Home - News - Standings - Stats -  Trades - Teams - Champions - Schedule - Records - Constitution - Format -  Tributes - Sounds of the Game

 

RCMBA CONSTITUTION ... revised  3/09

Willie Mays Memorial Baseball Association: Founded - 1974

Roberto Clemente Memorial Baseball Association: Founded - 1975

COMMISSIONERS - 1975 Ed Farmer, 1976-1991 Art Springsteen, 1992-now John Briggs

You can scroll down thru the whole thing or click below for a quick bookmark.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

GOVERNMENT

COMPOSITION

  • The RCMBA will consist of fifteen teams divided into three divisions.
  • The divisions will be named Ernie Harwell, Harry Caray and Mel Allen.
  • Each team in the RCMBA will be managed by one person.
    •

    MEMBERSHIP

  • All managers are expected to be honest, honorable and credible.
  • Any manager may be replaced at the commissioners discretion.
    •

    COMMISSIONER

  • The RCMBA will be run under the direction of one person, the commissioner.
  • His decision on any matter will be final.
  • The commissioner (or delegate) is responsible for administering all items relating to the league.
  • This will include publishing all materials necessary for the success of the association.

    • RULE CHANGES

  • Any change to the current rules will be done in the form of a proposal to the entire league, issued from the commissioner
  • A simple majority is needed for approval of most proposals
  • The commissioner may judge a proposal to be so important that a 2/3 affirmative vote is required.
    •

    EXPANSION

  • Upon a 3/4 affirmative vote by the league, expansion will be permitted to the size approved.
  • All existing teams will protect 15 players.
  • The new team(s) will select one player from each existing team.
  • At the conclusion of the round, all existing teams will protect three additional players.
  • The above will continue until the expansion team(s) reaches the designated roster size.
    •

     

    PLAYERS & LIMITS

    ELIGIBLE PLAYERS

  • Any player, including XB's, that receive an APBA card for the current year.
  • Non-carded players may be carried on the roster of a team, if the player remained on any roster, since last carded.
    •

    LIMITS <> Offense

  • Position player game limits are calculated as follows:
    • MLB PA per game @ 3.1 or more = actual games
    MLB PA per game between 2.4 and 3.09 = actual games x 0.7 (fraction is rounded off)
    MLB PA per game less than 2.4 = actual plate appearances rounded up to the next 5 appearances.

    LIMITS <> Defense

  • The commissioner will publish a list of players with qualified defensive starting positions in the form of an official roster for each team.
  • Qualification for the position is determined by meeting one of the two following criteria:
    • played five games at the position in the last MLB season or
    played 5% of games at the position if actual games are less than 100
  • Players not qualifying may be used only as an injury/ejection replacement to complete a game in progress by the following method:
    •
    approved players will be used first
    if none are available, then any APBA rated player for that position will be used
    if no player as noted above is available, any player may be used to finish the game.

    LIMITS <> Pitchers

  • Starting pitchers are limited to their actual number of starts and innings pitched, rounded up to the next five innings.
  • Relief pitchers are limited to their actual number of innings pitched, rounded up to the next five innings.
  • Pitchers graded for both start & relief, are restricted to actual innings, for each type, as noted above.
  • Any non-pitcher will be limited to actual innings pitched, rounded up to the next five innings.
    •

    MLB SEASON

    • In the case of an abbreviated MLB season all limits will be adjusted to reflect a 162 game season.

    OVERUSE

  • Any player exceeding his published limit, will be placed in the next free agent draft unless other action is specified by the commissioner.
  • Any player who is overused in the regular season is NOT eligible for post-season play.
    •

     

    TEAM ROSTERS

    GENERAL

    • Off-season - unlimited roster size.
    • Pre-Free Agent Draft - see Free Agent draft section
    • Regular season - a roster maximum of 36 players, carded or not.
    Expansion teams may carry 40, in their first year.
    All teams are required to have players qualified to start 162 games at each position.
    All teams are required to have pitchers who started at least 162 games, regardless of grade.

