Indianapolis Arrows Dynasty (Starting 1986) | OOTP22

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With OOTP22 being on sale on Epic Games for $5, I decided it was time ot have some fun in OOTP again. This time instead of a modern dynasty, I'll be doing a "what if" style dynasty. What if the Indianapolis Arrows actually happened in 1986? Art Angotti already had a team name. He had already sold 12,000 season tickets. But Indy didn't have a ballpark and never was able to finalize a deal on one. But what if they had? Welcome to my Indianapolis Arrows Dynasty.

Web Version Of This Article:

 

Introducing the Indianapolis Arrows

About Dynasty: I’ll be using 1986 rosters. Expansion and relocation will be on and will happen as they did in the real world. Drafts will have realistic yearly draft classes & player pool will have potentials being realistic to 1986, for example, Barry Bonds is a 21 year old 5 star CF prospect. But to give it some randomness, there is no guarantee they will top out at what they did in real life.

A copy of the 1985 edition of Indianapolis Sports promoting the Indianapolis Arrows.

The year is 1985, Art Angotti, who was known in Indianapolis as the “ultimate entrepreneur” and has worked to bring a Major League Baseball team to the city. Angotti for years has led Artistic Media Partners, which owns 20 radio stations and has promised to bring Major League Baseball to the Circle City.

On the streets of Downtown this summer, it hasn’t been odd to see people walking about wearing Indianapolis Arrows T-shirts. Angotti has been one of them. 

A news conference was held in February of this year (1985). Officials from Indianapolis Baseball, Inc. — a group of local investors put together by Angotti, business leaders and philanthropist Thomas Binford — announced the city’s new major league team would be called the Arrows.

The Arrows main logo

More than 12,000 people have already purchased season tickets at $50 apiece. Even Chicago Cubs announcer Harry Caray was the featured speaker at a rally on Monument Circle this year.

Caps and jerseys

It has now been announced that Indianapolis Baseball Inc has purchased the Pittsburgh Pirates and will be relocating them to Indianapolis for the 1986 season as the Indianapolis Arrows. Their AAA affiliate will be the Fort Wayne Wizards.

The Arrows will play the newly built 45000 seat Circle City Ballpark.

 

 

 

Edited December 23, 2021 by drummerJ99

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Indianapolis Arrows Opening Day Roster

Rick Reuschel

The starting rotation will be led by 36 year old Rick ‘Big Daddy’ Reuschel (3*/3*). The starting rotation will be rounded out by 32 year old Rick Rhoden (3*/3*), 26 year old Mike Bielecki (2.5*/3*), 21 year old Bob Kipper (2.5*/2.5*) and 29 year old Bob Walk (2.5*/2.5*).

In the bullpen, it’ll be 24 year old Pat Clements (3*/3*), 26 year old Jim Winn (3*/3*), 24 year old Mario Barranco (2.5*/2.5*), 26 year old Cecilio Guante (2.5*/2.5*) 24 year old Chung Si-ma (2.5*/2.5*) & 23 year old Batista Baia (2*/2.5*). Closing out the games will be 28 year old Don Robinson (3*/3*)

Much anticipated prospect Barry Bonds

Behind the plate it’ll be 28 year old Tony Pena (3*/3*) and 26 year old Junio Ortiz (2*/2). 25 year old Sid Beam (2.5*/2.5*) will be at first. Starting at 2nd will be 29 year old Johnny Ray (3*/3*) with 27 year old Kevin Robertson (2.5*/2.5*) coming off the bench. Third base will be 33 year old Jim Morrison (3*/3*). Bill Almon, 33 (2.5*/2.5*) and 26 year old Bob Ortiz (2*/2*)will cover shortstop.

Left field will be covered by the California duo of 25 year old Mike Diaz (2.5*/2.5*) and 26 year old R.J. Reynolds (2.5*/2.5*). Center field will be covered by the #1 prospect in the organization, 21 year old Barry Bonds (3*/5*) and 25 year old Mike Quimby (2.5*/2.5*). Right field will be 23 year old Joe Orsulak (2.5*/2.5*).

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Arrows Roundup: 4/8/85-4/12/85

The Indianapolis Arrows start their inaguarl 1985 season with 5 straight road games. The first week of the season features a 2 game road trip to take on the Atlanta Braves followed by 2 of a 3 game set vs the St Louis Cardinals.

