Red Flag Baseball Club, normally known as Red Flag, is a professional baseball club located in Lanhydrock, Marpleshire, Ianoia. They were founding members of the Nationwide Baseball Alliance in 1900 and the first team to win promotion to the I-League in the 1915 baseball season.
History
In 1897, Red Flag baseball club was established by local residents of Lanhydrock. The club derived its name from the flag placed in the town’s center during its founding in 1671. Red Flag aimed to represent the town, bringing people together and fostering a sense of community. They are also sometimes known as the Flaggers. On September 5, 1897, they won their first game against Bassingbourn with a score of 7-4.
In 1900, Red Flag sought to join the I-League but was unsuccessful. Instead, they became a part of the Nationwide Baseball Alliance (NBA), a rival league created to accommodate the growing number of baseball clubs in Ianoia and promote healthy competition.
In their debut competitive game, Red Flag defeated Caunton Victoria with a 4-0 victory and went on to win the series 2-1. They finished their first season with a record of 27 wins and 27 losses, placing 6th out of 12 teams in the league. The following year, they improved to 3rd place, before ending as runners-up to Souldrop in 1902. In 1903, their form declined, resulting in an 8th place finish, followed by a 6th place finish in 1904.
During the late 1900s, the Flaggers faced financial difficulties and the loss of key players to I-League clubs. They finished 10th in 1905 and experienced consecutive years of decline, culminating in a last-place finish in the expanded 14-team competition in 1907. The introduction of draws in the NBA occurred in 1907, with Red Flag’s first tied game against Strelda on May 23rd. They saw a slight improvement in 1908 with an 11th place finish but subsequently dropped to 12th and 13th place in 1909 and 1910, respectively.
In 1911, the Flaggers made significant progress by enhancing their pitching and fielding, securing 7th place with a 34-12-32 record. The following year when they won five more games and finished 5th. They achieved a 7th place finish in 1913 and were runners-up for the second time in 1914, narrowly missing out on the title to Athletic Ragdale by just three points.
When the Nationwide Baseball Alliance became the second tier of baseball in Ianoia, Red Flag became the first team to earn promotion to the I-League, fending off Brinkburn Coastal. They suffered a walk-off loss to NN Kingsdown on the final day, tying on points with the Orcas but staying ahead based on the “number of wins” tiebreaker, winning their first trophy in the process.
Stadium
Red Flag play their home games out of Humher Park, situated in the north-west of the city in the Humher Hills residential suburb. Using the wasteland since the clubs inception in 1897, the stadium’s exterior features ornate brickwork and arches. It had a modest seating capacity, accommodating local residents and fans without overwhelming the residential setting. Grandstands surround the entire playing area, and from 1975 until 2002, was famed for a popcorn cannon that would launch a shower of freshly popped popcorn into the stands in-between innings.
Humher Park is designed with a slight pitcher-friendly bias. The outfield is surrounded by 11 foot high walls and the layout features a deep center field, providing a challenging target for power hitters. On the other hand, the left field is slightly shallower compared to other areas of the outfield. This adjustment is made to accommodate the bullpens of both teams, which are typically located beyond the outfield fence. The shallower left field allows for easier access and movement for relief pitchers warming up. Due to the dimensions and design of the ballpark, home runs are significantly reduced compared to other stadiums, however, the vast outfield creates opportunities for hits into the gaps like doubles and triples.