Night of the Long Knives

[Clayman]

(This contains the articles for the retired players)

Salvatore 'Peanuts' Nardi. "In this league, you gotta make the money first. Then when you get the money, you get the power. Then when you get the power, Then you get the United Cup."



Mr Thomas there's an Italian gentleman here to see you.

No doubt sent by Sofia Corretti!

Let him in Maya.

You guys can't just appear whenever you want to.

"I do what Miss Corretti tells me, I inform you of her wishes and you do what you are told capisci?"

Capisci.

"There's a meeting in the boardroom tonight, 7pm, don't be late. This is for you." Nardi threw a thick parcel on the GM's desk, he carried on talking as he placed an envelope beside the parcel. "This is what to say".

Athens boardroom, 7pm. GM Neil Thomas read from the letter that Nardi had left in the envelope earlier that day.

Gentlemen you each have in front of you an envelope, inside there's a letter that I'd like you to read. Also in each envelope there is a contract, please sign it and place it back inside the envelope.

"If we don't want to sign, what happens then?"

(A voice from the shadows, a female voice with a calm but chilling tone)

"Blood makes you related, loyalty makes you family". Sofia 'Black Widow' Corretti.

The gentlemen who were sat around that boardroom table that evening in Athens were the following.

Don Bird. Athens Fighting Centaurs, Bench Coach.

Drafted in the 2024 BBA Draft in the 2nd round with the 5th pick by the Tucson Cactus, however he failed to reach agreement with the Arizona ball club. After a couple seasons of college ball he was drafted by the Des Moines Kernels in the 2026 BBA Draft like the 2024 draft he was picked in the 2nd round again, this time one slot down with the 6th pick.

A decent career was wrecked with injuries which hampered him, he did have one great game though when he held the Edmonton Jackrabbits to a 1 hit shutout in 2033 but that same season he tore his shoulder, out for 5 months he never really came back and finished his career in Cairo.

It's hoped that Bird's experience in not only the BBA & UMEBA will along with his leadership give him the tools to be a good bench coach at the major league level with Athens.

Fernando Suárez. Athens Fighting Centaurs, Pitching Coach.

Bit of a journeyman in the early part of his career after joining the Las Vegas Hustlers as an international free agent, he did find a home in Valencia with the Stars. Although he had a decent career his last season in the BBA was his most memorable, being part of the California Crusaders who won the 2035 Landis Memorial Series. He then went on to the UMEBA joining the Manama Pearls, where again he was part of a championship winning team in 2037.

Not only a proven winner but renowned for his knowledge of the game it's hoped that both will rub off on a pitching staff that some say under performed in 2042.

Ramón Ríos. Mogadishu Ports, Manager.

Played a couple of seasons in London for the Bishops before being traded to the Phoenix Talons of the BBA BBA, after 3 seasons in Phoenix he bounced around the minor leagues systems of a couple BBA franchises. He retired in 2040, although his career never panned out he did finish on a high with a 2040 African Baseball Alliance World Series win with the Luanda Anglers.

Another ex player who in all honesty never amounted to much on the field but could have found his forte in the coaching department.

Rubén Vargas. Mogadishu Ports, Pitching Coach.

Vargas needed to be loved, he needed to feel he was wanted many have said about Rubén Vargas. He'd just started to show his promise when the Buffalo Bisons moved to Havana, he was just settling into the Havana lifestyle when he was traded to Madison. Give Vargas a place called home and he may have been better thought of in the BBA.

If the Mogadishu pitchers take on board Vargas work ethic and brains for the game there could be a log jam from AAA to the majors.

Alfredo Bermudez. Mogadishu Ports, Hitting Coach.

Although Bermudez put together a decent career it was the early 2030's he was at his peak, he'd started with the Las Vegas Hustlers in 2026 a stint that would last until 2034 when he was traded to the Vancouver Mounties. However it was in his time in Law Vegas he would represent the Dominican Republic in two WBC in 2031 & 2032 with the Dominicans winning both titles, the second Bermudez would win a Platinum Stick Award at second base.

Bermudez will start his coaching career at Mogadishu in AAA as there hitting coach were his work ethics and baseball knowledge will hopefully ready the major leaguers of the future.