    ACTIVE ROSTER - REGULAR SEASON

    • Maximum of 25 players may be carried on the active roster during the season. Others are inactive.
    Active rosters must have players qualified for all defensive starting positions.
    Active rosters must have at least one qualified backup at C, 1B, 2B, 3B, SS and two OF’s.
    • Players who are eligible to play multiple positions count as the backup for all eligible positions.
      •
    • Active & inactive players may be exchanged, without limitation, only at the beginning of each month.
    • All carded players on your roster are active, for the final month of the season.

    UNAFFILIATED PLAYERS

    • Any carded player not on a roster, will be placed in the next free agent draft.

     

    TRADES

    GENERAL RULES

    • All trades shall be reported promptly, to the commissioner or delegate.
    • The commissioner will rule on any disputed trade.
    • The commissioner may declare any trade void, in the best interest of the association.

    OFF-SEASON RULES

    • Allowed after the completion of either the MLB World Series or ours. Whichever is first.
    • It is then allowed until a designated date prior to the free agent draft.
    • In the week prior to the free agent draft any trade is restricted to equal player amounts & no draft picks.
    • May involve any player, in any quantity, without restriction other than posted above.
    • May include draft picks, for the upcoming free agent draft but are restricted to the following:
    The commissioner will publish a list of the draft order & trading of picks will not be allowed until such listing.
    Only current year draft picks for rounds 1-8 may be traded
    Each team must always retain six picks.

    IN-SEASON RULES

    • A trading period will be permitted at the 2/3 point of the schedule.
    • Trades made during this time must be for equal player amounts and restricted to:
    Maximum of three players from one team to another team
    Maximum of five players from one team during this period
    Maximum of three trades per team during this period.

     

    FREE AGENT DRAFT

    TIME

    • The draft will be held on the internet, in a Chat Room or by telephone.
    • The draft will be held on the first or second Saturday of February.
    • Starting time will be 12 noon- EST

    PRE-FREE AGENT DRAFT

    • At a designated date all teams will reduce their roster to 30 (or 35 for expansion teams).
    • Anyone reducing to less will gain bonus draft picks equal to the excess reduction.
    • Bonus picks will begin with round nine, in the same drafting order.

    FREE AGENTS

    • All carded players, not on an RCMBA roster, are eligible to be drafted.

    DRAFT ORDER

    • Expansion teams will draft after all teams with 100 loses or fifth, whichever is lower.
    • Teams will given a draft position based on the inverse order of the previous seasons winning percentage.

    DRAFT LOTTERY

    • A lottery will be held to determine the order of the first eleven picks in round one.
    • All non playoff teams will be eligible for the lottery.
    • Teams will be awarded chances based on their draft position as stated in the draft order section. (ie: inverse order of WL%)
    • Position 1 (11 chances), position 2 (10 chances) position 3 (9 chances).. thru position 11 (1 chance)
    • The winners will be decided by the mid-day (noon) NYS Win 4 daily numbers game (four digit drawing) on a designated date.
    • Closest to that number will be given position 1, next closest position 2, next closest position 3.
    • The remaining eight teams will then be placed in positions 4-11 as noted in draft order section. (ie: inverse order of WL%)
    • Any team acquiring a lottery pick in a trade also obtains the chances outlined above.
    • Ties will be broken by the position with the lower winning percentage receiving the better pick.

    TIEBREAKERS

    • Ties for draft pick seeding will be broken in the following manner & order:
    • record vs each other (team with more losses/worst pct is awarded the better pick)
    • away pct vs all teams (team with best pct is awarded the better pick)
    • division standing (team with lower position is awarded the better pick)
    • coin flip (winner receives the better pick in odd numbered rounds)
    • Playoff seeding or first place tie or wild card requiring a playoff entry game will be broken in the following manner & order:
    record vs each other (team with more wins will be the home team(or seeded higher)
    away pct vs all teams (team with best pct will be home team(or seeded higher)
    coin flip (winner will be home team(or seeded higher)

    LENGTH

    • The draft will consist of eight scheduled rounds, followed by bonus picks.

     

    PITCHING

    ROTATION

    • Each team must set a starting rotation, that complies with rest requirements.
    • The away games for each series will be considered to be first.
    • The rotation is sequential from one series to the next series.
    • The rotation may be altered by either skipping a starter or inserting an additional starter.

    REST DAYS & APPEARANCES

    • Starting pitchers must have at least three games rest between starts.
    • Any starter who can also relieve, must have 3 games rest between starting and relief appearances
    • Between May-June and July-August, the rotation may be reset without regard to the above.
    • Byes do NOT count as 3 games rest.

