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Darknight Smith · 03-08-2004, 07:50 PM

The initial setup

All eras will play under the same conditions (a moderate lively-ball environment). Schedules will always be kept between 154 and 162 games. I’ll start with four teams in a single league playing a 156-game schedule. Sounds monotonous—each team plays every other team 52 times—but there were Pacific Coast League schedules in the early 1900s that were even worse. No DH ever. Injuries and computer trades enabled. All teams will be run by computer—it’s a hands off, god’s eye, J. Henry Waugh kind of league. Full minors, with a 7-round amateur draft.

The major league will be called, to start with, the Gentlemen’s League, to reflect the social standing (or aspirations) of the kind of men who played baseball in its infancy.

Teams will have nicknames partly drawn from history and partly made up (though with an eye to historical accuracy).

The Original Four are:

--Philadelphia Quakers
In real life: the Philadelphia Olympics townball team was founded in 1832.
--Brooklyn Bachelors
IRL: the “Jolly Young Bachelors” was an early baseball club that later became the Brooklyn Excelsiors.
--New York Knickerbockers
IRL: the first “real” baseball club, founded around 1842.
--New York Mutuals
IRL: New York’s most important team in the 1860s and 70s.

Young men were playing something like baseball in New York City as early as the 1820s, so it seemed fair to give New York two teams to start with.

Expansion will be scheduled to coincide with the historical spread of baseball:

1860: Washington Patriots, Baltimore Atlantics
IRL: the first tour by a team outside the New York City area, by the Brooklyn Excelsiors.

Also in 1860, the single major league’s name will be changed to the National Association, to reflect the game’s wider geographical reach.

1866: Chicago Excelsiors, Cincinnati Outlaws
IRL: baseball comes to the west; Harry Wright comes to Cincinnati.

1871: Boston Clippers, Philadelphia Keystones
IRL: the NA founded, baseball’s first major league.

In 1876, the league will split in two (tricky but doable), the National League and the American Association. The first World’s Series will be played between the pennant winners. The League will take the N.Y. Knicks, the Philly Quakers, Washington, Chicago, Boston, and an expansion team in Cleveland (the Spiders), while the Association will take the N.Y. Mutuals, Brooklyn, Baltimore, Cincinnati, the Philly Keystones, and an expansion team in St. Louis (the Saints).
IRL: National League founded in 1876; first minor leagues founded in 1877; Cuban League founded in 1878

1882: Buffalo Blue Stockings, Detroit Continentals (NL), Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh/Homestead Grays (AA).
IRL: American Association founded.

1901: San Francisco Gold Sox, Toronto Maple Leafs (AA), Kansas City Pioneers, Havana Lions (NL).
IRL: American League founded in 1901; Cuban League integrated in 1900; minor American Association, PCL founded around this time.

There will be an expansion in 1914 (cities t.b.d., but candidates include Milwaukee, New Orleans, Montreal, Newark, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Indianapolis), and the leagues will be broken into two divisions apiece. Further expansions will take place in 1920 and 1937, bringing the total to 32 teams. After that (if I get that far), I’m not sure.
IRL: 1914, Federal League; 1920, Negro National League; 1936, Japanese league; 1937 Mexican League and Dominican League; 1938 Puerto Rican Winter League.

Teams will also move (one of the Philly teams will probably move at some point, for example).

03-08-2004, 07:50 PM	#2
Darknight Smith Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 66	The initial setup All eras will play under the same conditions (a moderate lively-ball environment). Schedules will always be kept between 154 and 162 games. I’ll start with four teams in a single league playing a 156-game schedule. Sounds monotonous—each team plays every other team 52 times—but there were Pacific Coast League schedules in the early 1900s that were even worse. No DH ever. Injuries and computer trades enabled. All teams will be run by computer—it’s a hands off, god’s eye, J. Henry Waugh kind of league. Full minors, with a 7-round amateur draft. The major league will be called, to start with, the Gentlemen’s League, to reflect the social standing (or aspirations) of the kind of men who played baseball in its infancy. Teams will have nicknames partly drawn from history and partly made up (though with an eye to historical accuracy). The Original Four are: --Philadelphia Quakers In real life: the Philadelphia Olympics townball team was founded in 1832. --Brooklyn Bachelors IRL: the “Jolly Young Bachelors” was an early baseball club that later became the Brooklyn Excelsiors. --New York Knickerbockers IRL: the first “real” baseball club, founded around 1842. --New York Mutuals IRL: New York’s most important team in the 1860s and 70s. Young men were playing something like baseball in New York City as early as the 1820s, so it seemed fair to give New York two teams to start with. Expansion will be scheduled to coincide with the historical spread of baseball: 1860: Washington Patriots, Baltimore Atlantics IRL: the first tour by a team outside the New York City area, by the Brooklyn Excelsiors. Also in 1860, the single major league’s name will be changed to the National Association, to reflect the game’s wider geographical reach. 1866: Chicago Excelsiors, Cincinnati Outlaws IRL: baseball comes to the west; Harry Wright comes to Cincinnati. 1871: Boston Clippers, Philadelphia Keystones IRL: the NA founded, baseball’s first major league. In 1876, the league will split in two (tricky but doable), the National League and the American Association. The first World’s Series will be played between the pennant winners. The League will take the N.Y. Knicks, the Philly Quakers, Washington, Chicago, Boston, and an expansion team in Cleveland (the Spiders), while the Association will take the N.Y. Mutuals, Brooklyn, Baltimore, Cincinnati, the Philly Keystones, and an expansion team in St. Louis (the Saints). IRL: National League founded in 1876; first minor leagues founded in 1877; Cuban League founded in 1878 1882: Buffalo Blue Stockings, Detroit Continentals (NL), Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh/Homestead Grays (AA). IRL: American Association founded. 1901: San Francisco Gold Sox, Toronto Maple Leafs (AA), Kansas City Pioneers, Havana Lions (NL). IRL: American League founded in 1901; Cuban League integrated in 1900; minor American Association, PCL founded around this time. There will be an expansion in 1914 (cities t.b.d., but candidates include Milwaukee, New Orleans, Montreal, Newark, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Indianapolis), and the leagues will be broken into two divisions apiece. Further expansions will take place in 1920 and 1937, bringing the total to 32 teams. After that (if I get that far), I’m not sure. IRL: 1914, Federal League; 1920, Negro National League; 1936, Japanese league; 1937 Mexican League and Dominican League; 1938 Puerto Rican Winter League. Teams will also move (one of the Philly teams will probably move at some point, for example).