League Rules

Section 1.00: League Play

Rule 0.10- Teams will play a 156-game schedule, playing each team twelve times. A 154-game schedule was used through season two with teams playing each other fourteen times.

Rule 0.20- Following the regular season schedule, the three division leading teams and a wild card team will compete in a best of five series for the right to participate in the league championship. The league championship will be a best of seven series

Rule 0.30- The wild card team will be determined by highest winning percentage among non-division leading teams. If there is a tie in winning percentage, the tie breaker will be division games won. The third tie breaker is based on runs scored over runs allowed.

Section 2.00: Managing Responsibilities -Activity

Rule 1.20- General managers are required to submit a weekly lineup and rotation to the commissioner. The starting rotation must contain at least four pitchers. Managers must allow three starts between each outing for any pitcher on the staff. The computer manager will dictate/distribute all bullpen duties/innings based on draft season statistics and current season performance.

Rule 1.30- General managers will be required to submit a team report for publication in the league magazine, the Legends Digest. Reports should cover team news, player profiles, stats, transactions, etc.

Rule 1.40- If lineup submissions or team reports are neglected the general manager risks losing his or her franchise. The league operates on a three strike rule, allowing a maximum of three deadlines missed. The final decision is at the commissioner's discretion.

Rule 1.45- Pitchers are required to bat in the 9th spot in the lineup.

Rule 1.50- Batters are eligible at any position played in their MLB career, excluding pitcher.

Rule 1.55- Trades may take place between franchises. No trades will be reviewed by the league unless they violate roster requirements. Each team is allowed a minimum of 10 pitchers (5 starters, 5 relievers) which would require 22 position players. The maximums are 13 pitchers (6 starters, 7 relievers) leaving 19 position players. The league uses a 32-man roster which allows owners to select any combination of positions as long as they comply with the minimum number of pitchers and position players and the total roster equals 32 players. Teams may not have more than three position players at a specified position (i.e. three catchers maximum). The trade deadline is before game 102 of the regular season. All trades must be confirmed by both general managers and sent to the commissioner via e-mail at legendscommish@aol.com

Rule 1.60- At mid-season (approx. 70 games played), each GM will have submitted ballots for the Legends of Baseball Annual All-Star Game. The starting lineups (batters only) will be selected by GM ballots. The remaining all-stars (bench and pitchers) will be selected by the two general managers with the highest winning percentage (tie-breaker is division wins). Each of those two general managers will also submit the starting lineup, including starting pitcher. Note: Because the simulation recognizes the contest as an exhibition game, the selection of the starting lineup and pitcher is as important as in a regular season contest. The game will consist of the Eastern Division All-Stars v.s. Western Division All-Stars. The league will also vote on the initial game site, which will then rotate from season to season.

Section 3.00: Statistical / Simulation Data

Rule 2.10- Teams will complete ten regular season games over the course of a seven day period. The game results will be posted on the site at the conclusion of each period.

Rule 2.20- League statistical summaries will be updated at the conclusion of the weekly schedule of games.

Rule 2.30- Player injuries will not occur.

Rule 2.40- Players have three hidden batting averages in addition to the following viewable averages: overall batting average, left-handed batting average, right-handed batting average, day game batting average, night game batting average, road game batting average, and home game batting average. Hidden averages include a "late inning pressure situation" batting average or LIPS. This average is not accessible to General Managers. Players also have a pre All-star game average and a post All-star game average.

Section 4.00: Rosters - Drafting

Rule 3.10- General managers must select five teams in order of preference from the roster pool to be considered for the rookie draft pool.

Rule 3.20- The commissioner can add or object to the addition of a roster to the draft pool at his discretion.

Rule 3.30- The draft will be conducted via the message board in the league forum. Each owner will post their selection based on draft order and specified draft time. If selections are not made in a timely manner, the draft choice will be moved to the bottom of the order.

Rule 3.40- Duplicate players are not allowed on league rosters. An individual player can only be drafted once. (i.e. Pete Rose of the 1975 Reds can not participate if Pete Rose of the 1980 Phillies is on an active league roster.)

Rule 3.45- Players may be upgraded by their owners if the player appears in the draft pool multiple times. (i.e. Dave Parker is drafted by the Houston Astros and the next season the 1979 Pirates are selected as the rookie draft team. The Astros hold exclusive rights to Dave Parker and may choose to upgrade him to the 1979 version.)

Rule 3.50- Designated Hitters may be drafted, but the LBL will not use the DH. These players must be specified at a fielding position they have played in their MLB career if they are to be placed in the everyday lineup. All pitchers will bat for themselves.

Rule 3.50- Any pitcher with eleven or more relief appearances will automatically be classified as a relief pitcher, regardless of games started. Relief appearances are determined by games pitched minus games started.

Section 5.00: Post-Season

Rule 4.10- At the completion of the regular season schedule, the three division leading teams and a wild card team will match up in a best of five series for the right to partipate in the league championship series. The best of five series will take place over a ten day period. The best of seven series will take place over an eight day period. No more than one game will be played per day. At the completion of each game, a game summary posted on the site in place of a boxscore.

Rule 4.20- During post-season play, participating general managers can submit a different lineup for each individual game. The general manager can also shorten his pitching rotation to a minimum of three starters.

Rule 4.30- Upon completion of the post-season championship the league will hold a rookie draft. The two round draft will be ordered upon season standings, the team with the lowest winning percentage drafting first, the tie breaker is runs scored over runs allowed. The commissioner will select a roster based on owners votes to be used for the draft. The draft will take place following each season until further notice. Draft choices can be traded.

Rule 4.40- The entry draft will be conducted in a descending draft order.

Rule 4.50- Owners may submit a request to move their franchise. The request is subject to league approval by the commissioner and all current owners. A franchise can only be moved at the conclusion of the season. All available franchises are based on teams and stadiums that participated in the 1996 MLB season.

Section 6.00: Waivers

Rule 5.10- Beginning in season three, when a player is waived by a team, the player will be available on the waiver wire for seven days (between weekly games) to be claimed by a new team.

Rule 5.20- If the player is not claimed by a team within the seven day period (between weekly games) he cannot participate for the rest of the season with any team.

Rule 5.30- Players can only be waived after weekly results have been posted for the current week. For example, if results are posted on a Tuesday, in order to waive a player an announcement must be mailed to the league office no later than 11 PM EDT the same day.

Rule 5.40- Waiver claim priority is based on winning percentage and last waiver claim.

Rule 5.50- The team with the lowest current winning percentage at the time the player is waived has first priority to sign that said player.

Section 7.00: Expansion Draft - Season Three

Rule 6.10- One rookie roster will be added to the draft pool. All existing teams, including expansion teams (selecting one and two) will draft for two rounds from the new roster and current free-agents (released or undrafted players).

Rule 6.20- Upon completion of the entry draft, all existing teams will have submitted a protected list of 16 players. Any combination of batters and pitchers can be protected equaling 16 total. All existing teams can protect no more or no less than the 16 required.

Rule 6.30- Expansion teams will draft for 16 rounds among the unprotected and released or undrafted players.

Rule 6.40- During the sixteen rounds an existing team can lose no more than three unprotected players to an expansion club. Example: Once three unprotected players from Seattle's roster have been selected, they cannot lose any more players during the 16 expansion rounds.

Rule 6.50- After the 16 expansion rounds, all teams draft through rounds 21-32 and all undrafted and unprotected players are available. All teams may trade their rookie picks in the first two rounds for players (including expansion teams), however the 16 expansion picks may not be traded by the expansion teams.