or statistics 

       have not been received in time to include in the Newsletter Report, available statistics will be 

       used and forwarded on time with an explanation of why they are not complete. The updated 

       report should be sent once the late statistics are received.

 

  3. The President, Newsletter Editor, and Director of Player Personnel as required will determine the 

       penalty for any situation not specifically covered in this rule.

 

  4. Instructions must be emailed by the 1st, scoresheets and Summary Report must be emailed by

      the 20th, (15th if you choose to send by regular mail rather than email), and Newsletter Reports

      emailed by the 25th.

 

  5. If a manager quits or is removed from the league, the penalty the team has accumulated will be 

      dismissed when a new manager takes over the team.

 

  6. Teams reported to the Newsletter Editor for late submission of instructions, results, and/or 

       Newsletter Reports by the published league due dates will not be eligible for any waiver

       claims for the following month. If the lateness occurs after the waiver claims have ended for the 

       year, the waiver claim ban will carry over to the next season and the team will not be

       eligible for waiver claims the first month of the next season.

 

14. TEAM ROSTERS

  1. Each team will maintain a player roster of not less than 30 players or more than 35 players except

       as described in Rule 14.2.

 

  2. Team rosters may exceed the 35-man limit beginning with the December 1 trading period, but

       must be cut to the 35-man limit by the 23rd of March. Final team rosters must be emailed to the 

       Director of Player Personnel by March 23rd.

 

  3. Each team may keep no more than 26 players on the active list at any one time with the 

       remainder on the reserve list, except for the final month of the season when the roster may be

      expanded to 30 players.

 

  4. Players may only be moved between the active and reserve rosters at the beginning of a series

      before any play that series.

 

  5. A team may maintain control of a player that has previously had an APBA card, but does not

       currently have a card, by listing him on the reserve list.

 

  6. Players with current cards that are not on a team roster will be put on the waiver list.

 

15. WAIVER LIST

  1. The Director of Player Personnel will maintain an up-to-date waiver list of players not on a team

       roster.

 

  2. Each team manager will send the Director of Player Personnel a list of the players to be cut from

      their team to bring them to the 35-player limit.

 

  3. Cut players will be added to the waiver list and will be eligible for selection by any team.

 

  4. Players may be picked up off the waiver list by submitting a claim to the Director of Player

       Personnel by the 15th of the month. Claims received after the 15th will be held for the next

      month.

 

  5. The team with the worst overall percentage will always have first priority in the case of duplicate

       claims. These percentages will be based on the latest issue of the Newsletter.

 

  6. The Director of Player Personnel will email the results of each month's claims by the 20th.

 

  7. Claimed players must be included on the roster for at least one month.

 

  8. The waiver list will be frozen between September 16 and March 1 the following year after the

       September waiver list claims have been awarded.

 

  9. The waiver list will be purged each year between January 1 and March 1 and any player not

       receiving a card the upcoming year will be dropped from the waiver list. If a player is dropped

      and subsequently carded again, he will then be treated as a rookie and placed in the annual draft.

 

10. When a manager cuts a player during the season, he submit that player's complete statistics to 

       the Newsletter Editor for the information of other managers who may want to pick the player up

       off of the waiver list.

 

11. Waiver drafts will be held in May, June, July, August, and September.

 

16. ROOKIE DRAFT

  1. The rookie draft order will be based on order of finish from the prior season, with the team with the

       lowest winning percentage drafting first. In case of a tie, the team that lost the most games in

       their head to head match up will be awarded the higher pick. If tied in head to head play, then the

       Director of Player Personnel will break the tie with a coin flip.

 

  2. The rookie draft will be held on a date to be determined by the President and the Director of

       Player Personnel and will include all players currently on the waiver list. The draft will be held

       using email to enable all managers to participate “live.”

 

  3. Managers may draft as many players as they wish. 4. All drafted players must be placed on a

       team's 35-man roster for at least two months. Drafted players may be traded, but must remain on

       a team’s official roster for one month.

