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jasg224 · 05-07-2024, 11:58 PM

The 1888 Baseball League season came to an end in late June, with the Burnley Clarets being crowned the league's first champions!

The preseason predictions had Notts County as title favorites. They have several important players who you may recognize from their 1888 BHC mentions: Welsh 2B Shane Pollard, English SS Anthony Dean, as well as others such as RHP Darren Hutton, 1B Griff Blackburn and LF Alan White. All of them are considered top 3 players in their position. However, 10 tied games and 4 less wins than Burnley, see the Magpies finish in 2nd. Their head-to-head record against Burnley was 2-2-2, with a 12-11 run record.

Eventual champions Burnley were predicted to be the 3rd best team before the season. Overall, their squad is balanced but no player stands out, besides pitcher Everton Hanson (who was one of the best in the BHC). The lefty is considered to be the best pitcher in the league, and he proved why, finishing top 3 in ERA, WHIP and WAR. Another lefty in Keith Coleman also emerged as a star for Burnley, leading the league in ERA in spite of losing more games than he won, but I guess that also proves how mediocre Burnley's offense is. Key events for them were: a season sweep of Everton, two ties and a win against Notts County to end May, an 8 game unbeaten run to end April and start May. Thus, despite going 7-11 in June, the Clarets are crowned champions for the first time.

The real-life champions in Preston North End were predicted to be the worst team in the league, but ended up 8th. Catcher Sean Bernerd and third base James Harley are considered the best at their position. The team's offense was impressive, leading in several categories including: average, on-base percentage, slugging, hits and base on balls. Their pitching and defense on the other hand hovers around the 10th place overall. Preston were a long way off from the unbeaten footballing season they had 135 years ago.
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Award Winners
In real life, awards weren't given out to players until the Football Writers' Association gave Stanley Matthews the 1948 Footballer of the Year Award. In OOTP, I'll be handing out awards every single season. I'll also name players for the Ballon d'Or (Fun Fact: Stanley Matthews was also the first Ballon d'Or winner in 1956), Pitching Award and Best U21 Player award. These can't be put in the game of course, but it's still fun to add to the save's lore. In the beginning, they'll be a repeat of the league awards, but these awards will become more relevant as we add more leagues into the game. Without further ado, here are the 1888 Baseball League award winners:

Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Ballon d'Or and World Pitcher Award - LHP Everton Hanson, Burnley

The 34 year-old lefty was the main award winner this year, taking home a total of 4 trophies. The Londoner took his BHC domination into the Baseball League, pitching in 22 games this year. Hanson ended with a 15-4 record after 192.2 IP, a 1.87 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 11.2 K% and 5.0 WAR. Everton Hanson was the biggest contributor in Burnley's title winning season with the 5.0 WAR as well as 4.0 WPA.

Young Player of the Year - 3B Riley Creamer, Stoke

"Rolo" was the only player 21 years or younger who qualified for the award. Either way, his performance earned him the starting spot and the award, as he appeared in every game. Creamer hit .237/.267/.451, leading the league in triples (22) and RBI (40). Riley is fit and fast, but going forward, playing an easier position might benefit his poor ability with the glove.

Team of the Year
C Sean Bernerd, Preston - .234/.362/.323, 7 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 23 RBI
1B Noah Mathieson, Bolton - .337/.374/.511, 17 2B, 15 3B, 36 RBI
2B Neil Thomson, Accrington - .297/.338/.505, 8 2B, 13 3B, 2 HR, 21 RBI
3B James Harley, Preston - .295/.359/.428, 13 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, 33 RBI
SS Gary Smith, Wolves - .309/.332/.417, 13 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 24 RBI
LF Darren Hartshorn, Blackburn - .249/.303/.407, 15 2B, 8 3B, 3 HR, 29 RBI
CF Paul Brodie, West Brom - .256/.315/.378, 11 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, 35 RBI
RF Oliver Creamer, Derby - .298/.382/.397, 7 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 36 RBI
DH Marcus Warn, West Brom - .281/.339/.407, 15 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 31 RBI
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For the history books
- Burnley win their first Baseball League Championship!
- Top run producer: 3B Riley Creamer, Stoke; CF Farrell Kennedy, Bolton; 2B Clyde Martin, West Brom - 40 RBI each
- Biggest home win: Bolton 15-2 Preston, June 20th
- Biggest away win: Everton 12-2 Accrington, April 15th
- Highest scoring: Stoke 16-11 Burnley, June 10th
- Longest winning run: 7 matches, Burnley
- Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches, Burnley
- Longest losing run: 13 matches, Wolverhampton
- Longest winless run: 13 matches, Wolverhampton
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From the history books
- Preston North End win the first edition of the Football League after an unbeaten season, winning 18 and drawing 4 games
- Preston's John Goodall was the top goalscorer, with 21 in 21 appearances
- Welsh goalkeeper James Trainer conceded only 13 goals in 20 games
- Burnley, Derby, Notts County and Stoke were obliged to seek re-election at the end of the season and were al re-elected for the 89-90 season

