Historic Century League: 1932-????

kurtd · 09-03-2002, 12:07 PM

First of all, I apologize if I have stolen anyone's league name. I have started a fictitous league with real historical players starting with the 1932 season. Hall of Fame players are assigned to their original teams and everone else is available through an amateur draft. The players play in historically accurate stadiums with one exception: I did not put up a big screen in right field of Sportsmans Park in St. Louis.

I plan on moving franchises to new cities and stadiums according to baseball history through 1968. Since my computer is old and the simulation is rather slow, I do not plan on expanding my league beyond 20 teams. Also, around the 1962 season, I will be changing to a 5 team 4 division format introducing a League Championship Series prior to the World Series.

Around 1970, I will drastically veer away from 'real' baseball history. I do not plan on further expansion (beyond '62) or introducing the DH or free agency. I would like to see how my league develops with only the draft and trades available to the individual franchises.

Here is a brief review of my first two (154 game) seasons:

1932:

The Philadelphia A's, led by a record breaking 61 HR season by Jimmy Foxx and 29 wins from ace Lefty Grove, win the American League pennant with a 107-47 record. The Yankees win 102 games of their own behind 50 HR seasons by both Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth.

The St. Louis Cardinals win a tight National League race (86-68) and take the A's to the brink in the World Series by forcing a 7th game. However, in the deciding game, the A's rally from a 2-1 deficit (with the help of a Foxx game tying HR) and eventually win 4-2 taking the title.

1933:

The New York Yankees win the American League with an incredible 112-42 campaign. The Yankees boast a starting rotation with three 20 game winners. Despite his past success, 38 year old Babe Ruth loses his starting RF job to Ben Chapman and sees his HR production drop from 50 to 19. The Bambino would also fail to get a single AB in the World Series despite several pinch-hitting situations.

Jimmy Foxx repeats his record setting HR performance of '32 by belting 61 HRs for the second consecutive season (he would also earn his second consecutive AL MVP award). The Philadelphia A's and Washington Senators finish the season with 98 victories but finish 14 games behind the Yankees.

The Pittsburgh Pirates (93-61) hold off a surging St. Louis Cardinal club and win the NL pennant by 2 games. Pitching, defense, speed, and clutch hitting are a winning formula for the Pirates and that formula brings some success to the team in the World Series. After splitting the first four games with the Yankees, the Bucs win Game 5 at Forbes Field by a 9-4 score. However, as the scene shifts back to the Bronx for Game 6, the Yanks rally for an 11-8 victory to force a 7th game.

In the deciding contest, the Pirates jump all over Yankee starter Red Ruffing. With the help of a throwing error by SS Frankie Crosetti in the 3rd, the Bucs take a 5-0 lead. The lead is then 7-0 by the middle of the 5th. With a 'never say die' attitude, the Yankees reduce the lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the 5th. Then in the sixth inning, the Yanks rally for six more runs capped by a 3 run HR by Frankie Crosetti who went from goat-to-hero in the span of three innings. With New York leading 8-7 in the top half of the ninth, Pirate infielder Pie Traynor (who hit over .450 for the series) has an opportunity to tie the game with a runner on third and two outs. However, Yankee pitcher Jumbo Brown gets Traynor to ground out 1-3 to end the game. New York survives the series and takes the '33 World Championship.

Well that's it for now. I'll try to recap a few more seasons once they are simmed.

09-03-2002, 12:07 PM	#1
kurtd Bat Boy Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5	Historic Century League: 1932-???? First of all, I apologize if I have stolen anyone's league name. I have started a fictitous league with real historical players starting with the 1932 season. Hall of Fame players are assigned to their original teams and everone else is available through an amateur draft. The players play in historically accurate stadiums with one exception: I did not put up a big screen in right field of Sportsmans Park in St. Louis. I plan on moving franchises to new cities and stadiums according to baseball history through 1968. Since my computer is old and the simulation is rather slow, I do not plan on expanding my league beyond 20 teams. Also, around the 1962 season, I will be changing to a 5 team 4 division format introducing a League Championship Series prior to the World Series. Around 1970, I will drastically veer away from 'real' baseball history. I do not plan on further expansion (beyond '62) or introducing the DH or free agency. I would like to see how my league develops with only the draft and trades available to the individual franchises. Here is a brief review of my first two (154 game) seasons: 1932: The Philadelphia A's, led by a record breaking 61 HR season by Jimmy Foxx and 29 wins from ace Lefty Grove, win the American League pennant with a 107-47 record. The Yankees win 102 games of their own behind 50 HR seasons by both Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth. The St. Louis Cardinals win a tight National League race (86-68) and take the A's to the brink in the World Series by forcing a 7th game. However, in the deciding game, the A's rally from a 2-1 deficit (with the help of a Foxx game tying HR) and eventually win 4-2 taking the title. 1933: The New York Yankees win the American League with an incredible 112-42 campaign. The Yankees boast a starting rotation with three 20 game winners. Despite his past success, 38 year old Babe Ruth loses his starting RF job to Ben Chapman and sees his HR production drop from 50 to 19. The Bambino would also fail to get a single AB in the World Series despite several pinch-hitting situations. Jimmy Foxx repeats his record setting HR performance of '32 by belting 61 HRs for the second consecutive season (he would also earn his second consecutive AL MVP award). The Philadelphia A's and Washington Senators finish the season with 98 victories but finish 14 games behind the Yankees. The Pittsburgh Pirates (93-61) hold off a surging St. Louis Cardinal club and win the NL pennant by 2 games. Pitching, defense, speed, and clutch hitting are a winning formula for the Pirates and that formula brings some success to the team in the World Series. After splitting the first four games with the Yankees, the Bucs win Game 5 at Forbes Field by a 9-4 score. However, as the scene shifts back to the Bronx for Game 6, the Yanks rally for an 11-8 victory to force a 7th game. In the deciding contest, the Pirates jump all over Yankee starter Red Ruffing. With the help of a throwing error by SS Frankie Crosetti in the 3rd, the Bucs take a 5-0 lead. The lead is then 7-0 by the middle of the 5th. With a 'never say die' attitude, the Yankees reduce the lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the 5th. Then in the sixth inning, the Yanks rally for six more runs capped by a 3 run HR by Frankie Crosetti who went from goat-to-hero in the span of three innings. With New York leading 8-7 in the top half of the ninth, Pirate infielder Pie Traynor (who hit over .450 for the series) has an opportunity to tie the game with a runner on third and two outs. However, Yankee pitcher Jumbo Brown gets Traynor to ground out 1-3 to end the game. New York survives the series and takes the '33 World Championship. Well that's it for now. I'll try to recap a few more seasons once they are simmed.