    INNINGS PITCHED PER GAME

    • No pitcher may exceed 11 innings in one game.

    GRADE REDUCTION/ ADVANCEMENT - STARTING PITCHERS

    • The current APBA rules for advancement & reduction, of starting pitchers will be used.

    GRADE ADVANCEMENT - RELIEF

    • The current APBA rules for temporary advancement of relief pitchers will be used. That rule reads:
    The reliever will advance one grade ONLY if he enters the game in mid-inning and throws from the same side as the batter hits
    He retains the advancement until he faces a batter from the opposite side or the inning ends.
    This does not apply to an "A" or higher"
    • Additionally the temporary upgrade will be applied to relievers beginning an inning.

     

    BATTING

    DESIGNATED HITTER

    • The DH may be used in any game as stated by the official rules of Major League baseball.
    That rule is, "a batter may be designated to bat for the pitcher, prior to the beginning of the game. Any eligible player may be substituted for that batter and he will become the designated hitter. If the designated hitter takes a defensive position, the pitcher will then bat in the place of the replaced defensive player and use of the designated hitter is terminated for the remainder of the game."

    PITCHERS HITTING or RUNNING

    • Pitchers may not bat unless use of the DH has been voided as per MLB rules or not used at all.
    • Pitchers are further restricted to their actual plate appearances.
    • Pitchers may never be used as a pinch hitter but can pinch run.

     

    SERIES PLAY

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • The visiting manager shall mail his instructions to the opposing manager, by the 5th day of each month for all games scheduled within that month.
    • The instructions will include:
    active roster
    lineups, pitching rotation, relief pitchers, injury replacements and strategy.

    GAME PLAY & RESULTS

    • The home manager shall play all games scheduled for a month & have results compiled and mailed to the visiting manager by the last day of the scheduled month.
    • The manager shall indicate on each game scoresheet when the following items occurred:
    hit & run was used.
    unusual play card or error card was used.
    infield was moved in.
    substitution was made.
    other noteworthy occurrences.
    • After completing the series the home manager must:
    compile stats for both teams
    update his own team statistics
    mail a copy of each game scoresheet and series stats to the visiting manager, if previously requested.
    mail/e-mail league Excel series recap & stats report/highlights (or hand version) to the opposing manager & commissioner.
    • After receiving results of the series the manager should check the items for errors & update his y-t-d- stats.

    STATS

    • The following statistics will be kept and the commissioners totals are considered official:
    BATTING (G-AB-R-HT-RBI-2B-3B-HR-BB-K-SB-CS-HBP-SAC-DP-E)
    PITCHING (G-GS-CG-SIP-RIP-HT-R-ER-HR-BB-K-HBP-W-L-SV-ShO)

    PENALTIES

    • If any manager fails to send instructions or results as outlined above, the other manager involved will notify the commissioner. He may then receive permission to play the games, with any competitive lineup & pitching rotation of his choice. He will ignore any results or instructions received in violation of the above stated rules.
    • Any manager falling more than one month behind, without extenuating circumstances, may be replaced or otherwise penalized by the commissioner.

     

    PROTESTS

    METHOD

    • If the visiting manager believes he has valid grounds for protesting, he should notify the opposing manager and attempt to reach an agreement.
    • If the managers cannot reach agreement the commissioner will arbitrate a settlement or issue a ruling.
    • If the protest is upheld, the home manager will replay the game from the point of protest, issue revised stats and notify the commissioner of the replay result.

     

    PLAYOFFS

    TIME FRAME & PARTICIPANTS

    • Immediately following the regular schedule the playoffs will begin. All players are considered fully rested.
    • The playoffs will include the first place team of each division and one wild card (determined by the best overall W/L pct).
    • The playoffs will consist of two rounds, in a best of seven format
    • There will be a scheduled rest day between each round.

     

    • In the case of a tie for the pennant with both teams qualifying as playoff entrants, then tie breaker rules will determine first place.
    • In the case of a tie for first place or the wild card, a one game playoff will determine the participant. (see tie breaker for home team).
    • The following rules will apply for the one game playoff entry game.
      •
    The active roster will be the same as that used in the following two playoff rounds.
    All players will have one extra game (or 1 PA for players limited to PA) added to their season limit for this game.
    All starting pitchers will have 1 extra start added to their season limit and 7 starting innings for this game.
    All relief pitchers will have 1 inning added to their season limit for this game.

    SEEDING/SCHEDULE

    • The team having the best winning percentage, will be home for games 1, 2 and if necessary 6, 7.
    • A "wild card" team will always be away for games 1, 2 & 6, 7 in any round of the playoffs.
    • Teams will be seeded based on W/L% pct. The number 1 team plays the wildcard and #2 plays #3. In the case of the wild card being in the same division as the #1 team, then #1 plays #3 and #2 plays the wild card.
    • The World Series will have the winners of the first round meeting for the Championship.

    SEEDING-TIEBREAKER RULES

    • Team with better W/L% will be seeded higher. If both have same record see Draft section tiebreaker rules for playoffs.

    ACTIVE ROSTER

    • All teams will be restricted to the same 25 active players for the entire post season.
    • No player who was overused in the regular season will be eligible for any post-season play.

    INJURIES/ DH USE

    • All injuries will be enforced as per our regular season rules. That is the J-factor will apply.
    • No injury will carry over from one series to the next.
    • The DH is mandatory for the start of each game.

    LIMITS PER SERIES/ROUND

    • Position Player limits for each round are as follows:
    7 games if season limit was 100 or more games.
    5 games if season limit was 40 or more games.
    2 games if season limit was less than 40 games.
    7 plate appearances if regular season limit of more than 30 PA.
    3 pinch hits if regular season limit was less than 30 PA.
    • Starting pitchers, for each round (those permitted to start per regular season rules):
    Limited to 5% of the regular season limit (not rounded up) plus five innings.
    maximum of 11 innings per game.
    must have three games rest between starts and/or relief appearances if used at both.
    • Relief pitchers, for each round (those permitted to relieve per regular season rules):
    Limited to 10% of the regular season limit (not rounded up), with a seven inning maximum.
    • One starting pitcher, not allowed to relieve in regular season and not starting in playoffs, may be used once per round, as a reliever.

    ROTATION

    • The starting rotation will be prior to the beginning of the playoffs.
    • The starting rotation will continue in sequence through each round.
    • Rest days - There is a scheduled rest day between each round of the playoffs.
    • Bonus rest days - Any series ending prior to maximum games will count as rest days equal to the number of unplayed games.

     

    APBA FORMAT

    GENERAL RULES

    • Master Game use is NOT allowed.
    • APBA's "Optional Base Coaching" (ie; "playing safe") will NOT be used.
    • APBA's "Official Scorer's Optional Rule" (Error category) will NOT be used.
    • Game Boards > APBA Basic Game (v2006) boards will be used.
    • Hit & Run or Sacrifice > APBA H&R and Sacrifice (v2006) results will be used.
    • Advanced APBA pitching and fielding rules (v2006) will be used.
    • Infield APBA defense ratings will be used for results of 21, 22, 24,25, 29, 33, 34.
    • The APBA "ZZ", "K", "R" ratings will be used.

    BBW COMPUTER GAME

    *** Bob Fick is the only one permitted to use the "BBW" computer game for all of his home games.

    *** The commissioner may use the computer game, for games when a team is without a manager.

    • The APBA "BBW" Computer Game will be allowed under the following conditions:
    both managers must agree
    the game will be monitored, play-by-play.
    the Hit & Run button will be used on all hit & runs, not the steal button.
    the "normalized" disk will be used for all games.
    the away manager will be "Danny RCMBA".

     

    RCMBA MODIFICATIONS

    All of the following alterations will be used for any RCMBA game.

    RAIN OUTS

    • There will be no rainouts. It will be recorded as a rain delay and completed. Any pitcher continuing after the delay will be reduced one grade, even if the rain delay happens in the top of the 1st.

    INJURIES

    • No injury will carry over to the next series.
    • After game 112, all injuries will be for that game only.
    • Pitchers injuries will be for that game only.
      •
    • Position players
    --- J0= remainder of that game.
    --- J1= remainder of that game + 1 game.
    --- J2= remainder of that game + 2 games.
    --- J3= remainder of that game + 3 games.
    --- J4= remainder of the series.

