[Nick Soulis]

**Introducing the Cooperstown League**



For years I’ve had an idea that I keep coming back to: a single baseball season where the greatest players from every franchise in history take the field together. This of course is a QuickStart game for most OOTP versions.

Not an all-time tournament.
Not a quick simulation.
One full season.

A 162-game grind where every franchise fields the greatest roster it can possibly assemble, and the best team in baseball history is crowned.

I’ve attempted projects like this before. Some of you on the forums may remember earlier versions. They were ambitious, but they never quite made it all the way to the finish line. This time is different. The structure is locked, the tools are ready, and I’m committed to seeing the entire season through.

Welcome to the **Cooperstown League**.

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**League Concept**

The Cooperstown League is a historical super-league played entirely within OOTP. Each franchise will build a roster composed of the greatest players who ever appeared for that team during their Major League careers. The result is a league where every roster represents the peak identity of that franchise’s history.

For one season, eras collide.

Deadball legends face modern power hitters.
Hall of Fame pitchers stare down lineups filled with MVPs.
Icons who never met on the field finally do.

And every game counts.

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**League Structure**

The league will mirror the modern MLB structure as closely as possible.

* **30 teams**
* **162-game regular season**
* **Universal Designated Hitter**
* **Interleague play**
* **Modern playoff format with Wild Cards**

At the end of the season, one team will be crowned the **Cooperstown League Champion**.

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**Franchise Structure**

The league includes the current MLB franchises with three adjustments.

Removed teams:

* Arizona Diamondbacks
* Tampa Bay Rays
* Colorado Rockies

Added teams:

* **Negro League Legends** – a roster composed of the greatest Negro League stars available in the OOTP database
* **Montreal Expos** – representing the full history of the Expos franchise
* **Asian MLB All-Stars** – composed of Asian players who appeared in Major League Baseball

This keeps the league at **30 teams** while expanding the historical scope of the project.

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**Roster Rules**

Roster construction is where the project becomes most interesting.

1. **Players cannot be duplicated.**
Once a player is assigned to a franchise, he cannot appear on any other roster.

2. **A player must have appeared for the franchise at some point in his MLB career** to be eligible for that team.

3. **Competitive allocation rule.**
If a player appeared for multiple teams, he may be assigned where he best helps maintain competitive balance across the league.

For example, if a player like Pedro Martínez appeared for both Montreal and Boston, he may be placed with the Expos if that improves league balance rather than simply stacking an already strong Red Sox rotation.

The goal is not to create a few unbeatable superteams. The goal is to build **30 competitive historical rosters**.

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**Season Coverage**

This will not be a background simulation.

Every day of the season will be covered.

Each game will receive a summary, and every day will feature a recap show modeled after **MLB Tonight**, breaking down the biggest performances, pitching duels, standings changes, and emerging award races.

Stats, standings, and leaders will be tracked throughout the season as the league unfolds.

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**Where Things Begin**

Roster construction will begin one franchise at a time, with each team getting its own thread as the roster is built step-by-step. Once the league is assembled, Opening Day will begin the long road through a full 162-game season.

This project is about the joy of baseball history — seeing legends share the field, debating roster decisions, and watching a season unfold where every team represents the best version of itself.

The Cooperstown League is finally ready to begin.

Let’s build the teams.