1901-200?, A History Rewrite

[Jordan]

Jordan Hanley, GM of the Boston Americans, seems like a transplant from another time. And I guess that would be because he is. Somebody has to make up for the fixes, strikes, wars, segregation and steroids, right?

The 23 year old set out to help Cy Young not carry these Americans himself with some preseason wheeling and dealing. But it just didn't work out in 1901, even with the acquisition of Christy Mathewson for a 1st round pick early in the season, Ossie Schreckengoss, and George Winter.

Nevertheless, a great season was played out, and a champion crowned that never was in 1901. Honus Wagner and Pitcher of the Year, Jesse Tannehill led the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Chicago White Sox in 6 to become the first ever World Champions of Major League Baseball.

AL MVP: Nap Lajoie, Philadelphia Athletics(.367/.414/.489/.903), 207 hits, 37 doubles, 4 triples, 8 home runs, 92 RBI's, 105 Runs, 64 SB's, 75.1 VORP

AL Pitcher of the Year: Roy Patterson, Chicago White Sox 24-10, 311 IP, 2.43 ERA, OAVG .247, BABIP .269 in 35 GS

AL Rookie of the Year: Burt Hart, Baltimore Orioles (.359/.413/.339/.813/ 33.8 VORP)

AL Gold Glove Winners:

Pitcher: Bill Bernhard St. Louis Browns
Catcher: Ed McFarland Philadelphia Athletics
First Baseman: Candy LaChance Cleveland Bronchos
Second Baseman: Erve Beck Cleveland Bronchos
Third Baseman: Bill Coughlin Washington Senators
Shortstop: Frank Shugart Chicago White Sox
Left Fielder: Zaza Harvey Chicago White Sox
Center Fielder: Jimmy Barrett Detroit Tigers
Right Fielder: Fielder Jones Chicago White Sox

NL MVP: Sam Crawford, Cincinatti Reds (.351/.410/.541/.951/66.8 VORP)
179 H, 34 doubles, 6 triples, 17 HR's, 92 RBI's, 103 R, 33 SB's

NL Pitcher of the Year: Jesse Tannehill, Pittsburgh Pirates 25-9, 2.65 ERA, 151K's, 315 2/3 IP, .285 BABIP

NL Rookie of the Year: Ex Negro League SS Grant Johnson, Philadelphia Phillies
137 G, .283 BA, 538 AB, 72 R, 152 H, 6 HR, 87 RBI, 46 BB, .341/.407/.748

NL Gold Glove Winners:

Pitcher: Deacon Phillippe St. Louis Browns
Catcher: Ossee Schreckengost New York Giants
First Baseman: Hughie Jennings Philadelphia Phillies
Second Baseman: Cupid Childs Chicago Orphans
Third Baseman: Honus Wagner Pittsburgh Pirates
Shortstop: George S Davis New York Giants
Left Fielder: Fred Clarke Pittsburgh Pirates
Center Fielder: Billy Hamilton Boston Beaneaters
Right Fielder: Elmer Flick Philadelphia Phillies

Comissioner's Pick Award (Award invented by myself. No criteria, really, just who I liked to be recognized. Kind of like in soccer or the reserves that the coaches vote on in the NBA)

AL: Nap Lajoie
NL: Sam Crawford

Coming up....1902 Offseason leading up to Spring Training

[Jordan]

Oh, and by the way, the standings from the 1901 season were as follows

AL

Chicago White Sox 84-56
Detroit Tigers 79-61
Baltimore Orioles 72-68
Boston Americans 72-68
St. Louis Browns 70-70
Washington Senators 68-72
Cleveland Bronchos 58-82
Philadlpehia Athletics 57-83

NL

Pittsburgh Pirates 85-55
Philadelphia Phillies 81-59
New York Giants 76-64
St. Louis Cardinals 68-72
Chicago Orphans 67-73
Cincinatti Reds 67-73
Brooklyn Superbas 66-74
Boston Beaneaters 50-90

[Jordan]

SP Nig Cuppy-32 years old, 18-16 last season. He may be on the decline, but he posted some good numbers. Looks to be the 4th starter

SP-Christy Mathewson, 21 years old 20-13 last season. Only time will tell how good he can be

SP-Jesse Tannehill-Our free agent splash. Pitcher of the year who I hope is worth the 5 year $185,600 I gave him.