    UNUSUAL PLAY CARD

    • Will be used whenever the play result is 23 or 36-41, reroll dice & use the following result:
    11= 38 21= 41 31= 36 41= 41 51= 36 61= 41
    12= 39 22= 36 32= 39 42= 40 52= 39 62= 37
    13= 37 23= 23 33= 38 43= 23 53= 37 63= 23
    14= 39 24= 40 34= 39 44= 36 54= 39 64= 40
    15= 36 25= 36 35= 36 45= 36 55= 36 65= 40
    16= 40 26= 40 36= 40 46= 40 56= 40 66= 38

    ERROR CARD

    • Will be used whenever the play result is 15-21 except when the result is "hit by pitcher".
    • Reroll dice and use the following result:
    11= 15 21= 16 31= 18 41= 18 51= 19 61= 20
    12= 15 22= 16 32= 18 42= 18 52= 19 62= 20
    13= 15 23= 17 33= 18 43= 19 53= 20 63= 21
    14= 15 24= 17 34= 18 44= 19 54= 20 64= 21
    15= 16 25= 17 35= 18 45= 19 55= 20 65= 21
    16= 16 26= 17 36= 18 46= 19 56= 20 66= 21

    SLOW RUNNERS

    • APBA's "Optional Base Coaching" (ie; "playing safe") will not be used no matter the situation or result.
    • The below chart will be used whenever the runner is slow and the hit & run board is not in use & play result is 7-11.
    • The slow runner will advance safely the following number of bases unless "SR" indicates otherwise.
    PLAY RESULT IS >> 7 8 9 10 11
    1st 1 1 1 1*$ SR
    2nd 2 1 1 1 SR
    1st & 2nd (S at 2nd) 1* 1 1 1 SR
    1st & 3rd (S at 1st) 1 1 1 SR SR
    2nd & 3rd (S at 2nd) SR 1 1 1 SR
    Bases full (S at 1st or 2nd) 1* 1 1 1*$ SR
    "*" = with two outs 2 bases
    "$" = and batter steals 2nd
    "SR" = same as regular boards

    FIELDER CHART

    • Whenever the bases are empty & the play result is 18, 19 or 20, the following fielding modification will be used:
    2B8 or SS9 or 3B5 - roll 1 die and record as follows.. 1-3 out/ 4-6 error
    2B9 or SS10 or 3B6 - roll 1 die and record as follows.. 1-4 out/ 5-6 error
    • Any play result of 21 (except hit by pitcher) use the firstbaseman to determine fielding column:
    1B4/5= column 1
    1B3 = column 2
    1B2 = column 3

    HIT & RUN USE

    • The batter is limited in use of the hit & run per game, equal to the number of 31's on his card.

    PITCHING UPGRADES/ DOWNGRADES/ LIMITS

    • See the section six regarding pitchers and section two regarding limits.

    NON PITCHER LIMITS

    • See section two regarding game limits.

    BALL/STRIKE

    • Any result of a ball or a strike is changed to two balls or two strikes.

     

    SCORING AIDS

    SAVES

    • Credit a save when his team wins and he is the finishing pitcher and he is not the winning pitcher and he has accomplished at least one of the following:
    entered the game with a lead of 3 runs or less and completes at least one full inning.
    entered game with the potential tying run either on base or at bat or on deck.
    he pitches effectively for at least 3 innings and maintains the lead.

    RBI

    • Credit a run batted in for each run that scores when the batter records a hit, base on balls, hit by pitcher, interference, sacrifice, sacrifice fly or fielders choice.
    • Do not credit a run batted in if the run scores during a "force" double play or an error or passed ball occurs except that when the error or passed ball occurs before two are out and the runner would have scored without the aid of the error or passed ball.

    STOLEN BASE/ CAUGHT STEALING

    • Do not credit a stolen base if during a multiple player steal attempt, any runner is thrown out or picked off.
    • Record a caught stealing for runners "picked off".

    EARNED RUNS

    • In determining earned runs, the inning should be recreated and the pitcher shall be charged for runs that scored without benefit of an error or passed ball. That is, would the run have scored without the miscue? Relief pitchers entering during an inning are treated as though the miscue has not occurred unless another occurs while they are pitching.