Prologue

[seth70liz76]

Excerpts from “The History of Professional Base Ball” (1941)
As odd as it may seem to the throng that hails Base Ball as the National game; a scant seventy years ago the professional game barely existed. It did not exist in a form now familiar to the nearly nine million people who cross the turnstiles at the “major” league level and nearly half that number at the various “minor” league levels.
The heroes of these early days have faded from our collective memories—replaced by men whose skills with the bat and ball push the game to higher and higher levels. . .
Men were paid to play as early as 1858 as the club teams from New York, Brooklyn and Philadelphia battled one another for the right to declare themselves “National Champions.” It was not uncommon for a talented baseballer to bat and pitch for as many as three different clubs in a single weekend. Teammates one day would be on opposite sides the next.
These loose arraignments and tournaments lasted well over a decade, until what is considered the watershed moment in the development in professional baseball: The 1869 tour of the Cincinnati Base Ball Kings.
While the sporting press focused on the eastern cities, the “Western Game” was developing its own stars. A. J. Helmuth, a promoter most noted for scandalous theatrical performances, hit upon the idea of hiring the best ballplayers and touring—taking on all comers. Attaching the club, initially at least, with the Longwood Circus, the Base Ball Kings started modestly beating local nines in Western Pennsylvania and the Midwest. By the time the club reached Chicago for a two-week stay against the top clubs there, they were already becoming a legend.
The stay in Chicago resulted in a remarkable 18 wins in 14 days against what had been regarded as the best clubs in the center of Midwestern baseball. The results were similar in Saint Louis, Indianapolis and Louisville. The Kings had begun to acquire a mystique about them.
With the attention of the press beginning to face westward, many of the best eastern clubs decided to quash the notion that these “backwards players who can’t possible know the game like we do,” could be the true masters. An eastern leg, stretching from Washington to Boston was quickly arranged; and late August through October was to show who really were the “Base Ball Kings.”
One of the innovations of the Kings was what we now call the “pitching rotation.” While most clubs had rosters of 11 or 12 men, with 1 primary pitcher, the King’s schedule required a roster of 15 men, with 3 men who were top-flight pitchers. Rarely was a man asked to pitch on back-to-back days—the rest allowed by the expanded roster made a better-rested club. Few squads the Kings encountered had the depth to compete. The Base Ball Kings were also able to exploit rules, such as substitute batters, that other clubs did not have the manpower to use.
By the time Cincinnati swept the five top Brooklyn nines, the Eastern press proclaimed them National Champions—with a full two weeks left in the tour. When all was said and done, the Kings had won 75 to 90 straight games (records for the early portion of the tour are incomplete) with an amazing 22 straight against the so-called powers from Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston.
That winter, from Saint Louis to Boston, the top clubs started consolidating talent—buying the best players from weaker clubs. Bidding for some of the best players reached $1,000.00. By mid-summer 1870, distinct levels of play were developing. And as the masses clamored fro the higher level of play; prominent businessmen gathered in Philadelphia to organize the first Professional League.
Moguls from the “centers of baseball” gathered in August of 1870 to plan this association. Chicago, Cincinnati, Brooklyn, New York, Philadelphia and Boston all would be represented. A 40 game schedule was agreed upon, so as to leave room for the numerous (and profitable) exhibitions against lesser clubs. And in the case of Brooklyn and New York, a total of 10 additional head to head games were played that did not count as “official” league games.
When play began in the spring of 1871, the wildest dreams of these moguls and players could not have envisioned the gift they would bestow on a grateful nation.

[seth70liz76]

What I'm doing: Sometime later this year I'm going to be starting my next dynasty, starting with 1946. I decided I had three options: make up a history, use the real history, or run OOTP for 70 seasons and build a history. I chose the latter. This thread will basically: set the histories of some of the characters I use in the dynasty and give me the background stats needed to fill out a history.

How am I doing it: I'm using plain old Lahman's with one little twist: I've edited all players so they enter at 20. I did this by copying the player's worst OPS+/ERA+ season as that first season. I know-not the way most of you would do it, but mostly (as the test I've run show) it keeps everyone from being imported as Major League ready. And I like the fact it is actual numbers the player created, and not some "normalized" line. Again, not the way most of you would handle it, but it is my world.

I've also made the decision to "split" players who had pitching/batting stats this way: if they had 10% of their games as a pitcher (if mainly a fielder) 0r 10% of thier games as a fielder (if mainly a pitcher) then they are imported as two seperate players.

