1871: Baseball Turns Pro In New York (An Alternate History)

[OmahaReynolds]

Intro: I've always been fascinated by baseball history, and I've always wanted to start a small league in 1871 and watch it progress and expand throughout the years. After a few months with no computer, I'm back in OOTP land!

This will be an alternate history dynasty with 100% fictional teams and players. It will mirror history somewhat, but my main goal is to make it fresh and original. I'm playing with stats only, and I'll always be controlling a manager. Whenever the manager gets to a certain age, I'll start a new manager. So in addition to following the league as a whole, I'll give a more in depth view of the team I'm controlling.

I'll start with a little background and a brief overview of the teams. Note that before the first season starts, I won't have anything to go by as far as players ability except the vague scout comments. As soon as things kick off, this will get a little more in depth.

Background
The year is 1871. After ten years of failed attempts at striking rich in New York, Washington State native Everett Gallimore has finally found his million dollar idea: turn America's favorite game into a business. After three years of planning and gathering investors, the New York Professional Baseball Association is set to kick off April 1st, 1871.

In eight cities across New York State, people are waiting anxiously for opening day to begin. The concept of a league of professional baseball players has taken the nation by storm, firing up fierce debate on whether or not it will really work.

The eight teams are set to play a twenty-eight game schedule lasting into October. Will this experient in professional sports work? Or will it just sparkle and fade? Let's have a look at the teams.

Albany Militia

Led by the famous first baseman Paul "Clam" Roberts, Mike Maddox's Militia boast the second highest payroll in the league and are expected to leave a huge impression on the 1871 season. However, Albany's pitching situation looks a little shaky. It's hard to say if they have what it takes to win the pennant.

Brooklyn Admirals

With the NYPBA's highest payroll, the Admirals are loaded with heavy hitters like Bubba Brooks and Gilbert Good, who happen to be the two highest paid players in baseball. Their starting pitcher, Andy Dunn, is one of the best in the nation. Definite contenders for the penant. Owner Bob Thorn is known as a hard man to work under, so the pressure will be on GM Brian Clemmons this year.

Buffalo Blues

The Blues are a decent looking team on paper, but don't really look like top contenders. Pitcher Eric Blunsdon is one of the best in the game, but hitting might be a problem for Buffalo. GM Jack Monte has his work cut out for him. With Scott Tarvin, who did well in New York City in the late 1860's, in left field, they might have enough to push into the top three. Only time will tell.

New York Kings

Everett Gallimore wasn't satisfied with owning the league, he had to have his own team as well. In addition to acquiring registration fees from the other teams, he gets the cash cow that is a New York baseball team. But how does the talent look? With Pete Wauchope, Bill Corum and Ron Hartshorne, they might just have the best outfield in the League. The infield looks a little sketchy, and in the end they don't seem like pennant winners.

[OmahaReynolds]

Rochester Gray Caps

Gray Caps pitcher Dan Calhoun is one of the best, and can carry this team a long way. Doug Potts is a great second baseman, but Bill Cordell on first base looks like a glaring weakness. If the infield can hold their own, with solid pitching, Rochester might be looking pretty good in 1871.

Syracuse Lions

Syracuse has the best center fielder in the game, period. Luther Rogan is a force to be reckoned with, both on the plate and on the field. Pitching is nice, and everything else looks about average. Owner Walt Wells is known to be a very easy-going owner, so management shouldn't have much to worry about if this season isn't the best. There's definitely foundation to build on.

Troy Titans

Believe it or not, but this small town team looks great. Teddy Pembroke is being hailed as the best young talent in America, and he'll be on the mound leading the Titans in 1871. Bruce Robertson in right field will be an added boost on the offense as well as the defense.

Utica Red Caps

The pitching is there, the catching is great, infield defense is terrific. 1871 might be known as the year of the small town club with Troy and Utica leading the pack.

[OmahaReynolds]

The first manager I'll be playing and following the career of is Brooklyn native Jack Monte. I'll be controlling the Buffalo Blues this season, and for many seasons afterward assuming I don't get fired for not living up to the owner's .500 expectation. After 38 rounds of inaugural draft fun, the team has been set up and is ready to go. I'd like to go over the players on the active roster, and I'll start with the pitching staff.

From left to right: Phil Bergeron, Eric Blunsdon, Will Bennington, B.D. Yancy and Bob O'Cullinan

Eric 'Pop' Blunsdon:
DoB: 5/23/1837
Hometown: Albany, Georgia
Pop is the team's ace, and he'll likely pitch 90% or more of the innings this season. Our scout says he's Hall Of Fame Calibur. He could easily be one of the best starters in the league, almost all eight teams seem to have a great starting pitcher. If the infield and the offense does their job, Blunsdon should put up some good numbers.

Phil Bergeron:
DoB: 4/26/1850
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Should anything happen to Blunsdon, Phil will take the role of starting pitcher. He was named #75 by Baseball America in their top 100 prospects for 1871. Our scout says he has amazing control and above-average stuff. He'll be pitching relief innings if Blunsdon needs to be pulled for any reason.

