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1911-

The rebuilding project in Boston was beginning to show some momentum but the Minutemen were not quite there yet. Boston finished 76-77 on the season but were a distant 20 games back in the standings with three other clubs ahead of them. The top spot once again belonged to the Dynamos of Detroit who outlasted New York and finished 96-57 on the year. In the Continental Association it was a heated four horse race that Toronto ended up winning with a 90-59 season. Detroit looked to steamroll the Wolves in the World’s Series as they jumped out to a three game to none lead. Then history happened. In unprecedented fashion the Wolves won the next four to take the series. No team had ever accomplished that feat in the World’s Series and it was the ultimate gut punch for the Dynamos. In the 1911 offseason the FABL made a change to their operating structure. Up until now talent was procured by teams aggressively scouting lower leagues, colleges and sandlots to name a few looking for talent they could control. The onus was completely on the organization as some clubs were more aggressive than others when it came to scouting. Boston owner Steve Cunningham was part of a manager's commission that voted to institute a draft in the FABL. This would completely revolutionize the way talent would be acquired.

1912-

In an era dominated by pitching and small ball the 1912 Minutemen were somewhat of an outlier as their preferred method of victory was to grossly outscore their opponents. The team scored 821 runs on their way to a 97-55 campaign easily winning the Federal Association. CF Bill McMurtrie, LF Fred Huffman, 1B Paul Shaffer and 3B Frank Betts were four of the big bats in the Boston lineup that gave other pitching staff’s fits. In the Continental, Brooklyn, Baltimore and Chicago treated fans to an exciting pennant race that went down to the very end of the season. In the end it was Brooklyn at 90-63 that were two games better than Baltimore as they captured their first pennant since they were still in the Border Association back in 1891. A long drought to be sure. In the World’s Series it was all Boston as they bludgeoned Brooklyn in every game but the one they lost and took the championship in five games. For Boston, it was the seventh time they had represented the Federal Association in the FABL’s fall classic, and it was their fourth championship during that time.

1913-

Boston made a strong run at the pennant again in 1913. The offense was certainly there but the pitching was what let the club down. Even still, Boston had their destiny in their hands as they played the team they were in contention with in the Washington Eagles during the final week of the season. Boston dropped two of three in that series allowing the Eagles to clinch the FA pennant. In the CA it was Baltimore, who had been knocking on the door for a few seasons was finally able to get over the hump and clinch. For the Eagles this would be their third trip to the World’s Series where they had yet to win it. For Baltimore it was their third trip as well and they were yet to lose. In the end, history was made as the Eagles were able to claim their first title, winning the series in five games.

1914-

Boston’s offense once again kept them in the competitive mix and with a much improved rotation the Minutemen made a strong run at the pennant. Similar to last season though, it was the Washington Eagles who were just slightly better. The Minutemen notched 93 victories but still fell 4.5 short to the Eagles who celebrated their second consecutive FA pennant. Their opponents in the World’s Series would be none other than the same club they battled the year before in Baltimore. The Clippers won 97 games themselves and were able to hold off Montreal to punch their ticket for the second season in a row themselves. Baltimore and Washington played a seven game classic for the title that year. Baltimore would win the decisive game seven and exact revenge for their series loss to the Eagles from the year prior.

1915-

Boston has been knocking on the pennant door in the FA for the last two seasons finishing in second position both times. In 1915 it would all come together for the Minutemen. They still had a very potent offense with LF Fred Huffman, CF Bill McMurtrie, 3B John Dickinson and 2B Frank Betts. Yet it was their pitching with George Johnson, Bob Harris, Bob Allenbaugh and Jacob Mueller that were the true key to the Minutemen’s success. Boston’s 95-56 record was nine games better than second place Washington as they looked to face off against a storied club that had been a historical doormat in the Continental. As a franchise the Montreal Saints had never captured a CA pennant, however they had been building for a while. 1915 was finally their year as they posted a 96-56 record scoring a league best 680 runs in the process. The World’s Series was once again a seven game affair. Boston jumped out to a three games to one lead but could not slam the door on the Saints as they battled back to win three in a row and claim their first title in franchise history.