I've also made the decision to give each player fictional names. Why bother doing that? Well, there is an arc I'd like the league histories to take--knowing who a player developed into, even with the crapshoot development, makes it easier to build that history. I mean, I know Lou Gehrig may not become a "monster" player, but he has a better shot than, say Charlie Carr. So if you see a player and think, "hmm, he reminds me of Ty Cobb," well he very well could be. I just want to disconnect my reader from seeing the names and having preconcived notions of who that player is.

I see updates on this coming every couple of weeks--with the DB editing, my current dynasty, if the PCL project discussed in OOTP comes to fruition, and, of course, real life--this is not my highest priority. But I want to keep it, even if slowly, moving.

[ifspuds]

Sounds very cool. I'll definitely keep my eyes on this one.

I like your decision to give the players fictional names, too. Adds a nice twist to the typical historical replay.

[seth70liz76]

Originally Posted by ifspuds

Sounds very cool. I'll definitely keep my eyes on this one.

I like your decision to give the players fictional names, too. Adds a nice twist to the typical historical replay.

Well, don't look too close. I'm basically I'm looking to do 5 year arcs each update for this one, with an update every 2-3 weeks--I hope to have it set up for the "real" dynasty to start this fall. Then again, if I get on a roll, I might get the "real" one going this summer.

But it'll pop up every now and again, and I'm excited about the project--I just hope it comes off as I hope.

[seth70liz76]

Bump to make it easier to find tonight/tomorrow for the first "real" update.

Couple notes: I'll be doing all the drafting, as I've said I want to try and craft a certain history for this league before I get to real play.

Minors/coaches on (though minors, for the most part, will be treated as lesser leagues non-roster guys are playing on)

Computer will run the games, I'll be GMing all clubs-but not the involved GM I have for 3rd&4th league--want this "background" to move a little faster.

Financials will be on, but subject to editing to create the story. Abritration and options are off.

Chapter 2: "1871-1875--The Beginnings" coming up this weekend.

[Big Six]

This looks like it's going to be really cool! Good luck with your project--I'll be following it closely.

[seth70liz76]

It is agreed that all players will be paid a flat $500.00 fee, but many clubs, notably Chicago and New York, pay their top player over that amount. The League victory is promised a “jeweled loving cup exceeding $1,000.00 for possession of a season.” Players on the victorious team are to receive $100.00 bonuses.

It was assumed, by the Eastern press, that one of the four “Atlantic” clubs would win the league. It was also assumed the two “Western” clubs, despite the history of the Cincinnati Kings, would simply battle for last place. To the shock of many, the Chicago Browns battled the Boston Unions until the last week of the season for the inaugural pennant.

Boston had the steady bats of 3B Alton Emch and C Norman Lent, who hit .500 and .476 respectively, which proved the difference down the stretch. They were able to take advantage of the fact that league games sometimes had two weeks stretches between games to keep fresh and ready. Boston’s Richie Alaibilla is hailed as the best hurler in the league and Alton Emch, who had a 30 game hitting streak at one point, is unsurprisingly declared the top Batsman.

Chicago was hurt by Horacio “Charmer” Pfahlert being injured before the last series of the season. A line drive fractured his hand in early September, and the Browns were forced to start amateur Mac Tomehak against the Kings. Chicago goes 1-3 against the Kings while Boston finished 2-2.

More shocking to the Eastern Press was the showing of the Philadelphia Brotherhood—who won their first game of the season before losing their next 25 in a row. So embarrassed were the backers by the 3-37 showing, the club—which just 4 seasons earlier had been declared “National Champions”—disbanded for lack of support by the locals. Aron Mousser regarded as the man who “invented” the shortstop position appears in 9 games, hitting .154. After promising an easy pennant at the start of the season, he is replaced by a younger Marlon Bosshart, who can only manage to hit .173 with 19 errors in 35 games. The ace of the squad is Tony Amuso, who has a 2-8 record.

On May 12, Chicago battered Philadelphia 26-3, with Second baseman Henry Parnell lacing 6 hits. As was the tradition of the time, Philadelphia starter Newton Peckenpaugh went the distance—one of five games he surrendered at least 20 hits.

At the mid-season league meeting, a motion to require all playing fields to be surrounded by chicken wire “for the protection of the spectator” is voted down, as is a proposed rule to require players to wear gloves. The Eastern clubs feel the glove rule is against tradition and would make a mockery of the players “true” abilities.

Brooklyn outfielder Moises Crytser became the first man to hit 2 home runs in a game on August 25. He “circled the bases with such speed, the retrieval of the ball by the outfielders appeared to take place in a fine molasses.”

Cincinnati’s Tory Claessens, a key part of the Base Ball Kings tour of 1869, loses 5 decisions by 1-run.

