OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - The Level Playing Field: Alternate MLB History From 1884-Onward

FuzzyRussianHat · 01-23-2026, 08:48 PM

The 1885 National League Championship Series was the first for both Brooklyn and Indianapolis. The Clowns had home field advantage, although the Dodgers narrowly claimed the season series 8-7. Brooklyn rolled to a 6-0 road win to open the series. SP Mickey Welch tossed a gem in a three-hit shutout with only one walk and six strikeouts.

Brooklyn again got the better of Indianapolis on the road in a 3-1 win for game two. All three Dodger runs came in the second inning.

The trend of road winners continued in game three in Brooklyn, as Indianapolis got on the board on a 2-0 victory. George Knight had a two-hit shutout for the Clowns with two walks and two strikeouts over 100 pitches.

After multiple pitcher’s duels, game four was a shootout with 29 hits between the two teams. Indianapolis got the better of Brooklyn 11-10 on the road to even the series at 2-2. 1B Dick Higham’s solo homer in the top of the ninth was the decisive run.

The bats exploded again in game five with 34 hits over a 12 inning affair. Brooklyn was up 5-1 after the third inning, but Indianapolis had evened the game at 6-6 by the sixth inning. Both scored twice in the eighth inning, sending the game to extras tied at 8 apiece. In the top of the 11th, a Steve Matthias triple knocked in two to give the Clowns the 10-8 lead. But the Dodgers got two doubles and a sacrifice fly in the bottom half to tie it back up at 10-10.

In the 12th, Ed Crane led off with a single for Indianapolis and stole second. An intentional walk set up a double play and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third. A fielder’s choice got the first out at home, but the next batter Perry Werden had an RBI single to score Jack Rowe. Brooklyn got a two out hit in the bottom half, but nothing more. The 11-10 win in 12 innings gave Indianapolis the 3-2 lead heading back home, with only road winners in the NLCS thus far.

Game six finally had a home winner, as Indianapolis prevailed 10-4 over Brooklyn to claim the National League pennant in six games. Tied 4-4 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Clowns scored thrice in the bottom half and thrice more in the eighth. Ed Crane was 3-5 with two doubles, four RBI, and two runs. SS Frank Fennelly had a two run homer in the seventh. Crane was series MVP going 9-27 with two homers, eight RBI, and six runs.

01-23-2026, 08:48 PM	#26
FuzzyRussianHat Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 3,338	1885 nlcs The 1885 National League Championship Series was the first for both Brooklyn and Indianapolis. The Clowns had home field advantage, although the Dodgers narrowly claimed the season series 8-7. Brooklyn rolled to a 6-0 road win to open the series. SP Mickey Welch tossed a gem in a three-hit shutout with only one walk and six strikeouts. Brooklyn again got the better of Indianapolis on the road in a 3-1 win for game two. All three Dodger runs came in the second inning. The trend of road winners continued in game three in Brooklyn, as Indianapolis got on the board on a 2-0 victory. George Knight had a two-hit shutout for the Clowns with two walks and two strikeouts over 100 pitches. After multiple pitcher’s duels, game four was a shootout with 29 hits between the two teams. Indianapolis got the better of Brooklyn 11-10 on the road to even the series at 2-2. 1B Dick Higham’s solo homer in the top of the ninth was the decisive run. The bats exploded again in game five with 34 hits over a 12 inning affair. Brooklyn was up 5-1 after the third inning, but Indianapolis had evened the game at 6-6 by the sixth inning. Both scored twice in the eighth inning, sending the game to extras tied at 8 apiece. In the top of the 11th, a Steve Matthias triple knocked in two to give the Clowns the 10-8 lead. But the Dodgers got two doubles and a sacrifice fly in the bottom half to tie it back up at 10-10. In the 12th, Ed Crane led off with a single for Indianapolis and stole second. An intentional walk set up a double play and a sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third. A fielder’s choice got the first out at home, but the next batter Perry Werden had an RBI single to score Jack Rowe. Brooklyn got a two out hit in the bottom half, but nothing more. The 11-10 win in 12 innings gave Indianapolis the 3-2 lead heading back home, with only road winners in the NLCS thus far. Game six finally had a home winner, as Indianapolis prevailed 10-4 over Brooklyn to claim the National League pennant in six games. Tied 4-4 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Clowns scored thrice in the bottom half and thrice more in the eighth. Ed Crane was 3-5 with two doubles, four RBI, and two runs. SS Frank Fennelly had a two run homer in the seventh. Crane was series MVP going 9-27 with two homers, eight RBI, and six runs. __________________ Baseball: The World's Game fictional world reports The Level Playing Field: Alternate MLB History From 1884-Onward Continental Baseball Federation world reports (8-tier promotion/relegation sim and college feeder)