[Haystacks]

Eastern League

Brooklyn Atlantic Club

Also known as the Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn, the Atlantics were the first champions and dynasty in baseball. The culmination of their success was an invitation to the White House in 1865 from President Andrew Johnson.

The club’s fortunes on the field declined whilst members of the NAPBBP; however, they remain a stable club off the field, making them a natural choice as one of the Eastern League’s charter teams.

Ballpark: Washington Park

Star player: George Zettlein, pitcher — at 31, George is a well-established and respected hurler in baseball circles, although he is prone to complain of aches and pains. If the Brooklyn club are to be successful, they will no doubt rely on Zettlein’s ability to deny hitters solid contact.
(In reality, George Zettlein left the Atlantics in 1870.)

New York Mutuals

Formed by firefighters of New YorkÂ’s Mutual Hook and Ladder Company Number One, the Mutuals have been credited with creating the concept of spring training, sending the team to New Orleans in 1869 to prepare for the season, adopting professionalism shortly after by 1870.

The Mutuals have finally moved to the Polo Grounds, having until now only played games in Hoboken — at this point not considered part of New York City.

Ballpark: Polo Grounds

Star players: Catcher James Taylor, 30 — excellent contact with the bat and a dependable backstop. First baseman Thomas Jackson, 31 — known to hit the ball farther than any other man on the team; Jackson’s ability to hit long will be vital to the Mutuals’ run scoring.

Hartford Dark Blues

Baseball fever has recently gripped Hartford. Upon hearing of talk regarding the formation of a national professional league, a group of local businessmen led by Morgan Bulkeley leased land to build a baseball field and covered grandstands. Bulkeley’s business acumen appeared invaluable to Chicago’s William Hulbert as he set about establishing a new league; this secured Hartford’s place as a charter club.

Ballpark: Hartford Ball Club Grounds

Star player: Lemuel Thompson, RF, 24 — Thompson was considered a top outfielder in amateur circles; solid defensively with an excellent ability to hit the ball in the gap, he looks sure to have a fruitful professional career ahead of him.

Boston Red Stockings

The Boston club owes itself to the Cincinnati Red Stockings, established in 1869 as the first openly all-professional baseball team. After dissolving in 1870, player-manager Harry Wright went to Boston, Massachusetts with his brother George Wright and two other Cincinnati players, forming the Boston Red Stockings — a charter member of the now-defunct NAPBBP and now of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Clubs.

Harry Wright now manages the club, whilst his younger brother is considered a solid shortstop and above-average hitter.

Ballpark: South End Grounds

Star player: Wyatt Green, LF, 25 — although considered sloppy defensively, Green's ability with the bat will surely make him a contender for the batting title.

Providence Grays

Rhode Island has been a hotbed for baseball, especially within the collegiate scene. The Grays have been considered a top semi-professional team and have been keen to make the move to full professionalism.

Ballpark: Messer Street Grounds

Star player: Moses Fleetwood, C, 19 — considered one of the best catchers in the game despite his young age, with great patience at the plate and the strength to hit long balls.

I renamed the player that was generated to Moses Fleetwood as a nod to Moses Fleetwood Walker, who I believe was the last African-American to play in the major leagues until Jackie Robinson. I have no desire to include the brutal injustice of segregation in my fictional/alt-history league.

Philadelphia Quakers

The Quakers owe themselves to former Philadelphia Athletic Base Ball Club player and manager Al Reach. As the NAPBBP faced collapse, so did the Athletics; mounting financial concerns ultimately saw the club fall apart. With the prospect of a new and more stable league, Reach secured funding to found the new club, the Philadelphia Quakers.

Ballpark: Eastern League Park

Star player: William Hall, SS, 26 — Hall is the one source of optimism in a team that looks short on talent. A top defender and excellent contact hitter, any Quakers win will likely depend on Hall.

Western League

St. Louis Brown Stockings

The St. Louis club was a latecomer to the NAPBBP, arriving just in time to see it collapse. On the edge of baseball and the nation's frontier, the Brown Stockings proved to have a solid foundation in a rapidly expanding market. They were a certainty to be chosen as a charter club for the Western League.

Ballpark: Sportsman’s Park

Star player: David O’Brien, 1B, 26 — St. Louis-born O’Brien is considered one of the best all-round hitters in the game. What he lacks defensively, he more than makes up for with the bat.

Cincinnati Originals

The Cincinnati club considers itself the successor to the Cincinnati Red Stockings, although those who moved to Boston may dispute that. They have been given the nickname Originals by rooters and writers alike, acknowledging their club's link to the original professional team.

Ballpark: League Park

Star player: George Nelson, OF, 27 — has a good claim to being the best contact hitter in the league and a sure hand defensively. Young hurler John Hill is also another name to watch.

Detroit Wolverines

Local industrialists caught wind of the ongoing discussions around a new professional league and, similar to the Hartford club, acted quickly to secure investment and submit themselves as a charter club for the Western League.

Ballpark: Bennett Park

Star player: Vincent O’Toole, SS, 21 — although inexperienced defensively, O’Toole has shown himself to be an incredible batter at amateur level. Competing at the professional level will be a natural progression for him, and the expectation is to see him near the top of the batting charts.

Milwaukee Cream City

Originally formed as the Cream City Base Ball Club in 1865, ownership have adopted the city’s name in anticipation of competing at the national and professional level. Although side-lined from the NAPBBP, Cream City continued to dominate in semi-professional circles, earning their spot as a Western League charter club.

Ballpark: Cream City Grounds

Star player: William Wright, OF, 35 — in a team short on talent compared with the rest of the league, it will be veteran Wright who shoulders the burden of carrying this club.

Chicago White Stockings

The White Stockings organization began play in 1870. Under the stewardship of William Hulbert, they have become a stable and respected club. A well-respected businessman and baseball enthusiast, Hulbert has an eye for talent and will be looking to build a quality team to compete in his newly founded league.

Ballpark: West Side Grounds

Star player: James Varney, IF, 17 — although not the outright most talented player on the team, Varney will be the star. At only 17 he is more than capable of competing at the same level as men much older and more experienced than he. If the infielder keeps his dedication to the game, this could be the dawn of a very long and successful career.

Cleveland Lakeshore

The Cleveland club owe their roots to the now-defunct Forest City club. After they folded in 1872, Lakeshore Base Ball Club was born from the ashes. Professional baseball in the area dates back to 1869, following the lead of fellow Ohioans in Cincinnati.

Ballpark: Lakeshore Grounds

Star player: Frank Klein, IF, 18 — this young ballplayer could be the future of the Cleveland club, similar to Varney in Chicago. Although inexperienced, he shows flashes of having a great bat and versatility in defence.