OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post

FuzzyRussianHat · 06-24-2023, 01:10 PM

For the 1961 Major League Baseball season, there was one notable structure change. In the newest collective bargaining, the active roster size was dropped from 25 to 24. The secondary roster size remained at 40 for the time being. Strategically, this generally meant teams would carry one fewer relief pitcher.

Pittsburgh won the Eastern League for only the second time in franchise history, matching an accomplishment from way back in 1928. The Pirates had the best record in the National Association at 103-59. Ottawa was one behind at 102-60, earning a wild card for the fourth consecutive season and a seventh playoff berth in eight years. The other wild cards all came from a top-heavy EL as well. Brooklyn at 99-63, Philadelphia at 98-64, and Hartford at 97-65 moved on, while 96-66 Montreal missed out by one game. It was the fourth straight playoff berth for the Dodgers, third straight for the Phillies, and sixth in eight years for the Huskies.

Over in the Midwest League, Kansas City finished first at 92-70, snapping a 13-year playoff drought for the Cougars. Detroit and Omaha tied for second at 85-77, both seven games from the league title and 12 games away from a wild card. Milwaukee, who had a surprising National Association title run the prior season, fell to sixth at 77-85. This was the beginning of a long string of mediocrity for the Mustangs, who wouldn’t see the postseason again until the new Millennium.

Pittsburgh 3B Victor Pettit won his second NA MVP as the 25-year old was the leader in hits (208) and WAR (10.1). He added 38 home runs, 118 RBI, and a .339 average. Ottawa’s Bartolomeo Silvestri won the Pitcher of the Year. A 33-year old veteran from Italy, he posted a career year with the most complete games (17) and shutouts (6) in the NA. Silvestri had a 17-10 record, 2.45 ERA, 220 strikeouts over 268.1 innings, and 6.3 WAR.

In the first round of the playoffs, Brooklyn bested Philadelphia in three games and Ottawa topped Hartford in two. The Dodgers stunned Pittsburgh in round two with a road sweep, while Kansas City outlasted the Elks in five. In the National Association Championship Series, the Cougars edged Brooklyn in a seven game classic. Despite the top heavy nature of the Eastern League, that gives the Midwest League three straight NA titles. It is the second for Kansas City, who previously won it in 1937.

The American Association had a few newer faces in the playoffs with only two teams from the prior year’s field making it back. The best overall record went to Denver at 107-55 atop the Western League, giving the Dragons their first playoff berth in four years and their first league title since 1938. The second best record came from Calgary, who finished two back at 105-57. That snaps a five-year playoff drought for the Cheetahs, who were below .500 the prior season. Defending World Series champ Phoenix was third in the WL at 99-63 and took the second wild card, giving them three straight playoff berths. In the Southern League, Oklahoma City made it three straight berths, cruising to their second league title at 100-62. No one else in the SL was above .500.

10 of the 12 Western League teams were above .500 and that meant a crowded field for the final two wild card spots. Those spots ultimately went to San Francisco and Seattle, who both finished 91-71. Oakland finished one back, Albuquerque and San Diego two back, and Portland three back. The Grizzlies snapped a six-season playoff drought and the Gold Rush ended a five year one.

Although they missed the playoffs at 85-77, Las Vegas had the American Association MVP in DH Ron Koehler. In his second year with the Vipers, the 32-year old slugger led the AA in home runs with 57, his third time with 50+ and third time as the leader. He also had 151 RBI, the first MLB player with 150+ since Sebastian Lunde in 1949. Koehler was also the leader in runs (119), slugging (.633), OPS (1.052) and wRC+ (171). Pitcher of the Year went to Calgary veteran E.J. Perron. The 29-year old lefty in his 10^th year with the Cheetahs was the wins leader at 24-6 and led in complete games (20) and shutouts (5). He had a 2.87 ERA over 272.2 innings with 271 strikeouts and 7.9 WAR.

In the first round of the American Association playoffs, Phoenix beat San Francisco 2-0 and Calgary topped Seattle 2-1. In round two, Denver survived a challenge from the Firebirds and Oklahoma City held off the Cheetahs; both in five games. In the AACS, the Outlaws topped the Dragons in six, giving OKC its first-ever AA title. This leaves Oakland, Seattle, and San Antonio as the American Association teams without a World Series appearance. In the Fall Classic, Oklahoma City topped Kansas City 4-2, giving the AA ten straight titles over the NA.

Other notes: Calgary’s Jon George had a 45-game hit streak in the spring. This is the second-longest streak in MLB history, behind only Jayden Gagnon’s 49 games for Jacksonville in 1930. 1961 didn’t have a single no-hitter, the first time since 1920 that there wasn’t at least one. Ottawa’s Chance Warren became the seventh MLB batter to 3500 career hits. He played one more season to finish at exactly 3600, retiring fourth all-time. Warren also crossed 1500 runs scored in 1961. Patrick White was the 31^st member of the 3000 hit club. Peter Robinson, Ayaz Shainidze, and Abraham Reimer each crossed 250 wins, putting 27 pitchers beyond that mark. In award notables, 1B Nathaniel Maxwell won his ninth Gold Glove.