Rick Rhoden

Arrows Win, 3-1, Over Atlanta
Opening day festivities have begun throughout the league. Fans of the Atlanta Braves were eager to watch Joe Johnson square off against Rick Rhoden of the visiting Indianapolis Arrows. In the end, the Arrows won the game, 3-1, with Rick Rhoden leading the way. The winning pitcher was Rhoden, now 1-0. He tossed 8 innings of 5-hit ball, while walking 0 and fanning 5. Don Robinson earned the save, his 1st, for the Arrows.

R.J. Reynolds provided a timely hit. The Indianapolis left fielder delivered a run-scoring triple in the top of the seventh inning to put the Arrows on top, 2-1. It was his only hit in the game, but he made it count. Rookie CF Barry Bonds would go 1 for 5 on the day to pick up his first major league hit.

“Rick was Rick,” said Arrows manager Jim Leyland. “He gave it all he’s got.”

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Arrows Paste 5-3 Loss on Braves
Indianapolis and Atlanta duked it out and the Arrows came out victorious.

Barry Bonds

Barry Bonds made an impact in the 5-3 Indianapolis win over Atlanta. Bonds, who is considered the best prospect in baseball by BNN, was 2-3 with 2 singles, a walk, and was hit by a pitch. He drove in 2 runs and scored once. Rick Reuschel picked up the win, improving his season record to 1-0. He struck out 1 in 6.1 innings. Don Robinson got the save, the 2nd for him this season.

The game turned with one out in the top of the sixth when Bonds, who is the top prospect in the Arrows organization, hit a 2-run single. It propelled the Arrows into the lead, 4-2.

“We’ll pop the top on a cold beverage and get back to work tomorrow,” Bonds said.

The Arrows raised their record to 2-0.

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Arrows Lose to Cardinals, 5-3
St. Louis Cardinals starter Bob Forsch was in fine form against the Indianapolis Arrows at Busch Stadium, leading his team to a win, 5-3. Forsch got the win, improving to 1-0. He allowed 9 hits and walked 2 over 9 innings. Forsch allowed 3 runs. The win puts St. Louis at 3-0.

Ozzie Smith, the St. Louis shortstop, contributed a 2-run single in the bottom of the sixth inning to make the score 5-3, Cardinals. For the game, Smith went 1-4, while adding 2 RBI.

“We put it together today and came out with the win,” Smith said in postgame remarks. “That’s the main thing.”

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Cardinals Bridle Arrows, 4-3
The St. Louis Cardinals racked up a win at Busch Stadium, bumping off the Indianapolis Arrows, 4-3. Chris Hart, who started for St. Louis, pitched effectively for his team. Picking up the save was Ken Dayley, his 1st. The loss has the Arrows at 2-2.

St. Louis took a 4-3 lead on Willie McGee’s 1st double of the season. The 2-run double, which McGee hit in the bottom of the seventh, left Indianapolis pitcher Pat Clements shaking his head. Barry Bonds who’s hitting .312 on the young season would finish the game 0-4 with 3 strikeouts. Jim Morrison would lead the Arrows going 2-3 on the day with a run scored. Bob Kipper was on the mound for the Arrows and would pitch 7 innings while allowing 1 run on 6 hits but would leave with a no-decision.

Hart called the win the result of “everyone working in tandem.”

The Cardinals have taken 2 of the 3 in the series so far and both teams will finish up the 3 game set starting next week in St. Louis.

Edited December 24, 2021 by drummerJ99

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Indianapolis Arrows: May 1st Update

The first month of the season has come to a close and the Indianapolis Arrows finished the month 10-8, finishing the month out winning 4 straight.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Arrows have been led by RF Joe Orsulak who batted .356/.418/.424 with 6 RBI’s. Sid Bream is 2nd on the team in average, batting .324/.368/.500 in 68 at bates across 18 games. Bream also sites 2nd in RBI totals behind Morison. Rookie outfielder Barry Bonds and 3B Jim Morrison both led the team in home runs, sitting at 2 each.

On the pitching side, the Arrows have 2 players tied for wins at 3. 36 year old Rick Reuschel has started 5 games this month and has accumulated a 3.24ERA with a 3-2 record. 26 year old Jim Winn also accumulated a 3-0 record from the bullpen, appearing in 7 games.

Starter Mikie Bielecki leads the team in ERA sitting at 2.19 across his 24.2 innings he’s pitched. He has started 4 games and accumulated a 1-1 record. 32 year old Rick Rhoden leads the team in strikeouts, sitting at 27 for the season.

Team leaders through May 1st: