1976 EXPANSION DETAILS

At the end of the 1975 Season, the Mid-West Winter League (hence forth referred to as MWWL), will have expansion take place.
Each MWWL existing franchise will have approximately 40 players on its rosters at the end of 1975. 40X16 = 640 players.
Each new MWWL expansion franchise will start with no (0) players.
A random order we be selected for the 1976 MWWL Expansion Draft.
The order will be serpentine for the 1976 MWWL Expansion Draft.
Expansion Franchises 1976 Regular Draft Picks will be placed between the top eight and bottom eight franchises based on the 1975 finish, for the 1976 draft order, and will be reverse order of the 1976 MWWL Expansion Draft Order.
Existing franchises would be allowed to protect 12 players out of there 40.
16X12 = 192 players kept by existing MWWL franchises.
The other 28 players would be expansion eligible.
28X16 = 448 players would be expansion team eligible for drafting.
More than 74% of the leagues total players would be expansion eligible .
Expansion franchises would be allowed to select one (1) player from each existing club, during the first four-rounds.
(This, at best would be the 13th player on each MWWL existing franchises roster).
Once each expansion franchise has selected four players, (Only one from each existing MWWL franchise) the existing franchises would be allowed to pull back three (3) players from their expansion eligible list.
Expansion clubs would have 4 players each.
Existing clubs would have 15 players each.
We would repeat the process for rounds (5-8), at the end of round eight; we would have three (3) pullbacks again.
Expansion clubs would have 8 players each.
Existing clubs would have 18 players each.
We would repeat the process for rounds (9-12), at the end of round twelve; we would have three (3) pullbacks again.
Expansion clubs would have 12 players each.
Existing clubs would have 21 players each.
We would repeat the process for rounds (13-16), at the end of round sixteen; we would have three (3) pullbacks again.
Expansion clubs would have 16 players each.
Existing clubs would have 24 players each.
At this point in the 1976 Expansion Draft, existing franchises would grant free agency to all players above and beyond 24.
Expansion franchises would be allowed to continue the draft, for rounds 13-24, with no restrictions, except that the player chosen must have gained free agency from his prior club, and is not a existing team keeper of 24.
At the end of round 24, all MWWL franchises would have 24 players.
The MWWL would then follow rules for the number of keepers, going into 1976, as described in the MWWL League Guide, Section IV; Roster Rules. The expansion franchises would be allowed to keep 24 players going into 1976.

1976 RULE CHANGES BASED ON EXPANSION

The MWWL will break into four divisions based on the most current real life geographical areas, without switching leagues.   There will be an American League East, & West, as well as a National League East, & West.
Teams will play more inner division games, with no inter-league play (A.L. / N.L.)  The top team in each division will make the playoffs, along with the runner up in each division. (Two Wild Cards) Thus, 4 teams in each league will make the playoffs. This first round will be called the Division Series.  The top team in each league will face the lowest remaining seed in their respective league.  Second place will play third place.  This first round match up will be a best of five (5) round series.  Home field will go to the higher ranked team.  The winners of the Division Series match up’s will advance to the League Championships, with the higher ranked team gaining home field advantage.  The winner of the LCS will advance to the MWWL World Series in a seven game series.  Home field will be on the odd / even year rule as stated in the league guide.