06-24-2023, 01:10 PM	#350
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 2,915	1961 in MLB For the 1961 Major League Baseball season, there was one notable structure change. In the newest collective bargaining, the active roster size was dropped from 25 to 24. The secondary roster size remained at 40 for the time being. Strategically, this generally meant teams would carry one fewer relief pitcher. Pittsburgh won the Eastern League for only the second time in franchise history, matching an accomplishment from way back in 1928. The Pirates had the best record in the National Association at 103-59. Ottawa was one behind at 102-60, earning a wild card for the fourth consecutive season and a seventh playoff berth in eight years. The other wild cards all came from a top-heavy EL as well. Brooklyn at 99-63, Philadelphia at 98-64, and Hartford at 97-65 moved on, while 96-66 Montreal missed out by one game. It was the fourth straight playoff berth for the Dodgers, third straight for the Phillies, and sixth in eight years for the Huskies. Over in the Midwest League, Kansas City finished first at 92-70, snapping a 13-year playoff drought for the Cougars. Detroit and Omaha tied for second at 85-77, both seven games from the league title and 12 games away from a wild card. Milwaukee, who had a surprising National Association title run the prior season, fell to sixth at 77-85. This was the beginning of a long string of mediocrity for the Mustangs, who wouldn’t see the postseason again until the new Millennium. Pittsburgh 3B Victor Pettit won his second NA MVP as the 25-year old was the leader in hits (208) and WAR (10.1). He added 38 home runs, 118 RBI, and a .339 average. Ottawa’s Bartolomeo Silvestri won the Pitcher of the Year. A 33-year old veteran from Italy, he posted a career year with the most complete games (17) and shutouts (6) in the NA. Silvestri had a 17-10 record, 2.45 ERA, 220 strikeouts over 268.1 innings, and 6.3 WAR. In the first round of the playoffs, Brooklyn bested Philadelphia in three games and Ottawa topped Hartford in two. The Dodgers stunned Pittsburgh in round two with a road sweep, while Kansas City outlasted the Elks in five. In the National Association Championship Series, the Cougars edged Brooklyn in a seven game classic. Despite the top heavy nature of the Eastern League, that gives the Midwest League three straight NA titles. It is the second for Kansas City, who previously won it in 1937. The American Association had a few newer faces in the playoffs with only two teams from the prior year’s field making it back. The best overall record went to Denver at 107-55 atop the Western League, giving the Dragons their first playoff berth in four years and their first league title since 1938. The second best record came from Calgary, who finished two back at 105-57. That snaps a five-year playoff drought for the Cheetahs, who were below .500 the prior season. Defending World Series champ Phoenix was third in the WL at 99-63 and took the second wild card, giving them three straight playoff berths. In the Southern League, Oklahoma City made it three straight berths, cruising to their second league title at 100-62. No one else in the SL was above .500. 10 of the 12 Western League teams were above .500 and that meant a crowded field for the final two wild card spots. Those spots ultimately went to San Francisco and Seattle, who both finished 91-71. Oakland finished one back, Albuquerque and San Diego two back, and Portland three back. The Grizzlies snapped a six-season playoff drought and the Gold Rush ended a five year one. Although they missed the playoffs at 85-77, Las Vegas had the American Association MVP in DH Ron Koehler. In his second year with the Vipers, the 32-year old slugger led the AA in home runs with 57, his third time with 50+ and third time as the leader. He also had 151 RBI, the first MLB player with 150+ since Sebastian Lunde in 1949. Koehler was also the leader in runs (119), slugging (.633), OPS (1.052) and wRC+ (171). Pitcher of the Year went to Calgary veteran E.J. Perron. The 29-year old lefty in his 10^th year with the Cheetahs was the wins leader at 24-6 and led in complete games (20) and shutouts (5). He had a 2.87 ERA over 272.2 innings with 271 strikeouts and 7.9 WAR. In the first round of the American Association playoffs, Phoenix beat San Francisco 2-0 and Calgary topped Seattle 2-1. In round two, Denver survived a challenge from the Firebirds and Oklahoma City held off the Cheetahs; both in five games. In the AACS, the Outlaws topped the Dragons in six, giving OKC its first-ever AA title. This leaves Oakland, Seattle, and San Antonio as the American Association teams without a World Series appearance. In the Fall Classic, Oklahoma City topped Kansas City 4-2, giving the AA ten straight titles over the NA. Other notes: Calgary’s Jon George had a 45-game hit streak in the spring. This is the second-longest streak in MLB history, behind only Jayden Gagnon’s 49 games for Jacksonville in 1930. 1961 didn’t have a single no-hitter, the first time since 1920 that there wasn’t at least one. Ottawa’s Chance Warren became the seventh MLB batter to 3500 career hits. He played one more season to finish at exactly 3600, retiring fourth all-time. Warren also crossed 1500 runs scored in 1961. Patrick White was the 31^st member of the 3000 hit club. Peter Robinson, Ayaz Shainidze, and Abraham Reimer each crossed 250 wins, putting 27 pitchers beyond that mark. In award notables, 1B Nathaniel Maxwell won his ninth Gold Glove. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)