A.J. Helmuth, after his Kings finish in 5th place, sells his interest to Max Von Schriber for $4,000.00. Helmuth retains the deed to the Cincinnati Avenue Grounds where the Kings play and makes more money as landlord than team owner. Helmuth was, interestingly enough, key in defeating a motion the prior season that would have required league members to own the park they played in.

Just a week after the season ends, the Great Chicago Fire occurs. The Chicago Browns will go dormant for 2 years.

Empire League Standings 
Team 	     W  L  PCT   GB  Home  Away XInn 1Run 
Boston      28 12 .700    - 15- 5 13- 7  0-3  3-7 
Chicago     25 15 .625  3.0 14- 6 11- 9  4-1 12-4 
New York    25 15 .625  3.0 14- 6 11- 9  5-2  7-3 
Brooklyn    22 18 .550  6.0 12- 8 10-10  4-3  7-7 
Cincinnati  17 23 .425 11.0 11- 9  6-14  3-4  3-8 
Philadelphia 3 37 .075 25.0  2-18  1-19  1-4  2-5

[seth70liz76]

I've never done a dynasty like this--usually with historical dynasties the focus is on players. However, I only have an idea who should turn out to be the top ones at this time. After this suite of updates (which will take us thru 1875, and because of the name changes is taking a little longer than I thought it would) I should know who will be the class players of the 1st 15-20 years. Alton Emch should be there, but one short season does not a career make.

[seth70liz76]

With Chicago inactive because of the Fire and Philadelphia surrendering, there was concern that there would not be enough clubs to start the next season. However, clubs in Troy, New York; Washington, Baltimore and Cleveland were added. The fourth franchise almost was awarded to Buffalo, but Cincinnati objected to the lack of a second western franchise. Going so far as to accuse the other clubs of trying to push the Kings out of business. There is a little truth to this. Afraid of the showing of the Chicago Browns (and the complete failure of the Philadelphia entry) the remaining first season eastern clubs felt they might not be able to dominate as they thought they could. By concentrating the clubs along the seaboard, the hope was to make it financially impossible for a single western club to survive.

Chicago owner James Winfred McCormick warns an eight team league is too large. “There is simply not enough crack players to compete at the level we envision. When the Browns retake the field the talent that does exist will abandon these lesser clubs, ruining what men have been told are solid investment.” There is some truth in what he says. With an expanded schedule (clubs playing between 55 and 57 games) the holdover clubs all won at least 36 games, no new club won more than 20.

Beset with injuries, the Baltimore club is on the brink of falling out of the league. In exchange for the promise of an additional western club for 1873, the Cincinnati Kings transfer two young pitchers, Johnie Dolly and Connie Pozar to the Terrapins. The Kings drop from second to fourth after the transfer.

Henry Panell is signed by the Cleveland franchise after Chicago goes dormant. While Panell challenges the Boston combination of Emch and Lent for individual honors, hitting .492, his teammates are so inept at the bat and pitch, the Eries finish a distant 8th.

Baltimore finishes the season a combined 3-22 against the established clubs,

Brooklyn hurler Hank Imfeld throws the first perfect game in history against the Washington Congressionals.

Cincinnati’s Tory Claessens is declared the top hurler, while Alton Emch wins outstanding batsman for the second year. The Boston Unions boasted three .400 hitters in their line up, but a merely average pitching staff kept the race close all year.

With Boston’s hitter dominating the league, accusations of “talent hording” are levied the Winter Conference. “Without a method of sharing talent; Boston has created a perpetual ‘dynasty’ that can never be broken,” says Washington owner J. O’Brien Hickey. A motion to add two more clubs is voted down, and the Troy franchise is transferred to Saint Louis, making good on the promise made to the Cincinnati club. A motion to reintroduce a “balanced” schedule, as was had in the first year is taken under consideration and adopted to “preserve the integrity of the championship season.”

Empire League Standings 
Team        W  L  PCT   GB  Home  Away XInn 1Run 
Boston     42 15 .737    - 20- 7 22- 8  3-0  6-4 
New York   39 16 .709  2.0 18-10 21- 6  5-0  8-8  
Brooklyn   37 19 .661  4.5 24-10 13- 9  1-3  9-7  
Cincinnati 36 20 .643  5.5 12-11 24- 9  4-1  9-8  
Washington 20 36 .357 21.5 11-18  9-18  2-4  6-4 
Troy 	   18 38 .321 23.5 10-21  8-17  0-3  3-6
Baltimore  16 39 .291 25.0  8-20  8-19  1-4  3-7 
Cleveland  16 41 .281 26.0  7-17  9-24  2-3  8-8

[cknox0723]

seth, just wanted to poke my head in and say that i've enjoyed this thus far.

