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italyprof · 03-09-2018, 07:12 AM

1916 - EXPANSION

The League decided that, due to over-population on rosters, there was a need to expand the league to 24 teams. Teams added were: Charlotte Wolves, Oklahoma City Cowboys, Indianapolis Black Sox, and San Francisco Seals in the American League, and Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colts, Denver Broncos and San Diego Padres in the National League.

But the decision was made that, for interests of fairness and competitiveness, that a new draft would be held with all players available to all teams. This meant a complete reshuffling of rosters.

Ty Cobb, winner of countless batting titles, went to the Boston Americans, Ted Williams to the Houston Colts, Mickey Mantle to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the unequaled Clayton Kershaw likewise to Houston.

Each 12 team league was divided into two divisions, East and West, and a best of 7 League Championship Series added. The season was extended to 162 games.

Expansion led to records falling:

The Cleveland Blues, despite losing Carl Hubbell and Mickey Mantle in the draft, won 105 games, second only to the 1910 Philadelphia Athletics who won 110, and won the AL East division title.

Johnny Mize, re-drafted by the Blues, hit 56 home runs, to break the old single season record of 52 by Andy Pafko in 1902. Ken Griffey Jr. hit 52 for the New York Giants who won the NL East title. Russ Ford won 29 games for the White Sox, and Erik Hanson won 29 for the Giants, each, breaking the record of 26 wins by Larry Jaster in 1906.

Davey Lopes of the Beaneaters stole 126 bases, a new record unlikely to be broken anytime soon.

The White Sox and expansion Dodger (the Brooklyn team is called the Superbas), won the West divisions in each league.

The playoffs begin.

At the end of the 1916 regular season, Clayton Kershaw, the "Walter Johnson" (in another parallel universe) of this League, has won 325 games and lost 144, with a career ERA of 2.49. No pitcher comes close to him in career statistics: Bert Blyleven became only the second pitcher to pass 200 wins in 1916, with 203 against 171 losses, and an ERA of 3.24. Of pitchers with at least 100 games started, Kershaw's ERA is the best,with Carl Hubbell, lifetime record of 87-62 second at 2.82, and Pedro Martinez, now retired, with a lifetime record of 195-128 and a career ERA of 3.05 in third place all time.

Frank Robinson, now with the expansion Indianapolis Black Sox, continues to lead the all time Home Run list with 457, with Ted Williams in second at 440 homers. At 31 and 32 respectively, each has a chance to be the first to reach the plateau of 500 home runs in a career.

Ty Cobb passed 1000 Stolen Bases lifetime at 1,057, compared to Tim Raines' 918. Each is still active. Sherry Magee's 567 is a distant third.

In 1916, Happy Felsch of the Colts led the majors with a .357 average, one point , better than Ty Cobb's AL leading .356. Ken Griffey Jr. hit 52 home runs for the Giants, which ties the old, now surpassed record of Pafko, and Larry Walker of the Brewers also reached 50 homers.Lefty Gomez struck out 349 batters for the Black Sox, and the Blues were led by Tom Seaver's 23 wins and 321 Ks.

Doc Ayers of Oklahoma City at 2.29, and Carl Hubbell at 2.54 for the Boston Beaneaters of the NL led each league in ERA.

03-09-2018, 07:12 AM	#23
italyprof All Star Reserve Join Date: Feb 2014 Posts: 983	1916 - EXPANSION The League decided that, due to over-population on rosters, there was a need to expand the league to 24 teams. Teams added were: Charlotte Wolves, Oklahoma City Cowboys, Indianapolis Black Sox, and San Francisco Seals in the American League, and Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Colts, Denver Broncos and San Diego Padres in the National League. But the decision was made that, for interests of fairness and competitiveness, that a new draft would be held with all players available to all teams. This meant a complete reshuffling of rosters. Ty Cobb, winner of countless batting titles, went to the Boston Americans, Ted Williams to the Houston Colts, Mickey Mantle to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the unequaled Clayton Kershaw likewise to Houston. Each 12 team league was divided into two divisions, East and West, and a best of 7 League Championship Series added. The season was extended to 162 games. Expansion led to records falling: The Cleveland Blues, despite losing Carl Hubbell and Mickey Mantle in the draft, won 105 games, second only to the 1910 Philadelphia Athletics who won 110, and won the AL East division title. Johnny Mize, re-drafted by the Blues, hit 56 home runs, to break the old single season record of 52 by Andy Pafko in 1902. Ken Griffey Jr. hit 52 for the New York Giants who won the NL East title. Russ Ford won 29 games for the White Sox, and Erik Hanson won 29 for the Giants, each, breaking the record of 26 wins by Larry Jaster in 1906. Davey Lopes of the Beaneaters stole 126 bases, a new record unlikely to be broken anytime soon. The White Sox and expansion Dodger (the Brooklyn team is called the Superbas), won the West divisions in each league. The playoffs begin. At the end of the 1916 regular season, Clayton Kershaw, the "Walter Johnson" (in another parallel universe) of this League, has won 325 games and lost 144, with a career ERA of 2.49. No pitcher comes close to him in career statistics: Bert Blyleven became only the second pitcher to pass 200 wins in 1916, with 203 against 171 losses, and an ERA of 3.24. Of pitchers with at least 100 games started, Kershaw's ERA is the best,with Carl Hubbell, lifetime record of 87-62 second at 2.82, and Pedro Martinez, now retired, with a lifetime record of 195-128 and a career ERA of 3.05 in third place all time. Frank Robinson, now with the expansion Indianapolis Black Sox, continues to lead the all time Home Run list with 457, with Ted Williams in second at 440 homers. At 31 and 32 respectively, each has a chance to be the first to reach the plateau of 500 home runs in a career. Ty Cobb passed 1000 Stolen Bases lifetime at 1,057, compared to Tim Raines' 918. Each is still active. Sherry Magee's 567 is a distant third. In 1916, Happy Felsch of the Colts led the majors with a .357 average, one point , better than Ty Cobb's AL leading .356. Ken Griffey Jr. hit 52 home runs for the Giants, which ties the old, now surpassed record of Pafko, and Larry Walker of the Brewers also reached 50 homers.Lefty Gomez struck out 349 batters for the Black Sox, and the Blues were led by Tom Seaver's 23 wins and 321 Ks. Doc Ayers of Oklahoma City at 2.29, and Carl Hubbell at 2.54 for the Boston Beaneaters of the NL led each league in ERA.