Felipe Murillo. Georgetown Royals, Manager.

A top reliever in many eyes, Murillo could have gone down as a legend if not for a persistent back injury which sent him to the bench 16 times during his career. Add the fact he missed 11 months with a torn ligament whilst playing in single A ball, 3 months with a hamstring injury playing for Louisville and a ruptured disc costing him 7 months Murillo was just an healthy body from greatness.

A Landis Winner, Egan Reliever Winner and throw in his leadership qualities and you have a recipe for success in the managers roll.

Marcos Canavezes. Georgetown Royals, Pitching Coach.

Only played 4 games in the BBA for the Omaha Barnstormers, however if rumours are to be believed you don't need a great career to be a great coach. Talked about in coaching circles as one of the best up and coming coaches around.

His stats didn't worry the Centaurs it was his intelligence and leadership qualities that shined through in his interview.

Sancho Delgado. Hokkaido Huskies, Manager.

Started and played most of his career in Halifax for the Hawks, a workhorse of a pitcher who pitched 200+ innings a season 6 times in his 11 seasons in Halifax and 190+ innings 3 times. Finished his career in Yellow Springs & Phoenix were he pitched just above 50 innings in 3 years.

Leader, loyalty and work ethic are what you'd expect from a pitcher who chewed up innings for fun, those are the credentials that Athens are hopeful Delgado brings to the job of their single A minor league team in Hokkaido.

Jody 'No Pants' Núñez. Hokkaido Huskies, Pitching Coach.

Could have spent sometime with the New Orleans Crawdads but failed to sign with them after the 2019 draft, four years of college and he was drafted by the Hawaii Tropics. A good pitcher in his day but one that would be more sought after in today's era of pitching, Nunez was reliable if not spectacular.

A born leader and a baseball knowledge second to none should help the pitchers in Athens single A team.

Manny Silva. Hokkaido Huskies, Hitting Coach.

Started his career playing for the Amsterdam Neptunes of the EBA, after hitting 41 home runs in 2026 the BBA came a knocking in the form of the Valencia Stars. He never lived up to expectations in the BBA, he spent his last year in the BBA with Phoenix then bounced around the minor league systems of California, Atlantic City and Wichita. He represented Puerto Rico in 2036 at the WCB, like many players who didn't make it as a star in the BBA he gave the UMEBA a shot. He signed with Cairo but not long later he was released in 2039, a stroke of luck as the Mumbai Metro Stars picked him up and went on to win the United Cup that same year.

Having a United Cup winner with a brain for baseball is hopefully going to rub off on the hitters of the Hokkaido Huskies as he takes on the role of hitting coach.

Whilst this meeting was taking place employees or should that be acquaintances and that word is used loosely were taking care of business in the minor league system of the Athens Fighting Centaurs.

In Mogadishu, Carmine 'The Barber' Scarpelli was addressing the Mogadishu Ports AAA minor league team staff.

Gentlemen your skills are no longer required by the Athens franchise, please collect your belongings and you will be escorted from the ballpark. Scarpelli informed the Mogadishu coaching staff.

"We want to speak to someone of importance from the Athens franchise."

Gentlemen my fury is a thing to behold.

"That doesn't scare us."

It should do.

In Georgetown home of the Centaurs double A team, Luigi 'Greasy Thumb' Pitera was talking to the Royals manager Uqessun Kwach and pitching coach Ghazi bin Jihad.

Gentlemen your skills are no longer required by the Athens franchise, please collect your belongings and you will be escorted from the ballpark.

He saw the mixture of puzzled and scared looks upon their faces.

Nothing personal, it’s just business.

In Hokkaido Vincent 'Blue Eyes' Valenti was talking to the Hokkaido Huskies manager and coaching staff from the Athens single A minor league team.

Gentlemen your skills are no longer required by the Athens franchise, please collect your belongings and you will be escorted from the ballpark.

"Is that a threat?" replied manager, Hanif bin Mu'ayyad

It was not a threat...it was a request you should take under consideration.

In one night of the long knives most of the Athens Fighting Centaurs personnel in the franchise had been replaced, there were no handshakes, no pleasantries were exchanged it was outright ruthlessness.