[Rocketdawg2016]

I started this fictional league as something for fun to pass the time around four years ago, but it quickly has grown into a complete universe , full of minor leagues, independent leagues, multiple major leagues and much else. I've been off and on with growing the universe over the last couple of iterations of OOTP, but I felt a resurgence in my desire to play the game again as of late. This will be a complete restart of my original save game from OOTP20, which started in 1885 and I got all the way to 2090 before becoming bored with it. I have almost everything laid out how I want it to go, including expansion, league addition, and much else. The early years (pre-NBA baseball) from 1869-1900 won't be extensively covered, but I will provide recaps and such as a way to give the feel of "immersion."

NOTE: There are multiple uses of logos and team names in this save that I have gotten off of the forums over the years, I am in no way claiming them as mine and if you see something of yours I have used, thank you!

Hopefully everybody enjoys!

A Complete Universe: From Ashes to Organization, The National Baseball Association

“On the first day, God created baseball..”

November 26th, 1868 -

Three years and almost six months to the day since Simon B. Buckner signed the unconditional surrender of the Confederacy in the American Civil War, the United States had entered a period of reconstruction. Postwar America provided hopefulness and reform, while beginning to build towards a better future. Throughout the Civil War, while battered and bloody, Union soldiers passed their time by playing what was colloquially known as “baste ball,” or “bat-ball,” as some had named it. While the true origin of the game was unknown, it quickly picked up steam amongst the Union soldiers, likely adapted from an early form game played amongst universities within the Eastern and Northeastern region of the United States. Following the war's end, the game’s popularity had spread far and wide across the Eastern Seaboard, and many amateur “clubs,” the first such clubs for an organized sport, began popping up across much of the New York metropolitan area. These clubs have not been limited to just New York, though, as many other semi-professional clubs have begun to surface in states such as Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and more. With a quickly growing demand for the game, population centers increasing and America looking for its postwar pastime, the first organized leagues for a sport within the United States were formally announced at a public town hall meeting in Worcester, Massachusetts on November 25th, 1868. With many details still expected to be worked out, the announcement was only the first in a series of eye-catching news articles that rippled across the Eastern Seaboard. Reports of ink shortages within New York City and Boston fueled the excitement that many Americans felt when first hearing about “base ball,” as it was dubbed by one New York City stockbroker. The game was coming, the news was real, and the people were hungry.

February 15th, 1869 -

Following a litany of reports covering the hottest of topics such as league name, rules, players, and much else, it has been finalized. The National Organization of Base Ball will begin their inaugural season on April 3rd, a Thursday. It would be formulated as follows:

- Eight teams spread across six states: New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Maryland
- The league will be divided into two leagues of four teams each, the Colonial League, and the Atlantic League
- The two leagues would operate independent of one another, with their own governing bodies, but have oversight from the executive body of the National Organization of Base Ball
- Both leagues would play a 136-game season, starting on the first Thursday of April and ending in mid-August
- A postseason would be hosted between the two leagues, allowing the “winners” (the teams that finish with the most wins in each league) a chance to play one another in a best-of-five series to win the N.O.B.B. governed National Championship

Initial public outrage followed the league after the season length was announced, with many naysayers commenting how 136 games will be impossible to follow along with, while many others lauded the league officials for deciding on a sport that could play throughout the summertime when American citizens are more inclined to pay attention and attend the games. Despite both positive and negative press, the overwhelming opinion of people far and wide along the Eastern Seaboard was that this league would be the driving force for athletics in this country. Here’s a look at what the leagues looked like heading into the inaugural season.


Colonial League
Boston Rebels
Hartford Angels
Manchester Eagles
Providence Fighters

Atlantic League
Baltimore Red Wings
New York Battalion
Philadelphia Watchmen
Washington Senators

February 25th, 1869 -

Spring Training is finally upon us as teams begin their preseason matchups across the league. With fans already in the stands and the expectations at an all time high, nerves were running wild across the board. The first ever base ball season came with a lot of questions and unknowns, but let’s break down some of each team's star players.