 

17. TRADES

  1. Trades may be made between December 1 and March 20, and between July 1 and July 15. The

       mid-season trades will be effective August 1. All trades must be reported to the Director

       of Player Personnel through email once they are consummated. Trades are considered final upon

       notification of the Director of Player Personnel by all parties to the trade.  Both parties must

       confirm the trade and confirmation must be received, by the Director of Player Personnel, within 

      24 hours of the initial report of the trade or the trade is void.

 

  2. A trade of players, draft picks or combinations of both may be made. All segments of a trade

       must take place  simultaneously, without limitations or options.

 

  3. Uneven trades may be made as long as roster limits are maintained.

 

  4. A new TSL manager is not bound to honor trades arranged by his predecessor during a non-

       trading period.

 

  5. No manager may initiate trade talks with a new manager, and vice versa, until after an official

       league notice has been  emailed to all managers by the President, identifying the new manager.

 

  6. Draft choices can only be traded for the current and immediately following year; that is, in 2023 

       only draft choices for 2023 and 2024 may be traded. Draft choices for the 2025 draft may not be

       traded until calendar year 2024.

 

18. SCORING, SPECIAL AWARDS AND ALL-STARS

  1. Saves for relief pitchers.

      (1) Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions:

             1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club

             2) He is not the winning pitcher.

             3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions:

                  A. He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one

                        inning;

                  B. He enters the game with the tying run either on base, at bat, or on deck (that is, the tying

                       run is either already on base, or is one of the  first two batsman he faces); or

                  C. He pitches effectively for at least three innings. (This is a subjective decision and

                        the score at the time of the pitcher's entry does not matter.)

      (2) No more than one save may be credited in each game.

 

  2. Managers will complete a ballot provided by the President after each season listing their top three

       choices for the following:

          (1) MVP - The player who was most outstanding.

          (2) Cy Young Award - Most outstanding pitcher.

          (3) Rookie of the Year - Most outstanding rookie hitter and pitcher.

          (4) David Coats Memorial Manager of the Year Award – Manager who best epitomizes the ideal 

                TSL manager .

  3. All-Stars - Each manager will complete a ballot provided by the President to determine All-Stars

      as follows:

         (1) Top three choices for each infield position, starting pitcher, relief pitcher and designated hitter.

         (2) Top six choices for the outfield without regard to specific outfield position.

         (3) Managers can vote for players in any of the three divisions for the All-Star team, but may not 

               vote for players on their own team.

 

19. RESTRICTIONS ON PLAYER USE

  1. Any player may be used, without restriction, at any position listed on his card. Pitchers, however,

      cannot pinch-hit or DH and only pitchers with fast speed ratings may pinch run.

 

  2. At least one backup player for each position must be carried on the active roster. A player that     

      can play more than one position is acceptable backup for more than one position.

 

  3. Restrictions on non-pitchers:

      (1) Players with 150 or fewer at bats may not be used in any way once they have reached their 

            actual number of at bats from the previous MLB season as shown on their APBA card.

      (2) Players with over 150 at bats may only be used as pinch hitters (but not as a defensive

           replacement) once they have reached their actual at bats from the previous MLB

           season as shown on their APBA card.

      (3) Players that played in 156 or more MLB games have no playing limitations other than the Injury             Rules.

      (4) Violations of the above rules will reported to the President and will result in automatic forfeiture 

            of all games whenever an ineligible player is used.

      (5) During the TSL playoffs, position players are limited to 5% of their MLB ABs and pitchers are 

            limited to 10% of their MLB starts or innings for the series (all rounded off). Players who were 

           unlimited during the season are unlimited during the playoff series. Position players may pinch

           hit after they reach the 5% limit. Pitchers will become a D after they reach their 10% limit.

     (6) During the TSL Championship Series, position players are limited to 10% of their MLB ABs and 

           pitchers are limited to 15% of their MLB starts or innings for the series (all rounded off). Players

          who were unlimited during the season are unlimited during the Championship Series. Position

          players may pinch hit after they reach the 10% limit. Pitchers will become a D after they reach

          their 15% limit.

 

  4. Restrictions on pitchers:

         (1) Starters are limited to actual number of MLB starts. Exceeding this total reduces the pitcher 

              to Grade D for the remainder of the regular season.