SP-Cy Young-Second in the Pitcher of the Year voting. What more can be said, 21 wins, probably going to be around

Bullpen-Won't get used much

Charlie Shields
Ben Beville
Fred Mitchell
Frank Morrissey
George Prentiss

Catchers

Jesse Slattery-Good in limited time last season

Clarence Williams-Ex Negro Leaguer gotta chance to shine last season and proved effective with a .287 avg thru 101 games

Infielders

1B-Larry McLean-Bench scrub

1B-Burt Hart-Acquired in a three team trade involving Candy Lachance, some draft picks, money, and relievers

2B-Hobe Ferris-Where did they get these names? Serviceable, hit below .300

3B-Harry Gleason-Bench scrub

3B-Jimmy Collins-I expected more from him, but he didnt really deliver despite finishing in the top 10 of several offensive categories

SS-Joe Tinker-First round pick that I shouldnt have taken according to my scouts. But I already had good pitching, and needed somehelp for the future

SS-Freddy Parent-Eventually will be replaced by Tinker. Real average

Outfielders

LF-Pete Hill-Ex Negro Leaguer. Part of a log jam of OF's, but he's young still.

LF-Charlie Hemphill-Moved to the bench despite having an unexpectedly good season due to the signing of...

LF-Freddy Clarke-My other FA. Even more money than Tannehill

OF/IF-Tommy Dowd-Serviceable PH, bench player.

CF-Chick Stahl-152 hits, .297 avg who can play all OF positions. Will start again in CF

RF-Buck Freeman-Team MVP last year. 44 EBH's, .333/.406. Maybe a breakout this year?

[CatKnight]

Are you having the game autolink the players to their historical rate of advancement/decline? (I forget at the moment what it's called on screen.) If so a good look in the history books will hint what happens.

My limited experience says Cuppy is good. Young....may underperform compared to history. Time will tell. Mathewson should chew the AL up and in my limited experience is better than Cy.

In your bullpen, Beville and Morrissey should do well. The others I don't recognize.

I wouldn't give up on Jim Collins yet. For one thing historically he's your manager. Obviously that doesn't apply here, but he should put up..serviceable..numbers. Nor would I give up on Parent quite yet.

Chick Stahl and Buck Freeman should still give you a few good years. Freeman nearly broke the all time HR record (in one season) with 25 in 1899. Power is a very rare commodity in this era, I'd take what I can get.

Good luck!

[Jordan]

No I'm not. I believe you're talking about recalculating. I'm just letting things go as they may, with me making the moves I feel are necessary. With recalc, you lose talent for guys like J.R. Richard and Marc Fidrych. I dont want that.

Thanks for the comment

[CatKnight]

Yes, and it's a bit predictable. You're right, I was thinking of the recalc function. Personally I prefer some surprises as well. (Though personally they tend to be nasty ones )

[Jordan]

July 24-An ominous sign, a franchise on the decline

After a next to last place start from a team that was a paper World Series candidate, the Boston Americans announced the trade of C Clarence Williams and Cy Young in exchange for C Heinie Peitz, P Bill Phillips, and 2B Charlie Krause of the Cincinatti Reds

Clarence had been hitting .325 with 100 hits, 5 HR's, 36 RBI's, 47 SB, 20 doubles and 6 triples

Cy Young had gone a hard luck 8-13 with a 2.95 ERA through 185 2/3 IP.

Are there more changes on the horizon?

[Jordan]

July 31-Citing a need for change, it was announced that GM Jordan Hanley has resigned as Boston GM to take the same position with a middling Cincinatti Reds that has just acquired two of his players the week before.

"I couldn't be a part of a sinking ship any longer. I traded Clarence and Cy because management said payroll needed to be cut so we could make a run next year. But I just found it hard to believe there was going to be any run made next year when no one in that organization seems commited to winning," Hanley said.

"Because of our difference in philosophies, I decided it would be best if I moved to a new opportunity. I found that, and I now am trying to right a different ship."

[CatKnight]

I'm a bit surprised you had so much trouble with Boston. I guess it was just a bad roll of the dice.

So now you'll try your luck with Cincinnati?

[Jordan]

Baltimore Orioles win World Series 4-0 over the Brooklyn Superbas!

Then announce they're moving to New York to become the Highlanders!

Huh?

