ILB Semi-Centennial

The ILB Semi-Centennial is a special exhibition match that took place following the Season β23 Internet Series. The game was played between the Rising Stars and the Vault Legends at the Vault ballpark.

While preparations were set for the game to go for 50 innings, the game was cancelled after only 29 innings, resulting in a draw.

Announcement

The Semi-Centennial was first announced by the Boss during the Season β22 Earlsiesta:

Rejoice!
We are thrilled to announce
Coming Next Season
The ILB Semi-Centennial!
Celebrating a half-century of exciting #Blaseball action
A look back at all the fun We've had
Since Blaseball's Return.

Additional details were announced by the Boss during the Season 22 elections:

Special Announcement
Following Postseason 23
A Special Event
To celebrate the Semi-Centennial
An Exhibition Match for the Ages
A look back at recent History
On one side
Legends of History
On the other
Your very own Rising Stars!
Rejoice!

Game Conditions

The ILB Semi-Centennial had several unique game conditions due to the Vault ballpark’s modifications. The Cycling ballpark modification made it so pitchers for each team would cycle out at the end of every inning. The Climate Control and Weather Reports modifications meant that weather would change every inning in the Vault, and that when changed it would pick based on “History”, linking each inning to a specific Season and related weather. At the start of each inning, a Season and connected weather were announced.

Weather Events

Despite lasting for 29 innings with numerous weathers, only one weather event took place during the game. This took place in inning 28, when Vessalius Sundae siphoned some of Parker MacMillan's baserunning ability during Blooddrain weather.

Major Events

Introduction

Lōotcrates appeared before the beginning of the game, stating:

"From the Delta
We wade Upstream"

"Sifting Sediment
Recalling Testimonies
From Recorded Eras"

"Memories Flood."

Lōotcrates stayed on screen until inning 22, providing introductions to each inning and commentating on events that took place during the game.

Trades

During inning 1 New Megan Ito traded their nothing for Dunlap Figueroa's The Fifth Base using their Trader modification, then during inning 11, Ito traded their The Fifth Base for Parker MacMillan's The Force Field using their Traitor modification, resulting in MacMillan’s Super Roamin' modification to take effect in the following Season β24.
After New Megan Ito obtained The Force Field, Lōotcrates delivered the message:

"A Trade-Off
A Traitor
A Repetition"

Heists

During the course of the game, several Heists occurred in which the Legends approached Rising Stars players, who were either collected and Artificially Forged, moving from the Rising Stars roster and added to the Vault Legends roster, or managed to evade.

Rat Mason

Rat Mason was approached by the Legends during inning 1, and is the only player to evade, doing so a total of 3 times, again during innings 16 and 24.
In inning 1, Lōotcrates delivered the message:

"From a Sinking Ship
Vermin Flee"

In inning 16, Lōotcrates delivered the message:

"Rat Mason
An Empty Snare"

By inning 24, Lōotcrates had retreated, and no message was delivered.

Don Mitchell

Don Mitchell was approached and collected by the Legends during inning 4.

Lōotcrates reacted with the message:

"Don Mitchell
A Slow Build
A Reverberating End"

Sutton Bishop

Sutton Bishop was approached and collected by the Legends during inning 6.
Lōotcrates reacted with the message:

"Sutton Bishop
A Diagonal Move
The Vault is Gandered"

Jaylen Hotdogfingers

Jaylen Hotdogfingers was approached and collected by the Legends during inning 6.
Lōotcrates reacted with the message:

"Jaylen Hotdogfingers
Protagonist
Antagonist"

Tillman Henderson

Tillman Henderson was approached and collected by the Legends during inning 12.
Lōotcrates reacted with the message:

"Tillman Henderson
Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Render One Immune to Criticism"

Sosa Peperomioides

Sosa Peperomioides was approached and collected by the Legends during inning 19.
Lōotcrates reacted with the message:

"Sosa Peperomioides
Crowned Queen
of Strikeouts"

Hewitt Best

Hewitt Best was approached and collected by the Legends during inning 21.
Lōotcrates reacted with the message:

"Hewitt Best
Better than All
Now Rest"

Collins Melon

Collins Melon was approached and collected by the Legends during inning 21.
Lōotcrates reacted with the message:

"Collins Melon
Ripe for the Picking"

Nicholas Mora

Nicholas Mora was approached and collected by the Legends during inning 29. By this time, Lōotcrates had retreated, and no message was delivered.

A Walk Off

With the collection of Melon, Sun(Sun)’s pressure reached 97.68%, and Lōotcrates left the screen during inning 22, apparently exiting for safety from the increasing Sun(Sun) pressure, after some final words:

"From Progenitor
A Breaking Dawn
A Twilight World"

"Constellation Expanded
Stars in Safe Keeping
The Historian returns to Safety"

"A Walk Off."

Sun(Sun) Explodes

Screenshot of the League page following the ILB Semi-Centennial, showing the Boss in front of the Supernova encouraging Fans to #Vote in the upcoming election.

With the collection of Mora during inning 29, Sun(Sun)’s pressure reached 100%, resulting in the explosion of Sun(Sun).
The Boss appeared in front of the resulting Supernova to address the Fans:

Snackholders
Snackholders!
Wow! Look at those colors!
Yes, Sun(Sun) appears to have exploded.
There is no reason to panic.
In Light of Recent Events
The Semi-Centennial is henceforth Cancelled.
The Result is a Draw.
See you at the Election!
Don't forget to #Vote!

Aftermath

Falling Stars

After the game, players from the Rising Stars returned to their ILB teams in randomized positions. Players who had not been active prior to the Semi-Centennial, such as deceased or pre-History players, were sent to random teams. Vault Legends, including the recently Artificially Forged players, remained in the Vault and did not return to their prior teams or the Hall.

Of the players not previously active in the ILB:

• Abbott Wright fell to the Charleston Shoe Thieves
• Abner Pothos fell to the Seattle Garages
• Agan Espinoza fell to the New York Millennials
• Gerund Pantheocide fell to the Chicago Firefighters with the Returned modification
• Gunther O’Brian fell to the San Francisco Lovers with the Returned modification
• Jada Frederick fell to the Boston Flowers
• James Nolan fell to the Seattle Garages
• Ronan Vargas fell to the Mexico City Wild Wings
• Sutton Picklestein fell to the Boston Flowers with the Returned modification

Trivia

Unused Heist Messages

During the August 31, 2021 Inside a Blaseball Livestream, The Game Band revealed what Lōotcrates' reactions would have been to some of the Rising Stars players who were never heisted, if they had been heisted.

Winnie Hess

A Zero,
Nay,
A Hero.

Tot Fox

This line is a reference to Tot Fox's role in creating the Black Hole that swolled Sun 1.

Sun killer,
Star Fox

Gerund Pantheocide

Misnomer

Peanut Bong

Peanut Bong.
Peanut Bong.
Peanut Bong.

Chorby Short

Foul Ball 0-2

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