Originally Posted by seth70liz76

Brooklyn outfielder Moises Crytser became the first man to hit 2 home runs in a game on August 25. He “circled the bases with such speed, the retrieval of the ball by the outfielders appeared to take place in a fine molasses.”

particularly enjoyed this line.

the slow pace will be nice, at least for me as the reader, if only because it will allow for the re-reading of certain parts. and lines like the above won't be missed!

i am looking forward to the fall, and not just for v.7; i'm lukewarm on that. but this looks great. keep it up!

[Dark Horse]

Nice work, Seth.

i like your writing style. It's very Ken Burnsian.

[goroyals]

I really love what you've got so far. Very very good. You've really captured the feeling of the era with the player transfers and what not.

Any chance that KC or Louisville might get a club?

[seth70liz76]

Originally Posted by Dark Horse

i like your writing style. It's very Ken Burnsian.

Except I acknowledge the game was played in the midwest too.

This is, for me, a different style and it's hard to know what really is important in these first few seasons--but I think I've said that elsewhere. Thankfully, I can make anything up and fit it into my timeline. The fictional names is proving a little more confusing too, espcially with these early players. I know Cap Anson, Asa Brainard, Candy Cumming, Bob Ferguson, Levi Meyrle and Davey Force/Dickey Pierce (who I confuse)--but everyone else is barely a name; giving them the fictional names just make this a little more involved than I thought. I think after I pass the century I should have a better feel of the players and path I'm trying to create.

I'm looking to do week by week work at this point for the two dynasties I'm running. This last week was "Prologue" next week is "3rd&4th".

I do want to give a shout out to Eck4Prez and Carlton. Thier historical dynasties have given me a bit of direction on this. I'm not trying, as Carlton is, to fit real history with the fictional one, but he does help capture the flavor. Eck4Prez has helped me by letting me know who the stars and such were--I think I'm ok with the 19th century game (you know, enough to seem like I know what I'm talking about, but not enough to feel like an expert) but Eck has taught me a few things. So a thanks to those guys.

[seth70liz76]

Originally Posted by goroyals

I really love what you've got so far. Very very good. You've really captured the feeling of the era with the player transfers and what not.

Any chance that KC or Louisville might get a club?

I'm looking to use them in my version of the American Association. I'm not sure if it will start in 1882 though. It all depends on when I'll have enough players imported to support two leagues. Could be earlier, could be later--and the AA could survive beyond the turn of the century too. It all depends on how many players I have to work with.

And, not to give too much away, KC plays a big role in the "real" dynasty when i get the history portion done.

[Jestor]

I think you've got a nice storyline going with the East/West thing

Will it eventually turn into an East/Midwest/West rivalry set?

[seth70liz76]

Originally Posted by Jestor

Will it eventually turn into an East/Midwest/West rivalry set?

I only have to play 70-odd seasons for you to find out

[seth70liz76]

The Early Years: 1873
In January, Cleveland’s Association Grounds collapses. A new park is quickly built on Kennard Street, with half of the capacity of the former yard. A dispute with City officials over the stability of a proposed grandstand that would overhang the sidewalk limits the seating. The City’s concerns proved well founded when a similarly designed park in New Haven collapses, killing 52—7 of the deaths were on the walk.

The Saint Louis Cobblers send shockwaves through the league by allowing beer and whiskey to be sold at Grand Avenue Park. Baltimore, owned by State Representative and Temperance Party member Horace Soleabea, announces they will refuse to make their trip to Saint Louis. A compromise is reached with the games played in Chicago, with Baltimore forfeiting their share of the visitors’ receipts. By the end of the season, Cincinnati and Cleveland will allow liquor sold at their games, with the Eastern clubs parks staying “dry”. Soleabea is told to either sell his interest or be expelled if he refused to play a league member. He will comply in the fall of 1873.

On opening day Richie Alaibilla ruptures a disc in his back. Alaibilla was the best of Boston’s pitchers over the first two seasons:

Year	G	GS	W L SV	 ERA    IP  HA  R ER BB  K CG SHO
1871	10	10	8 2  0	2.01  89.2  86 24 20  5 19 10  1
1872	12	12	9 2  0	1.83 113.0 107 31 23 13	20 11  2 
1873	1	1	0 1  0	6.75   1.1   1	2  1  0	 0  0  0
Total	23	23     17 5  0	1.94 204.0 194 57 44 18	39 21  3

When he returns, Boston uses him only in a substitute role.