[Jordan]

1902 Award Winners

AL

MVP-Mike Donlin, Baltimore Orioles (.368/.409/.503) 203 H, 34 doubles, 14 triples, 4 HR, 94 RBI, 81 SB, 99 R, to go along with a gold glove. VERY impressive season

Best Pitcher-Harry Howell, Baltimore Orioles, 24-11, 2.13 ERA, 308 2/3 IP, 63 VORP

Rookie of the Year-Otto Hess, Cleveland Broncheros-21-13, 2.54 ERA, 128 K's, 312 IP

Gold Glove
P-Bill Bernhard (St. Louis Browns)
C-Clarence Williams (Boston Americans/Cincinatti Reds)-I chose Clarence since the majority of his season was spent in the AL, and he was by far the best fielder at C, where it would be unfair to take away an award from someone who had spent the entire year in the NL

1B-Sam Dungan (Washington Senators)
2B-John S Farrell (Washington Senators)
3B-Bill Coughlin (Washington Senators)
SS-Kid Elberfield (Detroit Tigers)
LF-Mike Donlin (Baltimore Orioles)
CF-Jack J O'Brien (Washington Senators)
RF-Jimmy Sebring (Washington Senators)

Commisioner's Pick-Mike Donlin

NL

MVP-Jiggs Donahue, C Pittsburgh Pirates (.381/.421/.462) 192 H, 4 HR, 51 RBI, 21 doubles, 55.1 VORP

Best Pitcher-Jack Chesbro, Pittsburgh Pirates- 23-11, 1.92 ERA, 296 IP, 136 K, .231 OBA

Rookie of the Year-Oscar Jones, Pittsburgh Pirates, 13-9, 198 IP, 2.27 ERA

Gold Glove
P-Clark Griffith (Cincinatti Reds)
C-Ossee Schreckengost (New York Giants)
1B-Roy Brashear (New York Giants)
2B-Cupid Childs (Chicago Cubs)
3B-Honus Wagner (Pittsburgh Pirates)
SS-Gene DeMobtreville (Boston Beaneaters)
LF-Jesse Burkett (St. Louis Cardinals)
CF-Billy Hamilton (Boston Beaneaters)
RF-Fielder Jones (Boston Beaneaters)

Comissioner's Pick-Jiggs Donahue

[Syd Thrift]

Originally Posted by Jordan

Baltimore Orioles win World Series 4-0 over the Brooklyn Superbas!

Then announce they're moving to New York to become the Highlanders!

Huh?

Heh. IRL that first baseman of yours Burt Hart was banned for life in 1901 because he hit an umpire while protesting a call. This was the biggest thing among many things that infuriated Orioles manager John McGraw, who'd been lured to the AL by league president Ban Johnson. Their star pitcher "Iron Man" Joe McGinnity (the man who was, I believe, the origin of the term "iron man" to denote a player with outstanding endurance) was also banned for life but that ban was lifted after a week. The Orioles were also involved in several incidents in which the umpires awarded their opponents extra bases afte learning that Baltimore players were doing things like tripping guys and hanging onto peoples' belts when they tagged up. Generally speaking, McGraw represented a style of play that Johnson was looking to expel from baseball. McGraw wasn't about to stop playing this way and Johnson wasn't about to cave in on this issue, so something had to happen.

The next season McGraw got New York Giants owner John T. Brush to secretly buy the Baltimore Orioles. Upon doing so, the team released 10 players, who immediately signed with the Giants and Cincinnati Reds. The rest of the American League actually had to loan Baltimore players so that they could play out the rest of the season. *Then* the following year, the league, who had taken over the team after Brush's little ploy, kind of half sold it/half sold a brand new franchise to interests in New York City.

Just a little history lesson from Mr. Thrift.

[majormet]

that was interesting information about the Highlanders, I had to do a double take too when I saw the Orioles gone and the Highlanders back. I wonder why in recent years when the O's and Evil Empire meet up, not much is said about how the Yankees are really the original Orioles.


In this dynasty how is Rube Waddell doing, I don't see him showing up at all, he seems to rule my dynasty from 1901-1907 thus far.

[Jordan]

Rube Waddell is on the successful Pittsburgh Pirates, but has only been posting average W-L numbers compared to the rest of his stats.

