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David Watts · 07-22-2025, 09:18 AM

About to wrap up 1957. Really having a lot of fun. The Birmingham Barons have emerged a real force in this league. Led by two Negro League pitchers, Dave Brown and Webster McDonald, the Barons are a tough team to beat. Mel Ott and Bobby Doerr lead the Barons on offense. Late in the 57 season, Ott became the second Independent League batter to reach 300 home runs. Dave Brown is roughly 10 wins shy of 200 wins.

Juan Gonzalez is the leagues top home run hitter with 352 bombs.

Tom Seaver seemed like a sure bet to be first pitcher to 200 victories, but he's kind of hit the wall late in his career. He's become more of an inning eater the last few seasons than the dominant force he was earlier.

Jose Munoz has burst on the scene for the Peoria Chiefs. The Cuban born pitcher won the Cy Young award in 1956 and will surely be in the hunt for the award again in 1957. Munoz is a strikeout machine running away with the strikeout crown by 70+ the past two seasons. He's actually challenged the 300 mark both of the last 2 seasons, just falling short both times. Pretty amazing during this period in baseball. Looking forward to seeing Munoz move into the 1960's when strikeouts increase as a whole.

Oscar Charleston is also a member of this Birmingham Barons this season. He's playing out the string as they say, nearing the end of the line, but he still found moments to shine for the Barons. Charleston ranks near the top of the leagues best in WAR. Will be interesting to see if Oscar gets enough votes for the Hall of Fame when he does call it quits. If not, I may be inclined to induct him with my commissioner vote.

Tony Gwynn retired less than a hundred hits shy of 2000 hits. Would have to double check, but I don't think Mr. Gwynn reached the century mark in career strikeouts.

Al Oliver reached the 2000 hit mark during the 1957 season.

Kind of stunned by the performance of one pitcher in this league. Josh Beckett. Josh has always been someone that's dominated over the years in my random debut leagues. Not so much in this one. Becketts around 30 games under .500 with an era in the 4's, He's been healthy and eats a ton of innings, but has never really been dominant. Just another reason why I love this game.

Hank Aaron retired just shy of 300 home runs. Thinking Aaron has the chance to be the first player elected to the Hall of Fame. His 58 home runs still stands as the most in a single Independent League season.

Trying to decide when I should expand again and where too. Should I expand to 16 teams in 61? Thinking 69 would be better. I already expanded once in I want to say 1952, so maybe it's better to let things settle a little longer. I think 18 teams is as large as I can go, as that's the last setup that OOTP has a schedule for. So, maybe expansion in 61 or 69 and then again in 1977. Maybe expansion in 1968 would be better. Might alleviate the massive pitching year some.

My league is made up of a northern and a southern division.
The North
Toledo Mud Hens
Dayton Dragons
Lansing Lugnuts
Ft Wayne TinCaps
Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
St. Paul Saints
Peoria Chiefs

The South
Arkansas Travelers
Birmingham Barons
Corpus Christi Hooks
San Antonio Missions
Biloxi Shuckers
Louisville Bats
Memphis Redbirds

Possible locations/teams for North expansion
Buffalo Bisons
Omaho Storm Chasers
Cedar Rapids Kernals
Quad Cities River Bandits
Norfolk Tides
Erie SeaWolves. The SeaWolves were an original member of the league, before becoming the Harrisburg Senators. The Senators eventually moved to Wisconsin.
West Michigan Whitecaps

Possible teams for South expansion
Tulsa Drillers
Oklahoma City Comets
Frisco Roughriders
El Paso Chihuahuas
New Orleans Baby Cakes
Chattanooga Lookouts
Nashville Sounds
Pensacola Blue Wahoos
Round Rock Express

Leaning towards one of the two Iowa teams and Omaha in the North. In the South I'm thinking Tulsa, Pensacola or Chattanooga. New Orleans may get the nod if the game still features the Baby Cakes uniforms. Would have to check. Wish the game had the Traverse City Pit Spitters uniforms, as that might be a really cool place to expand to.

