OOTP Developments Forums - View Single Post - FABL -- Montréal Saints

mjj55409 · 06-04-2019, 07:44 PM

During the existence of the Border Association, if you squinted hard enough, you might pick out Montreal as a competitive club. That all changed with the advent of the FABL. The 1892 season was the start of a 17 year period (1892 - 1908) during which Montreal finished at or above .500 in only one season (the 1901 season, when the Saints finished 73 - 64, 11 games behind the Cleveland Foresters).

There were some bright spots. Prior to the 1905 season, Montreal signed a big, young right-handed pitcher out of California, Bob Johnston. Johnston debuted in 1905 with a record of 17-21 with a 2.43 ERA. Given that he toiled mainly for sub .500 clubs, Johnston's career mark of 267 - 271 is that much more impressive. 265 of those wins came in a Saints uniform. Johnston's jersey was retired by the club in 1920.

But the key to the end of the darkness in Montreal was the arrival of a teenager outfielder from Tell City, IN, Joe Ward. The 19 year old "Hoosier Hustler" debuted in 1908 by hitting .290/.325/.397 and leading the league with 22 triples. Ward would lead the league in triples 11 times during his first 15 seasons. He led the league in 1914-1918 and 1920-1922. It probably would have been 9 straight season were it not for a broken bone in the wrist that sidelined him for more than a month during the 1919 season. In 1913, Ward hit 54 triples. That did not lead the league because the great John Dibblee hit 57. Ward and Dibblee remain the only two players to hit more than 50 triples in a season.

In 1914, Montreal had it's first 90 win season, finishing 92-62, 5.5 games behind Baltimore. That season Ward (.329/.372/.478, 32 3B, 50 SB) teamed up with another young outfielder, Hal Eason (.273/.372/.428, 13 HR, 93 RBI), to lead an offense that scored 630 runs, best in the Continental.

In 1915, Montreal finally broke through and won it's first pennant--finishing 96-56. The offense was on display once again, scoring 680 runs, which was 105 runs better than the 2nd best Continental offense. Joe Ward had his best season, hitting .335/.401/.519, 43 3B, 58 SB, 109 Runs, 79 RBI. Hal Eason was right there with him (.278/.373/.447, 11 HR, 94 RBI).This season also featured an incredible performance by young fireballer Charlie Firestone (35-7, 1.84, 317 Ks in 400 IP). Montreal capped off the year by winning the world championship against Boston, 4 games to 3. Firestone was the championship series MVP after picking up 2 wins and only giving up 1 run.

In 1916, Montreal upped their win total to 97 and won another pennant. The offense was even more supercharged -- scoring 696 runs, 113 runs better than 2nd place Baltimore. They were led, again, by Joe Ward (.328/.360/.513, 45 3B, 44 SB, 212 Hits, 100 Runs, 81 RBI) and Hal Eason (.252/.367/.370, 102 Walks, 8 HR, 79 RBI). On the mound, Charlie Firestone had another superb season: 35-7, 1.88, 291 Ks in 407 IP. This time, Montreal lost the championship series, 4 games to 2 to Detroit.

06-04-2019, 07:44 PM	#3
mjj55409 All Star Starter Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,166	History of the Saints -- The Continental Association, part 1 During the existence of the Border Association, if you squinted hard enough, you might pick out Montreal as a competitive club. That all changed with the advent of the FABL. The 1892 season was the start of a 17 year period (1892 - 1908) during which Montreal finished at or above .500 in only one season (the 1901 season, when the Saints finished 73 - 64, 11 games behind the Cleveland Foresters). There were some bright spots. Prior to the 1905 season, Montreal signed a big, young right-handed pitcher out of California, Bob Johnston. Johnston debuted in 1905 with a record of 17-21 with a 2.43 ERA. Given that he toiled mainly for sub .500 clubs, Johnston's career mark of 267 - 271 is that much more impressive. 265 of those wins came in a Saints uniform. Johnston's jersey was retired by the club in 1920. But the key to the end of the darkness in Montreal was the arrival of a teenager outfielder from Tell City, IN, Joe Ward. The 19 year old "Hoosier Hustler" debuted in 1908 by hitting .290/.325/.397 and leading the league with 22 triples. Ward would lead the league in triples 11 times during his first 15 seasons. He led the league in 1914-1918 and 1920-1922. It probably would have been 9 straight season were it not for a broken bone in the wrist that sidelined him for more than a month during the 1919 season. In 1913, Ward hit 54 triples. That did not lead the league because the great John Dibblee hit 57. Ward and Dibblee remain the only two players to hit more than 50 triples in a season. In 1914, Montreal had it's first 90 win season, finishing 92-62, 5.5 games behind Baltimore. That season Ward (.329/.372/.478, 32 3B, 50 SB) teamed up with another young outfielder, Hal Eason (.273/.372/.428, 13 HR, 93 RBI), to lead an offense that scored 630 runs, best in the Continental. In 1915, Montreal finally broke through and won it's first pennant--finishing 96-56. The offense was on display once again, scoring 680 runs, which was 105 runs better than the 2nd best Continental offense. Joe Ward had his best season, hitting .335/.401/.519, 43 3B, 58 SB, 109 Runs, 79 RBI. Hal Eason was right there with him (.278/.373/.447, 11 HR, 94 RBI).This season also featured an incredible performance by young fireballer Charlie Firestone (35-7, 1.84, 317 Ks in 400 IP). Montreal capped off the year by winning the world championship against Boston, 4 games to 3. Firestone was the championship series MVP after picking up 2 wins and only giving up 1 run. In 1916, Montreal upped their win total to 97 and won another pennant. The offense was even more supercharged -- scoring 696 runs, 113 runs better than 2nd place Baltimore. They were led, again, by Joe Ward (.328/.360/.513, 45 3B, 44 SB, 212 Hits, 100 Runs, 81 RBI) and Hal Eason (.252/.367/.370, 102 Walks, 8 HR, 79 RBI). On the mound, Charlie Firestone had another superb season: 35-7, 1.88, 291 Ks in 407 IP. This time, Montreal lost the championship series, 4 games to 2 to Detroit. __________________ FABL -- Chicago Chiefs Last edited by mjj55409; 06-05-2019 at 08:52 AM.