Fictional leagues - how to handle minors

AZTarHeel · 11-28-2025, 12:33 PM

I am trying to create the organic formation of a fictional baseball league in the late 1800/early 1900s. My plan: start with a few teams playing just a handful of games in the early years, things get more organized and then eventually a full-fledged circuit develops.

Have always wondered how I should handle minor leagues for this scenario. I was just going to use a reserve roster at first. But once things get more organized, and the league stabilizes do I start with one layer of minors? Do I have a rookie/futures league and a Triple A league to support the major league? Go all in on multiple layers of minors early?

Would love to hear ideas. I know players technically develop when they are on a reserve roster but it would be nice to see them in game action and how they actually perform. Just not sure the best way to mimic that in this case and don't want to hurt player development.

szathkey · 11-28-2025, 12:55 PM

I personally start with reserve rosters but add layers of minors as the player pool grows. I don’t do it systematically, but more as a response to the “growth of baseball” and whatever narrative is unfolding.

I normally start with AA, and then add on a AAA layer, as having those higher levels help you more accurately decide if someone is “ready” for the majors. Lower levels come after for me.

StratMan · 11-29-2025, 01:58 AM

I just started an 1871 league with 8 teams and decided to go with a 12-round draft and 3 levels of minors playing an 84-game schedule. 16 players on ML roster (4 pitchers), 20 on AAA (6 pitchers), and 24 on AA and A (7 pitchers).

I was originally planning to do reserve rosters but I didn't like the free agent mechanism, where they all show up one day and several sign contracts with teams before you can even see them.

I use 20-year free agency with KBO-style arbitration after 1 yr of service, allowing a couple years of minimum salary. The arb does a decent job of getting your players in your specified salary brackets and salaries go up and down (prob not fast enough down for aging stars).

I think this has worked fairly well. The draft is 80% High School and 20% JC, allowing only 13 rounds of players for the 12 round draft as the extras go to college and show up again. I have dev set to 190% for hitters and 170% for pitchers, playing an 84-game schedule, 3-4 games per week. #1 SP in majors pitches about 65-75 games. I use 3 SP in AAA and 4 in AA and A in a somewhat strict rotation for development.

Every 7 years the league will expand by 2 teams until we are at 16 in 1901. Games will jump from 84 to 108 to 132 to 144 and 154. I plan to expand to 4th level of minors around 1927-1928 and a fifth in the 1960s.

Hrycaj · 11-29-2025, 07:44 AM

I have one top league (MLB level) and pretty quickly I will add other leagues to the game that act as independent leagues. These are mostly regional based. Depending on how much you want to micro manage, as some of these independent amateur teams get better they can replace a top level team. This happened quite often in the 19th century. I would also create rival (MLB) leagues that would fold with some of the teams joining the main league. Anyway, to the point, once I get to around 1915 or so I have several leagues operating. I will then take those leagues and make become affiliates. You can do this a couple of different ways. The easiest way is to make the whole league become a leveled affiliate. Or you could make certain teams in certain leagues affiliates where the other clubs still act as independents. I will say to do any of this takes a mountain of micro managing and isn’t the most efficient way to play at all if your goal is to run a team at some point. Personally I am diagnosed world builder (we have group on Wednesdays

) and I enjoy replicated the full 19th century chaos and never take a team but just enjoy watching the league unfold. There is absolutely no right way to do any of this.just the one that is the most fun to you.Good luck and enjoy!

RyMACtizzle · 12-05-2025, 08:04 PM

I don't start a true minors league until 1920. Then add in another level around 1930 and the third level around 1940-1950. I have an independent league that acts as the other leagues of the era. I also have a 2-3 competing leagues that start in 1880/1885/1888 and some fold and the other leagues absorb a team or two.

Then in 1900 my two surviving leagues start the USBL with 8 teams each I think. I have teams move in out of cities and change nicknames througout the first 40 years (1880-1920). Things start to stabilize around that time with teams sticking with nickname and city. I still have some relocation but it is few and far between after 1920. I plan expansions at certain intervals. By 2000, I think I have 40 teams which is probably too many, but it's my world and I can do whatever I want.

I have an independent league that thinks its a major league (it's not so it's reputation is 2 notches below) in 1900. Eventually the independent league folds and the surviving teams become independent teams in my minor league, and then eventually becoming affiliated.

Have fun with whatever world you want to create.