        (2)  Starters can go seven (7) innings at their carded grade (unless downgraded by     Rule 19.4.4).  

              Then, in the:

                  •  8th inning, starting pitchers are reduced one (1) letter grade unless they have given up 

                     two (2) or fewer runs.  If two (2) or fewer runs have been allowed, they remain at their 

                     carded grade.

                 •  9th inning, starting pitchers are again reduced one (1) letter grade (now 2 grades from

                     their carded grade) unless they have given up two (2) or fewer runs.  If two (2) or fewer runs 

                     have been allowed, they remain at their carded grade.

                 •  10th-12th innings starting pitchers are reduced one (1) grade each inning unless throwing

                    a  shutout and then all APBA upgrades remain in place.

​        (3) Starters are limited to 12 innings per start.

        (4) When a starting pitcher gives up five runs, he is reduced one grade and then one additional 

              grade for each additional run until he becomes a D. Relievers are reduced to D when they

             allow three runs. It does not matter if the runs are earned or unearned for purposes of this rule.

       (5) To advance a grade, a pitcher must pitch complete consecutive innings without allowing an 

             earned run to advance; 5 innings for a D, 6 innings for a C, and 7 innings for a B. Pitchers that

             start as an A may not advance.

      (6) Relievers are limited to their actual number of innings pitched the previous MLB season.                            Exceeding this total reduces the pitcher to Grade D for the remainder of the regular season. If  

            a  reliever is used at any grade other than D after reaching this total, there are automatic  

            grounds for the allowance of a protest unless instructions to the home manager over player

            usage were ignored. Violations should be reported to the President who will and rule on the

            protest. 

           Additionally, pitchers entering a game in relief are limited to 2 IP at their carded grade, and will

            be reduced one grade for every inning after the 2nd inning pitched.

      (7) Pitchers that were used as both starters and relievers are limited to both total innings pitched                and games started. Pitchers who were essentially starters and used in relief must have made

           at least five (5) actual relief appearances regardless of whether they receive a relief (*) pitching

           grade rating.

      (8)  A pitcher that qualifies as a relief pitcher, but doesn't have a (*) on his card, will be used at the

            grade indicated on his card.

      (9) A pitcher with a (*) on his card who qualifies to be a starter, but is not rated as one, will be used

           at the same grade when used as a starter. For example, a B starter who qualifies to relieve

           would be a B reliever. A pitcher rated B* that is qualified to start would be a B starter.

     (10) The manager is responsible for ensuring that their pitchers are used appropriately. Use of

             ineligible starters may be cause for forfeiture of the affected games.

     (11) Starters must have three days rest between starts except those with more than 40 starts may 

             start with only two days rest.

     (12) Pitchers must rest two games between a relief appearance and a start.

     (13) One day off for travel between series is added when determining rotation.

     (14) All starting pitchers must remain in the game for at least five innings unless they are

             downgraded, injured or otherwise forced to leave by APBA/TSL rules.

      (15) C and D starting pitchers that do not qualify as relievers may be designated as relievers, at

               their same grade level, at the beginning of the season. This designation must be made to the

               Director of Player Personnel and published in the first Newsletter of the season. Once

               designated, these pitchers cannot be used as a starter for any games during the season.

      (16) When a relief pitcher enters a game in mid-inning, his grade is increased by one letter against

               the first batter he faces IF the batter bats from the same side the pitcher throws. For example,

               if a left-handed pitcher is brought in to face a left-handed hitter, the pitcher’s grade is

              advanced one letter. This rule does NOT apply at the beginning of an inning or if a pitcher is

              a grade A or better

 

20. INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Instructions must be emailed by the 1st of the month.

 

  2. Instructions include, as a minimum, the following: starting lineup; pitching rotation; relief pitching

      guidelines, pinch-hitting and defensive replacement instructions. Excessive instructions may 

      restrict the opposing manager's judgment and backfire on the visiting manager.

 

   3. It is each manager's responsibility to keep his/her players within the limits outlined in Section 19.0.

       Special instructions concerning player usage may be necessary at times.

 

  4. If any part of the instructions violates TSL rules, the home manager should disregard that portion 

      of the instructions and play the series as fairly as possible without violating the rules.

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