07-22-2025, 09:18 AM	#19
David Watts Hall Of Famer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Looking for a place called Leehofooks Posts: 9,625 Infractions: 0/1 (1)	About to wrap up 1957. Really having a lot of fun. The Birmingham Barons have emerged a real force in this league. Led by two Negro League pitchers, Dave Brown and Webster McDonald, the Barons are a tough team to beat. Mel Ott and Bobby Doerr lead the Barons on offense. Late in the 57 season, Ott became the second Independent League batter to reach 300 home runs. Dave Brown is roughly 10 wins shy of 200 wins. Juan Gonzalez is the leagues top home run hitter with 352 bombs. Tom Seaver seemed like a sure bet to be first pitcher to 200 victories, but he's kind of hit the wall late in his career. He's become more of an inning eater the last few seasons than the dominant force he was earlier. Jose Munoz has burst on the scene for the Peoria Chiefs. The Cuban born pitcher won the Cy Young award in 1956 and will surely be in the hunt for the award again in 1957. Munoz is a strikeout machine running away with the strikeout crown by 70+ the past two seasons. He's actually challenged the 300 mark both of the last 2 seasons, just falling short both times. Pretty amazing during this period in baseball. Looking forward to seeing Munoz move into the 1960's when strikeouts increase as a whole. Oscar Charleston is also a member of this Birmingham Barons this season. He's playing out the string as they say, nearing the end of the line, but he still found moments to shine for the Barons. Charleston ranks near the top of the leagues best in WAR. Will be interesting to see if Oscar gets enough votes for the Hall of Fame when he does call it quits. If not, I may be inclined to induct him with my commissioner vote. Tony Gwynn retired less than a hundred hits shy of 2000 hits. Would have to double check, but I don't think Mr. Gwynn reached the century mark in career strikeouts. Al Oliver reached the 2000 hit mark during the 1957 season. Kind of stunned by the performance of one pitcher in this league. Josh Beckett. Josh has always been someone that's dominated over the years in my random debut leagues. Not so much in this one. Becketts around 30 games under .500 with an era in the 4's, He's been healthy and eats a ton of innings, but has never really been dominant. Just another reason why I love this game. Hank Aaron retired just shy of 300 home runs. Thinking Aaron has the chance to be the first player elected to the Hall of Fame. His 58 home runs still stands as the most in a single Independent League season. Trying to decide when I should expand again and where too. Should I expand to 16 teams in 61? Thinking 69 would be better. I already expanded once in I want to say 1952, so maybe it's better to let things settle a little longer. I think 18 teams is as large as I can go, as that's the last setup that OOTP has a schedule for. So, maybe expansion in 61 or 69 and then again in 1977. Maybe expansion in 1968 would be better. Might alleviate the massive pitching year some. My league is made up of a northern and a southern division. The North Toledo Mud Hens Dayton Dragons Lansing Lugnuts Ft Wayne TinCaps Wisconsin Timber Rattlers St. Paul Saints Peoria Chiefs The South Arkansas Travelers Birmingham Barons Corpus Christi Hooks San Antonio Missions Biloxi Shuckers Louisville Bats Memphis Redbirds Possible locations/teams for North expansion Buffalo Bisons Omaho Storm Chasers Cedar Rapids Kernals Quad Cities River Bandits Norfolk Tides Erie SeaWolves. The SeaWolves were an original member of the league, before becoming the Harrisburg Senators. The Senators eventually moved to Wisconsin. West Michigan Whitecaps Possible teams for South expansion Tulsa Drillers Oklahoma City Comets Frisco Roughriders El Paso Chihuahuas New Orleans Baby Cakes Chattanooga Lookouts Nashville Sounds Pensacola Blue Wahoos Round Rock Express Leaning towards one of the two Iowa teams and Omaha in the North. In the South I'm thinking Tulsa, Pensacola or Chattanooga. New Orleans may get the nod if the game still features the Baby Cakes uniforms. Would have to check. Wish the game had the Traverse City Pit Spitters uniforms, as that might be a really cool place to expand to. Last edited by David Watts; 07-22-2025 at 09:31 AM.