Norman Lent of Boston matches Alton Emch’s 30 game hit streak of 1871. Emch is criticized in the sporting press for trying to go for the long hits, watching his batting average drop from 1871’s .500 to .329 this season. Lent leads the league in hitting for the second straight year, an amazing feat for a catcher of this time. Overall, there are only two .400 hitters this season, which the hitters attribute to the “soft” ball used. League officials insist they have made no changes to the equipment.

Marquis Nicolet of Boston wins 12 decisions without a loss and is acclaimed Hurler of the year.

Washington is discovered mid-summer to have depressed attendance figures in order to share less of the gate receipts. They are fined $175.00, which paid to the League. Brooklyn, Cleveland and Cincinnati, the teams victimized by Washington’s ruse, object strenuously—the Ohio clubs citing their travel cost--and demand reimbursement. When Washington visits Cleveland for a 4 game set, the Eries charge no admission to the fans, instead selling scorecards at 52¢ instead of the normal 2¢. The Congressionals appeals to the League falls on deaf ears.

The pitchers Cincinnati transferred to Baltimore in 1872 have less than stellar seasons for the Terrapins. Johnnie Dolly fashions a 1-13 record, while Connie Pozar spends most of the season nursing a problem shoulder. Despite their lackluster outings, murmurings of allowing contract transfers during the season begin to build among the owners.

Boris Seekell of Cincinnati bests Saint Louis’ Chester Jackman in a 14-inning duel complete game.

At the League meeting Chicago announces their intention to play in the 1874 season. The League adds a tenth team, a former amateur nine from Hartford, over the objection of the Western clubs who felt Louisville or Indianapolis more deserving. The Eastern clubs push the Hartford squad to retain a 6-4 advantage in League matters. A rule is passed limiting clubs to no more than 4 hurlers on a squad to prevent stockpiling. The Eastern clubs also pass a resolution banning the sale of “intoxicating agents” at games.

Empire League Standings 
Team	     W  L  PCT   GB  Home  Away XInn 1Run  
Boston      38 18 .679    - 20- 8 18-10  0-3  7-8  
New York    36 20 .643  2.0 18-10 18-10  4-2 10-6  
Brooklyn    32 24 .571  6.0 16-12 16-12  3-2  9-5  
Cincinnati  32 24 .571  6.0 14-14 18-10  5-0  7-9  
Baltimore   24 32 .429 14.0 11-17 13-15  1-2  4-6  
Saint Louis 22 34 .393 16.0 12-16 10-18  0-4  9-9  
Washington  22 34 .393 16.0  7-21 15-13  6-2 11-9  
Cleveland   18 38 .321 20.0  8-20 10-18  0-4  4-9

[Jestor]

Christ... Boston with a 3-peat in the early going? That's amazing.

[seth70liz76]

Originally Posted by Jestor

Christ... Boston with a 3-peat in the early going? That's amazing.

What's more amazing is each has been decided by two games (Chicago 1871, and New York the last two), but with the way Emch and Lent have been hitting, they score more than enough. Maybe those charges of "hording" are correct.

[seth70liz76]

At a meeting between Boston, New York and the prospective Hartford owner results in terror from the establish team’s owners. When asked what players Hartford might be signing for the upcoming season, Hartford’s Raleigh Bourne replies that the amateur nine that were runner ups in the Connecticut State Tournament should do well enough. Faced with a possible disaster as the Philadelphia Brotherhood club of 1871 had, Boston’s Mick Avery and New York’s William Temple immediately offer to secretly buy the interest of the club to assure a competitive club. When the matter comes to light in 1877, it is found that Bourne realized he did not have the capital to operate a professional club and “conned” Boston and New York into buying him out.

Horace Soleabea sells his interest to a group who moves the club to Philadelphia. The group, which featured some of the original investors in the Brotherhood club, feels betrayed over the lack of support Boston and New York supplied during that first season, will side with the Western clubs in votes of league matters. This 5/5 split will make it impossible to conduct league business with no tiebreaker available.

The clubs do agree that the practice of naming a captain prior to each game to deal with the umpires and line-ups must end. Each team is required to name a field captain at the beginning of the season. Most teams give little thought to this, but the new Philadelphia club names Aron Mousser, the man who invented the shortstop position, as their field captain. Mousser will start the process of not only the field captain making line up and pitching decisions, but start taking over strategic decisions—which to this point were determined by the individual players based on the game situation--as well. In a sense, he is the first modern manager.

To combat the ban on selling liquor, the Saint Louis club tears down the half of the seats on the visitor’s side, and builds a two-story beer garden overlooking the playing field. Despite on the lowest official attendance in the league, they are indirectly the most profitable, as the beer garden is filled for every game. To protect the visitors from the many tossed bottles and glasses, the visitors bench is enclosed, becoming the first “dugout’ in baseball history.