Will Bennington
DoB: 3/18/1839
Hometown: North Prairie, Wisconsin
Bennington was our 16th pick in the inaugural draft. Scouts praised his relief abilities, and he gives us another solid option for extra innings. One of the worries with Will is that his clubhouse attitude isn't the most admirable, and he's seen by a fair share of players as lacking full drive and effort.

B.D. Yancy
DoB: 7/31/1846
Hometown: Newark, New Jersey
Yancey's already made fast friends with almost everybody in the clubhouse, but during warm-ups he's often seen goofing off when he should be proving himself as the number one reliever. Scouts say he's above-average in almost all areas, and he's still young, so the potential for great things is definitely there.

Bob O'Cullinan
DoB: 12/30/1847
Hometown: New York, New York
Another rising star in baseball, Bob grew up playing ball in the streets of Hell's Kitchen in Manhattan. Even at such a young age the team looks up to him as a leader. The scouts love this guy, and it will be interesting to see how he plays out in a relief role.


Overall, I'm very happy with the pitching outlook for the team and I think there is a lot of depth incase we're riddled with injuries. I also have plenty of very young pitching prospects sitting in the reserves.

[OmahaReynolds]

Troy has dominated the first month of the 1871 season, winning five straight games and sitting in first place. The small town teams are leading the pack so far, with Brooklyn and New York in the middle.


Batter of the Month: Pete Wauchope
Wauchope was the 9th overall pick in the inaugural draft. In April he managed 10 hits and 7 RBIs in 22 plate appearances. The 27-year-old is a New York City native and has become quite the hometown hero. He's also got the full package: amazing contact, explosive power, and a great eye. A guy to watch over the next few years.


Pitcher of the Month: Davis Nesling
Here is a pitcher anyone would kill to put on the mound. In five starts he's posted an insane ERA of 0.89 and recorded two shutouts in April. At age 33, he might be at the peak of his performance for the next season or two, and Utica should capitalize on it as much as possible. It's been said that he's very selfish in the clubhouse and doesn't really carry a "team" mentality.


Rookie of the Month: Dan Cobley
Cobley has been a huge surprise in April considering that he's been overlooked by virtually all scouts in the NYPBA. He was an 18th round draft pick, and has been sharing game time evenly with Vernon Stopford. His performance so far this season has been stellar, hitting .667 in 12 at-bats. It's still very early in the season, but for someone everybody expected to spend the majority of time on the bench he's been a please surprise.

[OmahaReynolds]

Utica and Syracuse lead the pack while the big city teams continue to struggle. Buffalo went undefeated in may, coming from a 1-4 record up to a positive 5-4.


Batter of the Month: Bubba Brooks
Brooklyn's superstar second baseman batted .625 in May and drove in five runs. Going into June he's leading the league in several hitting categories. Small wonder he's the highest paid player in baseball, with an annual salary of over $400/year. He's on contract with the Admirals until the end of the 1874 season.


Pitcher of the Month: Pop Blunsdon
It's been a rollercoaster ride for Blunsdon so far this season, but May ended up a solid month for the Buffalo starter. He went 4-0, with a 2.83 ERA pitching four complete games. Blunsdon had a few problem starts in April, when the team went 1-4 to end the first month of the season. In a league full of superb pitching, Blunsdon remains mid-tier at best.


Rookie of the Month: Andy Reilly
Reilly has filled his role for Rochester as a backup starter/reliever very nicely this season. The Gray Caps are getting their moeney's worth with a contract of only $108/year. Scouts have raised concerns about his work ethic and nobody is sure if there is a possible starting role for him in the future. He's proven himself well so far, going 2-0/2.65 in two starts in May.

[OmahaReynolds]

Troy still leads the pack, and New York keeps sliding down the ranks.
Looks to be a tight race between Troy and Syracuse that could last all season. The amateur draft was held, and teams got their pick of fresh talent.


Batter of the Month: Dan Cobley
The rookie catcher from California is one of the reasons Troy has held onto first place all season. The 26-year-old switch hitter is a contact king.


Pitcher of the Month: Kevin Fellowes
Overall, he's slightly under league average but he managed an impressive 3-1, 1.95 ERA record in June. At 37, this might be the year Fellowes goes out with a bang.


Rookie of the Month: Teddy Pembroke
There's nothing more exciting than a talented young ace making his way in the game. Even after a month of rehabilitation following tendonitis of the bicep, Pembroke came back in mid-May and has been baffling hitters ever since. After the inaugural draft in April, Baseball America named him the #1 prospect.

[OmahaReynolds]

Recap: July 1871

Syracuse has jumped ahead of the pack and Troy and Buffalo are set to battle it out as contenders. With only ten games left in the season it the heat is on. New York and Rochester are all but out of contention. Several trades were made as the league approached the July 31st deadline, the most notable being the Brooklyn-Syracuse trade, which gave the Lions an even greater edge with the addition of first baseman Mike McBrieve (.361/.355/.475).


Batter of the Month & Rookie of the Month: Dave Hoy
The Syracuse shortstop was awarded twice in July, batting .478 with 3 RBIs and 6 runs scored.


Pitcher of the Month: Jim Jones
Syracuse starter Jones posted a 2.20 ERA, going 5-0 in July. Might be looking at the pitcher of the year here.