05-07-2024, 11:58 PM	#4
jasg224 All Star Reserve Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Guadalajara, México Posts: 571	The 1888 Baseball League season came to an end in late June, with the Burnley Clarets being crowned the league's first champions! The preseason predictions had Notts County as title favorites. They have several important players who you may recognize from their 1888 BHC mentions: Welsh 2B Shane Pollard, English SS Anthony Dean, as well as others such as RHP Darren Hutton, 1B Griff Blackburn and LF Alan White. All of them are considered top 3 players in their position. However, 10 tied games and 4 less wins than Burnley, see the Magpies finish in 2nd. Their head-to-head record against Burnley was 2-2-2, with a 12-11 run record. Eventual champions Burnley were predicted to be the 3rd best team before the season. Overall, their squad is balanced but no player stands out, besides pitcher Everton Hanson (who was one of the best in the BHC). The lefty is considered to be the best pitcher in the league, and he proved why, finishing top 3 in ERA, WHIP and WAR. Another lefty in Keith Coleman also emerged as a star for Burnley, leading the league in ERA in spite of losing more games than he won, but I guess that also proves how mediocre Burnley's offense is. Key events for them were: a season sweep of Everton, two ties and a win against Notts County to end May, an 8 game unbeaten run to end April and start May. Thus, despite going 7-11 in June, the Clarets are crowned champions for the first time. The real-life champions in Preston North End were predicted to be the worst team in the league, but ended up 8th. Catcher Sean Bernerd and third base James Harley are considered the best at their position. The team's offense was impressive, leading in several categories including: average, on-base percentage, slugging, hits and base on balls. Their pitching and defense on the other hand hovers around the 10th place overall. Preston were a long way off from the unbeaten footballing season they had 135 years ago. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Award Winners In real life, awards weren't given out to players until the Football Writers' Association gave Stanley Matthews the 1948 Footballer of the Year Award. In OOTP, I'll be handing out awards every single season. I'll also name players for the Ballon d'Or (Fun Fact: Stanley Matthews was also the first Ballon d'Or winner in 1956), Pitching Award and Best U21 Player award. These can't be put in the game of course, but it's still fun to add to the save's lore. In the beginning, they'll be a repeat of the league awards, but these awards will become more relevant as we add more leagues into the game. Without further ado, here are the 1888 Baseball League award winners: Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Ballon d'Or and World Pitcher Award - LHP Everton Hanson, Burnley The 34 year-old lefty was the main award winner this year, taking home a total of 4 trophies. The Londoner took his BHC domination into the Baseball League, pitching in 22 games this year. Hanson ended with a 15-4 record after 192.2 IP, a 1.87 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 11.2 K% and 5.0 WAR. Everton Hanson was the biggest contributor in Burnley's title winning season with the 5.0 WAR as well as 4.0 WPA. Young Player of the Year - 3B Riley Creamer, Stoke "Rolo" was the only player 21 years or younger who qualified for the award. Either way, his performance earned him the starting spot and the award, as he appeared in every game. Creamer hit .237/.267/.451, leading the league in triples (22) and RBI (40). Riley is fit and fast, but going forward, playing an easier position might benefit his poor ability with the glove. Team of the Year C Sean Bernerd, Preston - .234/.362/.323, 7 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 23 RBI 1B Noah Mathieson, Bolton - .337/.374/.511, 17 2B, 15 3B, 36 RBI 2B Neil Thomson, Accrington - .297/.338/.505, 8 2B, 13 3B, 2 HR, 21 RBI 3B James Harley, Preston - .295/.359/.428, 13 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, 33 RBI SS Gary Smith, Wolves - .309/.332/.417, 13 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 24 RBI LF Darren Hartshorn, Blackburn - .249/.303/.407, 15 2B, 8 3B, 3 HR, 29 RBI CF Paul Brodie, West Brom - .256/.315/.378, 11 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, 35 RBI RF Oliver Creamer, Derby - .298/.382/.397, 7 2B, 1 3B, 5 HR, 36 RBI DH Marcus Warn, West Brom - .281/.339/.407, 15 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 31 RBI --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For the history books - Burnley win their first Baseball League Championship! - Top run producer: 3B Riley Creamer, Stoke; CF Farrell Kennedy, Bolton; 2B Clyde Martin, West Brom - 40 RBI each - Biggest home win: Bolton 15-2 Preston, June 20th - Biggest away win: Everton 12-2 Accrington, April 15th - Highest scoring: Stoke 16-11 Burnley, June 10th - Longest winning run: 7 matches, Burnley - Longest unbeaten run: 9 matches, Burnley - Longest losing run: 13 matches, Wolverhampton - Longest winless run: 13 matches, Wolverhampton --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From the history books - Preston North End win the first edition of the Football League after an unbeaten season, winning 18 and drawing 4 games - Preston's John Goodall was the top goalscorer, with 21 in 21 appearances - Welsh goalkeeper James Trainer conceded only 13 goals in 20 games - Burnley, Derby, Notts County and Stoke were obliged to seek re-election at the end of the season and were al re-elected for the 89-90 season __________________ ¡Todos Somos Charros! 100 Years of Pro Baseball in México What if the mesoamerican ballgame turned into baseball? What if baseball began in England in the 1880s and became popular instead of football?