Baltimore Red Wings
2B/3B John Bagley (24y/o, West Friendship, MD)
- 64/64 Contact, 51/51 Avoid K’s, 67/68 Power, 99/108 Eye
Bagley was the 1st overall pick of the inaugural draft, highlighted by his defensive prowess within the infield and a keen eye for delegating balls versus strikes. Bagley should be in the conversation for offensive awards by season's end, including a possible MVP title.

Boston Rebels
P Jarrod Barr (22y/o, Minneapolis, MN)
- 103/114 Stuff, 61/62 Movement, 55/62 Control, 100/102 Cutter, 92/94 Slider
Barr was the 10th overall pick of the second round to Boston, and while a curious pick as Boston’s rotation lacks a dominant #1, Barr can be a mid-game plug and play as a reliever, despite profiling more as a closer with his arsenal (curveball, changeup, cutter, slider). He should get a lot of good looks from both lefties and righties, but his command is going to be the biggest factor in his career.

Hartford Angels
LF/CF Mike Bonner (25y/o, Golden Valley, AZ)
- 68/68 Contact, 79/79 Gap Power, 72/76 Eye, 111 Stealing Ability
Trailing John Bagley by two picks, the 3rd overall choice of the inaugural draft’s main ability is going to be his on-base percentage, as he shows tremendous poise at the plate and the ability to crank balls into the gap at all times, while Bonner likely won;t be swinging for the fences, he gives Hartford a sure-fire on-base high percentage player with the ability to play multiple outfield positions. Versatile as they come.

Manchester Eagles
UTIL Isaac Jones (30y/o, Mesquite, TX)
- 70/70 Contact, 72/72 Avoid K’s, 89/89 Gap Power, 74/74 Eye
We have now profiled the top three picks in the inaugural draft, as Jones was the #2 pick to Manchester and will provide veteran experience at a slightly older age than most players in the league. Jones has great plate presence, slightly favored against LHP, but with the ability to mash right handers as well. With a tremendous eye and gap power rating, Jones should be able to hit regularly for the fences for the Eagles, who will likely build their team around the 30 year old.

New York Battalion
LF/RF David Ewing (27y/o, Excelsior Springs, MO)
- 75/75 Contact, 82/82 BABIP, 72/73 Power, 69/71 Eye
Ewing was the last pick of the first round to New York, and he immediately projects to be a force in the NOBB. Ewing’s contact/power combo will work well for a New York team that wants to get out of the gate fast. His plate prowess rivals only that of John Bagley, and the two should firmly be in the race for the MVP by season’s end.

Philadelphia Watchmen
3B Bill Phillips (26y/o, Whitestown, NY)
- 65/65 Contact, 56/56 Gap Power, 79/79 Power, 65/67 Eye
Phillips brings a lot to the table, but mostly that he is an everyday hitter that will contribute at the major league level. His eye popping power numbers should provide Philadelphia some decent offense, while also being sound on the defensive end of the ball. Phillip’s and the rest of the Watchmen infield rank in the top-3 of the league, so watch for a possible Philadelphia run at the pennant in August.

Providence Fighters
2B Josh Truskowski (28y/o, Bonita, LA)
- 77/77 Contact, 73/73 Avoid K’s, 93/93 Gap Power, 69/69 Eye
Truskowski profiles as an excellent hitter on paper, as his ratings in gap power and contact rank in the top-3 of the entire league. Where Josh may have trouble is defensively, so he will need to shore that up in order to become a franchise guy for the Fighters. Regardless, his sheer qualities on the offensive side of the ball make him a threat to opposing pitchers every single game.

Washington Senators
P Dusty Mote 30 (y/o, Oakland Park, FL)
- 71/71 Stuff, 75/75 Control, 80/80 Curveball, 75/75 Changeup
Another pitcher that builds his game on off-speed pitching, Dusty Mote should plug into a solid #2 role with the Senators. With great control and a dominant curveball, expect Mote to see a lot of mid-game work as a possible reliever/closer role, but don’t factor him out as possibly running a spot in the rotation.

April 4th, 1869 -

Opening Day has finally arrived! After all the talk the last two years building this league, we officially get to see it alive. Ballplayers and clubs are preparing for the day's events while hundreds of fans flock to the stands on this first Thursday of April. Let’s play ball!