11-29-2025, 07:44 AM	#4
Hrycaj All Star Starter Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,752	I have one top league (MLB level) and pretty quickly I will add other leagues to the game that act as independent leagues. These are mostly regional based. Depending on how much you want to micro manage, as some of these independent amateur teams get better they can replace a top level team. This happened quite often in the 19th century. I would also create rival (MLB) leagues that would fold with some of the teams joining the main league. Anyway, to the point, once I get to around 1915 or so I have several leagues operating. I will then take those leagues and make become affiliates. You can do this a couple of different ways. The easiest way is to make the whole league become a leveled affiliate. Or you could make certain teams in certain leagues affiliates where the other clubs still act as independents. I will say to do any of this takes a mountain of micro managing and isn’t the most efficient way to play at all if your goal is to run a team at some point. Personally I am diagnosed world builder (we have group on Wednesdays ) and I enjoy replicated the full 19th century chaos and never take a team but just enjoy watching the league unfold. There is absolutely no right way to do any of this.just the one that is the most fun to you.Good luck and enjoy! __________________ Click on my signature to read about the great game of baseball in Normington. Last edited by Hrycaj; 11-29-2025 at 07:45 AM.

11-28-2025, 12:33 PM	#1
AZTarHeel All Star Starter Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,683	Fictional leagues - how to handle minors I am trying to create the organic formation of a fictional baseball league in the late 1800/early 1900s. My plan: start with a few teams playing just a handful of games in the early years, things get more organized and then eventually a full-fledged circuit develops. Have always wondered how I should handle minor leagues for this scenario. I was just going to use a reserve roster at first. But once things get more organized, and the league stabilizes do I start with one layer of minors? Do I have a rookie/futures league and a Triple A league to support the major league? Go all in on multiple layers of minors early? Would love to hear ideas. I know players technically develop when they are on a reserve roster but it would be nice to see them in game action and how they actually perform. Just not sure the best way to mimic that in this case and don't want to hurt player development. __________________ Current Dynasty Project The Tobacco State League: A Summer With the Red Springs Red Robins From the Way-Back Machine (WAY old dynasty stories): Tale Tales: The Andrew Zarzour Story The Steve Victory Story: Tournament Dreams College Basketball! Baseball In The Tar Heel State: A Fictional Experience The Arizona League: Real Players. Fictional Teams

11-28-2025, 12:55 PM	#2
szathkey Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 201	I personally start with reserve rosters but add layers of minors as the player pool grows. I don’t do it systematically, but more as a response to the “growth of baseball” and whatever narrative is unfolding. I normally start with AA, and then add on a AAA layer, as having those higher levels help you more accurately decide if someone is “ready” for the majors. Lower levels come after for me.

11-29-2025, 01:58 AM	#3
StratMan Minors (Single A) Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 68	I just started an 1871 league with 8 teams and decided to go with a 12-round draft and 3 levels of minors playing an 84-game schedule. 16 players on ML roster (4 pitchers), 20 on AAA (6 pitchers), and 24 on AA and A (7 pitchers). I was originally planning to do reserve rosters but I didn't like the free agent mechanism, where they all show up one day and several sign contracts with teams before you can even see them. I use 20-year free agency with KBO-style arbitration after 1 yr of service, allowing a couple years of minimum salary. The arb does a decent job of getting your players in your specified salary brackets and salaries go up and down (prob not fast enough down for aging stars). I think this has worked fairly well. The draft is 80% High School and 20% JC, allowing only 13 rounds of players for the 12 round draft as the extras go to college and show up again. I have dev set to 190% for hitters and 170% for pitchers, playing an 84-game schedule, 3-4 games per week. #1 SP in majors pitches about 65-75 games. I use 3 SP in AAA and 4 in AA and A in a somewhat strict rotation for development. Every 7 years the league will expand by 2 teams until we are at 16 in 1901. Games will jump from 84 to 108 to 132 to 144 and 154. I plan to expand to 4th level of minors around 1927-1928 and a fifth in the 1960s.

12-05-2025, 08:04 PM	#5
RyMACtizzle Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 242	I don't start a true minors league until 1920. Then add in another level around 1930 and the third level around 1940-1950. I have an independent league that acts as the other leagues of the era. I also have a 2-3 competing leagues that start in 1880/1885/1888 and some fold and the other leagues absorb a team or two. Then in 1900 my two surviving leagues start the USBL with 8 teams each I think. I have teams move in out of cities and change nicknames througout the first 40 years (1880-1920). Things start to stabilize around that time with teams sticking with nickname and city. I still have some relocation but it is few and far between after 1920. I plan expansions at certain intervals. By 2000, I think I have 40 teams which is probably too many, but it's my world and I can do whatever I want. I have an independent league that thinks its a major league (it's not so it's reputation is 2 notches below) in 1900. Eventually the independent league folds and the surviving teams become independent teams in my minor league, and then eventually becoming affiliated. Have fun with whatever world you want to create.