1901-17-13, 2.53, 260 IP, 186 K, .289 BABIP, .236 Opponent AVG

1902-15-17, 3.03 ERA, 276 2/3 IP, 186 K, .288 BABIP, .242 Opponent AVG,

[Jordan]

1903 Season Summary

The Cincinatti Reds made a late run for third in the division during a season in which they were supposedly rebuilding. But after the midseason acquisitions of Mordecai Brown and Ollie Pickering from Cleveland and St. Louis, in exchange for an aging Billy Hamilton, Gene DeMontreville, Fred Crolius, Ed Bruyette, Bill Fox, and Clark Griffith, the Reds turned to their pitching, and the staff excelled.

Perhaps the best surprise came from relative unknown Whitey Guese. In 24 appearances, 23 of them starts, Whitey went 10-12 with a 2.06 ERA with a .231 OAVG and .255 BABIP thru 201 1/3 IP.

1st round pick Miller Huggins showed promise after being called up in late June.

Awards and offseason coming up tommorrow...

[CatKnight]

Originally Posted by majormet

that was interesting information about the Highlanders, I had to do a double take too when I saw the Orioles gone and the Highlanders back. I wonder why in recent years when the O's and Evil Empire meet up, not much is said about how the Yankees are really the original Orioles.

Or how the Orioles are the original Brewers.

[Jordan]

1903 Award Winners

AL

MVP-Zaza Harvey, Lf Chicago White Sox-.345/.398/.464/45.6 VORP, 18 2B, 20 3B, 2 HR, 58 RBI, 86 R

Best Pitcher-Harry Howell, New York Highlanders-22-8, 1.71 ERA, 288 2/3 IP, 113 K, .217 OAVG, .243 BABIP, 4 SHO

Rookie of the Year-Moose McCormick, Clevelan Naps-88 G, 103 H, .297/.332/.389

Gold Glove Winners
P Cy Falkenberg, Philadelphia Athletics
C Ed McFarland, Philadelphia Athletics
1B Harry H Davis, Philadelphia Athletics
2B Erve Beck, Cleveland Naps
3B Dave Brian, Chicago White Sox
SS Kid Elberfeld, Detroit Tigers
LF Mike Donlin, New York Highlanders
CF Jimmy Barrett, Detroit Tigers
RF Jimmy Sebring, Washigton Senators

Commisioner's Pick-Zaza Harvey

NL

MVP Sam Crawford, Cincinatti Reds-.310/.368/.500, 169 H, 32 2B, 12 3B, 16 HR, 76 RBI, 36.1 VORP

Pitcher of the Year Rube Waddell, Pittsburgh Pirates- 25-9, 2.47 ERA, 250 K, 309 2/3 IP, 4 SHO, 49.7 VORP, .240 OAVG, 7.27 K/9 IP

Rookie of the Year-Mordecai Three Finger Brown-18-13, 2.62 ERA, 281 2/3 IP, 1.17 WHIP, .235 OAVG, .266 BABIP

Gold Glove Award

P Red Donahue, Philadelphia Phillies
C Clarence Williams, Cincinatti Reds
1B Jack Doyle, Pittsburgh Pirates
2B Billy Gilbert, Pittsburgh Pirates
3B Honus Wagner, Pittsburgh Pirates
SS Bobby Wallace, St. Louis Cardinals
LF John Titus, Boston Beateaters
CF Emmet Heirdrick, St. Louis Cardinals
RF Sam Crawford, Cincinatti Reds

Commisioner's Pick-Honus Wagner-.300/.367/.430, 159 H, 32 2B, 14 3B, 3 HR, 83 RBI, 50 SB, 31.3 VORP

[Syd Thrift]

Wow, a hitter ROY. The game in this period always seems to pick a pitcher for the ROYs, probably because they throw so many innings that they dominate the VORP boards (VORP isn't the most accurate descriptor of player value in this period anyway).

[Jordan]

I should mention that I go with Manual Voting. Some of the picks that the game makes stupifies me, so I decided to be the judge. I spend about 3.5 hours combined on choosing the awards for both leagues. There just weren't any good rookie ptchers in the AL. I wasn;t all that thrilled about picking Moose. A poor rookie class in the AL

My plans for this in the future is to give a decade breakdown after it's finished. Show the top players, teams, worst teams. Champions.

I'm trying to come up with new ideas for this dynasty. I should have some more time coming up to work on this, so expect better things