OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The National Pastime: The United States Baseball Federation rises

KCRoyals15 · 12-06-2024, 11:32 AM

1943

World War II is raging across the globe (though far away from the continental United States). The U.S. is in a full sprint in an effort to vanquish the world from the evils of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan.

At home, the U.S. Government has elected to exempt the players of the United States Baseball Federation from the military draft as a means of providing entertainment to those working on the home front. However, rations on needed materials have effected the composition of baseballs, as the use of rubber has been severely restricted. Consequently, the balls are more dead and scoring has dried up to a level (4.0 runs per game) not seen since the end of the Dead Ball Era nearly a quarter-century earlier.

In the Southern Conference, the Baltimore Terrapins are in the postseason for the second year in a row, but win their first Eastern League pennant in 20 years. The other three NC playoff teams come from the Western League, where Kansas City comes out in front for a third year in a row, but Louisville and Minneapolis each finish tied for second with 90 wins.

The North sees the Philadelphia A's and Manhattan win over 100 games to easily claim two playoff spots in the NEL. In the Midwest Association, Indianapolis and Detroit tied, with Indy winning a one-game playoff for the league title.

There was no drama (nor surprises) in the North as Philadelphia and Manhattan won their first-round series in five and four games, respectively. Louisville, though, vanquished Baltimore in six games, and Minneapolis—in just their second playoff field ever—upset Kansas City in seven.

In a clash of the titans, Philadelphia defeated Manhattan in five games, while the South saw Louisville also win a five-game set over Minneapolis. The Colonels, though, sprung a huge upset, KO'ing Philly in five games to win the Eastern Baseball Federation.

In the PCL, Seattle dominated the regular season, with Los Angeles, Mission, and Oakland considerably further down. In the semis, the Rainiers dispatch the sub-.500 Oaks in six games, while Mission deals a mild upset to Los Angeles in seven games. The Reds then pulled another seven-game upset over Seattle, winning their first PCL title since 1922.

That set up a showdown of two unexpected champions. However, the Colonels were firing on all cylinders and the series was not a close one, as the Louisville Colonels defeat the Mission Reds, 4-0 for the National Championship, the first for the Colonels.

In the North, the story awards-wise was Philadelphia's 27-year-old rookie Brandon Carter, who swept Rookie of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, and MVP, going 22-8 with an EBF-best 1.57 ERA, also striking out 171 batters in 303.2 innings while spinning a Federation-best seven shutouts.

In the South, Louisville's 23-year-old James Najera also claimed ROTY and MVP in his debut season, slashing .315/.446/.467 with 112 runs, 15 doubles, 15 triples, 13 homers, and 77 RBI, while leading the South in walks (128), OBP (.446), and stolen bases (44).

On the pitching side, one of the most unlikely major award winners emerged. Kansas City's Matt Hanas washed out of the EBF in 1931 after two years in relief with Detroit. After nine years in the minors, he made it back with KC at 35 years old in 1941. Two years later, in his first season with more than nine wins, Hanas goes 20-8 with a 2.47 ERA over 251.1 innings, collecting nearly a third of his 73 career big-league wins in an improbable Pitcher of the Year award-winning season.

Two major milestones were hit in the EBF, with Indianapolis' perpetually-underrated Sam Melendez reaching 3,000 hits on August 27, becoming the fourth EBF player to do so. Three weeks later on September 16, New York's Jim Alvarez became just the fifth pitcher to reach 350 wins.

In the PCL, first baseman Gary Steinmetz had been overshadowed on the Los Angeles Angels for several years, but found the spotlight this season. Slashing .305/.393/.453, Steinmetz led the PCL with 235 hits, 145 runs, and 35 steals, while slashing 38 doubles, 20 triples, 12 homers, and driving in 99 runs. Steinmetz was one who randomly fell off early, with the following season being his last as a full-time starter at 29 years old.

For a fourth year in a row, it was LA's Jimmy Gourley winning Pitcher of the Year and for the second time in that stretch, he claimed a Triple Crown, leading the PCL in wins (27), ERA (2.25), and strikeouts (158) over 343.2 innings. It was the end of a stunning six-year run for the 35-year-old, who would be out of baseball just two years later.

In the EBF, two former Boston Beaneaters were inducted into the Hall of Fame, each of whom expressed regret for the demise of their former franchise two years prior in their speeches:

OF Trevor Collins (1923-33), 79.0%
1B Eduardo Saucedo (1921-34), 78.7%

The PCL also inducted one new Hall of Famer:

RHP Tommy Kingery (1926-39), 75.2%

Minor League Champions
Southeastern League: Jackson Junebugs, 109-45, defeats Charlotte
Colonial League: Binghamton Smokers, 94-46, defeats Worcester
Texas League: San Antonio Missions, 84-57, defeats El Paso (2nd straight)
River Valley League: Evansville Bees, 89-51, defeats Peoria
Rocky Mountain League: Great Falls Explorers, 68-58, defeats Ft. Collins
Coastal League: Savannah Cardinals, 96-60, defeats Knoxville
Northern League: Lincoln Lions, 70-56, defeats Sioux City
Great Lakes League: Youngstown Steelers, 93-47, defeats Grand Rapids
Southwest League: San Jose Gulls, 85-69, defeats Long Beach
Southern Association: Joplin Jaspers, 86-54, defeats Beaumont
Northwest League: Vancouver Mounties, 86-55, defeats Spokane