1916-

Boston was hit with some key injuries during the ‘16 campaign and could never recover enough to get into the pennant race. The Minutemen still finished with a respectable 84-70 record but they were nowhere equal to Detroit who cruised to the FA pennant with a 95 win season. In the Continental the race was never in question as Montreal was easily the class of the Association winning 97 games and finishing 17.5 games better than their nearest competition in Chicago. As easy as it was for Montreal to make it to the classic they ran into a buzzsaw with Detroit who took the title in six games.

1917-

Boston didn’t have the excuse of injuries to blame for their performance in ‘17. For the Minutemen it was good ole fashioned lousey pitching. Although the team went 80-72, and finished in third place, they were never in the mix for the top spot. In the FA, the top spot belonged to Chicago. The Chiefs were one of two original clubs (Philadelphia being the other) that could trace their history back to 1876. The last pennant of any kind that they could lay claim to came in 1881. The long drought would end as their 92-62 record was just enough to hold off the Pittsburgh Miners. Although the FA pennant race was an exciting one it pales in comparison to what was happening in the CA. As the regular season drew to a close both Montreal and Cleveland had identical records. For the first time a playoff game was needed to see who would represent the CA in the fall classic. Cleveland took the game in dramatic fashion winning by the score of 1-0. It was the first time since 1901 that Cleveland would be in the World’s Series. Just getting there may have sucked all the wind out of their sails as Chicago took the title in six games. As 1917 came to a close the FABL could no longer hope that the War in Europe would not affect the league. Unfortunately, American forces had entered into combat and repercussions would be felt stateside.

1918-

‘18 would be the year the Minutemen go into full rebuild mode. Their offensive stars were getting older and there was some young talent that needed some playing time. The Minutemen finished just over .500 at 64-62 and landed themselves in fifth place. Detroit who took a bit of a dip in ‘17 was back with a vengeance in ‘18. The Dynamos finished with a 79-48 record in a shortened season (because of the War effort) and took the FA by 8.5 games. In the CA the Chicago Cougars went 75-54 and were able to clinch the Association by 5 games. The Dynamos looked as if they would sweep out Chicago in the World’s Series as they jumped out to a three game lead on the Cougars. The Cougars bounced back to take the next three games to force a pivotal game seven in Detroit. Detroit finally got their act together and took the title with a 3-2 win. It would be the second time in three years the Dynamos could make the claim as world’s best.

1919-

Although the Treaty of Versailles was signed ending the War in Europe the baseball schedule was shortened once again, this time because of the Spanish Flu epidemic. Boston finished an even .500 at 64-64 which was good for fifth place. While the minutemen improved in the pitching department they were still a bit light. Detroit won the FA once again but they had heavy competition from St. Louis and only took the association by a game and a half. In the CA it was a two horse race between Montreal and Chicago. In the end it was the Saints that held off the Cougars by two games giving them a shot at Detroit for the title. Montreal put up a fight but Detroit was just too much as they took the series in six games to win title in back-to-back fashion.

1920-

While Boston continued to rebuild other teams were making noise. For Boston, it would be yet another fifth place finish at 74-79. Rebuilds can be tough, especially when other teams dramatically reshape their rosters though trades. 1920 was the year of the power shift west. Cleveland in the CA had a very talented player (Max Morris) that didn’t want to play for the Foresters. Instead of battling with the Morris he was immediately dealt to St. Louis in the FA. St. Louis flourished with Morris on their roster, ironically though, the players that came over in the trade also propelled Cleveland to the top of the CA. This would be what you would call a win-win scenario. St. Louis won the FA by 11.5 games and Cleveland held off Baltimore, Montreal and Toronto to win the CA by 2.5 games. Cleveland’s luck would run short in the series as St. Louis took the title in five games.