Sorry about the delay, but I've got the 1959 RICS!


This series was back-and-forth throughout the whole thing, but the Robins were able to triumph in the first-ever Shinkyo Series! 

Game 1 - SKR 1, SKS 0 - It was a grueling 13-inning affair as defense clamped up and pitchers flexed their stuff. Both starters went 10 innings and it wouldn't be until Senators pitcher Wally Hopwood gave up the game-winning hit to Kozo Kamata to drive in Hiroshi Tabata and seal Game 1.

Game 2 - SKS 7, SKR 2 - This one wasn't close as the Sens scored 4 in the 2nd inning and never gave up the lead. After getting two in the 1st, the Robins simply couldn't score for the rest of the game.

Game 3 - SKR 4, SKS 3 - As the series shifted to Yoshida Field, the Robins looked to take back home field. After scoring the tying run in the 7th to make it 3-3, both teams lasted until the 11th inning where the Robins drove in a run and pitcher Atsushi Furukawa finished an 11-inning complete game to seal it for the Birds.

Game 4 - SKS 3, SKR 2 - Looking to strike back after the heartbreaking Game 3 loss the Senators played no-nonsense ball and were able to hold the Robins to only 2 and punch in the winning run in the 7th to tie the series up 2-2.

Game 5 - SKR 4, SKS 1 - The last game at Yoshida Field, both teams were looking to take a crucial Game 5. However, the Robins shut down the Senators' offense, not allowing a single run until the 9th when it was too late. Meanwhile the Robins' bats struck first and often, scoring in the 2nd, 3rd, and 8th to take a 3-2 lead heading back to Shinkyo Stadium.

Game 6 - SKS 10, SKR 2 - Back in Shinkyo Stadium the Robins were completely upstaged as the Sens killed them at home. 10 runs off 10 hits while the Robins could only manage 2 and committed 2 errors to lose the game and create a Game 7 at home.

Game 7 - SKR 8, SKS 1 - In the final game of the series, the Robins showed why they were the best team in the league. They scored 7 runs across the first two innings and punched in another one in the 5th before the Sens could get on the board with a run in the 9th. Furukawa provided another complete game for the Robins while his opposite, Mamoru Ogata, was pulled after only an inning after giving up 6 runs. Robins 3B Hiroshi Tabata was named series MVP, providing the much-needed power for the Birds' bats as they defeated their cross-town rivals.

YOUR 1959 RICS CHAMPIONS ARE: SHINKYO ROBINS!

NEXT: 1960 Offseason

Last edited by QCS (7/17/2020 4:55 pm)

1960 Offseason:

Nothing major happened on the offseason, so I'll take this chance to fill you in on the state of professional baseball worldwide.

MLB:
2 years after the Dodgers and Giants flee New York, major changes will occur with the first-ever expansion set for 1961. In the American League, Washington's Senators are headed for Minnesota while a replacement team will play ball in DC. An AL club will challenge the Dodgers' dominance in LA while the NL is set to take back New York and place the first baseball club in Houston in '62. The Athletics are 5 years removed from their move from Philadelphia to Kansas City while the former St. Louis Browns have settled into Baltimore. 
Here's how it looks:
American League:
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Chicago White Sox
Detroit Tigers
Cleveland Indians
Washington Senators
Kansas City Athletics
National League:
Milwaukee Braves
Pittsburgh Pirates
Philadelphia Phillies
Chicago Cubs
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Francisco Giants
Cincinnati Reds

NPB:
It's been 10 years since baseball was reorganized into NPB and things seem to be settling down. With 6 teams in both the Pacific and Central League, scheduling became much easier.
As of 1960, here is how things look:
Pacific League:
Toei Flyers
Mainichi Daiei Orions
Hankyu Braves
Kintetsu Buffalo
Nankai Hawks
Central League:
Kokutetsu Swallows
Yomiuri Giants
Taiyo Whales
Chunichi Dragons
Hanshin Tigers
Hiroshima Toyo Carp