12-06-2024, 11:32 AM	#53
KCRoyals15 Minors (Double A) Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: A lot of them Posts: 123	Offense Atrophies and Colonels Cruise 1943 World War II is raging across the globe (though far away from the continental United States). The U.S. is in a full sprint in an effort to vanquish the world from the evils of Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. At home, the U.S. Government has elected to exempt the players of the United States Baseball Federation from the military draft as a means of providing entertainment to those working on the home front. However, rations on needed materials have effected the composition of baseballs, as the use of rubber has been severely restricted. Consequently, the balls are more dead and scoring has dried up to a level (4.0 runs per game) not seen since the end of the Dead Ball Era nearly a quarter-century earlier. In the Southern Conference, the Baltimore Terrapins are in the postseason for the second year in a row, but win their first Eastern League pennant in 20 years. The other three NC playoff teams come from the Western League, where Kansas City comes out in front for a third year in a row, but Louisville and Minneapolis each finish tied for second with 90 wins. The North sees the Philadelphia A's and Manhattan win over 100 games to easily claim two playoff spots in the NEL. In the Midwest Association, Indianapolis and Detroit tied, with Indy winning a one-game playoff for the league title. There was no drama (nor surprises) in the North as Philadelphia and Manhattan won their first-round series in five and four games, respectively. Louisville, though, vanquished Baltimore in six games, and Minneapolis—in just their second playoff field ever—upset Kansas City in seven. In a clash of the titans, Philadelphia defeated Manhattan in five games, while the South saw Louisville also win a five-game set over Minneapolis. The Colonels, though, sprung a huge upset, KO'ing Philly in five games to win the Eastern Baseball Federation. In the PCL, Seattle dominated the regular season, with Los Angeles, Mission, and Oakland considerably further down. In the semis, the Rainiers dispatch the sub-.500 Oaks in six games, while Mission deals a mild upset to Los Angeles in seven games. The Reds then pulled another seven-game upset over Seattle, winning their first PCL title since 1922. That set up a showdown of two unexpected champions. However, the Colonels were firing on all cylinders and the series was not a close one, as the *Louisville Colonels defeat the Mission Reds, 4-0* for the National Championship, the first for the Colonels. In the North, the story awards-wise was Philadelphia's 27-year-old rookie Brandon Carter, who swept Rookie of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, and MVP, going 22-8 with an EBF-best 1.57 ERA, also striking out 171 batters in 303.2 innings while spinning a Federation-best seven shutouts. In the South, Louisville's 23-year-old James Najera also claimed ROTY and MVP in his debut season, slashing .315/.446/.467 with 112 runs, 15 doubles, 15 triples, 13 homers, and 77 RBI, while leading the South in walks (128), OBP (.446), and stolen bases (44). On the pitching side, one of the most unlikely major award winners emerged. Kansas City's Matt Hanas washed out of the EBF in 1931 after two years in relief with Detroit. After nine years in the minors, he made it back with KC at 35 years old in 1941. Two years later, in his first season with more than nine wins, Hanas goes 20-8 with a 2.47 ERA over 251.1 innings, collecting nearly a third of his 73 career big-league wins in an improbable Pitcher of the Year award-winning season. Two major milestones were hit in the EBF, with Indianapolis' perpetually-underrated Sam Melendez reaching 3,000 hits on August 27, becoming the fourth EBF player to do so. Three weeks later on September 16, New York's Jim Alvarez became just the fifth pitcher to reach 350 wins. In the PCL, first baseman Gary Steinmetz had been overshadowed on the Los Angeles Angels for several years, but found the spotlight this season. Slashing .305/.393/.453, Steinmetz led the PCL with 235 hits, 145 runs, and 35 steals, while slashing 38 doubles, 20 triples, 12 homers, and driving in 99 runs. Steinmetz was one who randomly fell off early, with the following season being his last as a full-time starter at 29 years old. For a fourth year in a row, it was LA's Jimmy Gourley winning Pitcher of the Year and for the second time in that stretch, he claimed a Triple Crown, leading the PCL in wins (27), ERA (2.25), and strikeouts (158) over 343.2 innings. It was the end of a stunning six-year run for the 35-year-old, who would be out of baseball just two years later. In the EBF, two former Boston Beaneaters were inducted into the Hall of Fame, each of whom expressed regret for the demise of their former franchise two years prior in their speeches: OF Trevor Collins (1923-33), 79.0% 1B Eduardo Saucedo (1921-34), 78.7% The PCL also inducted one new Hall of Famer: RHP Tommy Kingery (1926-39), 75.2% Minor League Champions Southeastern League: Jackson Junebugs, 109-45, defeats Charlotte Colonial League: Binghamton Smokers, 94-46, defeats Worcester Texas League: San Antonio Missions, 84-57, defeats El Paso (2nd straight) River Valley League: Evansville Bees, 89-51, defeats Peoria Rocky Mountain League: Great Falls Explorers, 68-58, defeats Ft. Collins Coastal League: Savannah Cardinals, 96-60, defeats Knoxville Northern League: Lincoln Lions, 70-56, defeats Sioux City Great Lakes League: Youngstown Steelers, 93-47, defeats Grand Rapids Southwest League: San Jose Gulls, 85-69, defeats Long Beach Southern Association: Joplin Jaspers, 86-54, defeats Beaumont Northwest League: Vancouver Mounties, 86-55, defeats Spokane Last edited by KCRoyals15; 12-11-2024 at 01:54 AM.