RIBF:
5 years later, and the RIBF has been a greater success than anyone could've imagined. The '59 expansion has some worried that it'll rock the boat, but so far it seems like the Canaries heading to San Moriuchi and the two expansion teams will be a success. It seems like 12 teams is where commissioner Aoyama is satisfied with for now, with any further expansion seeming unlikely for a while. 
Here's the structure:
Robin Bay League:
Shinkyo Robins
Yosemite Grizzlies
San Moriuchi Kings
San Juan Shockers
Queenston Monarchs
Vertlac Emeralds
Shinsakai Bay League:
Shinosaka Shrikes
Shinkyo Senators
Hokkyo Thunderbirds
Aorin Carp
Toramoto Tigers
Joestar Crusaders

The Grizzlies had a HUGE improvement! But when you have a 20 win improvement, and are still in last, it shows how bad your team had been the previous season.

Here's the 1960 RICS!


In a rematch of the 1957 and '58 RICS, the Robins and Crusaders met for the third time with Joestar looking to claim their second championship and stop Shinkyo from getting the three-peat.

Game 1 - JOE 9, SKR 2 - Despite the Robins putting two on the board in the 1st, Joestar lit up, taking the lead in the 4th and not letting it go, dominating Shinkyo on the road to put themselves up 1-0.

Game 2 - SKR 1, JOE 0 - In a pitcher's duel, the score was 0-0 going into the bottom on the 9th, when Shigeo Kishimoto drove in the winning run to tie the series up 1-1 heading to Joestar.

Game 3 - SKR 6, JOE 3 - Snatching back home field advantage, the Robins scored 5 runs in the top of the 9th to take the game and break the hearts of Joestar faithful. 

Game 4 - SKR 8, JOE 7 - Speaking of heartbreakers, the Crusaders put up a valiant effort to try and tie the series, being down 7-0 before miraculously scoring 7 in the 7th, 8th, and 9th to tie it up and bring the game to extra innings. The 10th was scoreless before the Robins were able to put one on the board in the 11th and the Crusaders simply couldn't get one in. 

Game 5 - SKR 7, JOE 1 - In a do-or-die Game 5, the Crusaders chose die as they were shut down by Robins pitcher Taizo Miyagi, who only gave up one hit the entire game, a home run in the 1st by Joestar RF Yutaka Inouye. The Robins closed it out by dominating the Crusaders in Joestar and clinching the three-peat! Robins RF Mauricio Tahara was named the RICS MVP. 

YOUR 1960 RICS CHAMPIONS ARE: SHINKYO ROBINS!

Here's the 1961 season!


Let's get it out of the way: the Robins have won the RBL yet again, making this the fifth year in a row. This time, however, it was very close. The Kings actually tied the Robins in the regular season, but they played a single-game playoff and the Robins easily won, 6-0. Heartbreak for San Moriuchi fans, who've had it rough playing second fiddle to the Robins since the team arrived from Yosemite. In third place were the Monarchs, who had a good season and are hoping to improve soon. The Emeralds, despite their offseason attempts to improve, only saw slight improvement as they place in a solid 4th. San Juan suffered much of what's been haunting them since their RICS appearance and continue their streak of finishing under .500. The Grizzlies threw all their improvement out the window, winning 16 less games than last season. 

In the SBL, the Senators came out of nowhere to yet again claim the throne, looking to get some revenge on the Robins for their 1959 RICS loss. Aorin, meanwhile, seems to be a cursed franchise. They had the best record in franchise history and actually had a better record than the winning RBL team, yet still have not made the RICS. Expect Carp fans and ownership to raise a stink about it. The Crusaders declined from last year, placing in third with a decent record. The Shrikes, in turmoil from the revelation that their owner gambled on their games with team funds, declined yet again and are in trouble. Fans are hoping the new owner will save them. The Tigers had a bad season again, and the Thunderbirds were only 1 game away from tying the all-time worst record. Commissioner Aoyama has internally begun looking at different options to try and improve the unfortunate '59 expansion teams, including a draft.

The 1961 RICS will be another Shinkyo Series! The roles are reversed this time, as the Senators had the better record and as such will have home field advantage. Will the Robins get their fourth in a row or will the Senators claim their first?

NEXT: 1961 RICS