American Baseball Leagues - Alternative historical what-if

THR33 · 03-21-2017, 07:18 PM

In this thread I'll post updates to a custom alternative historical replay beginning in 1871.

The premise of this "what if" is to mimic the club aspect of football and provide a true baseball leagues pyramid using many of today's modern rules from the beginning of baseball's history.

I've tinkered with this replay every year since OOTP5 but the integrated promotion/relegation functions with OOTP18 have sparked a renewed interest. I wanted to take a fresh look and go more in depth than I have with any previous edition.
Beginning in 1871 with a focus on using minimal fictional players initially, expansion of teams and leagues will be slow but consistent.

CURRENT PYRAMID

THR33 · 03-21-2017, 07:56 PM

1871 - INITIAL LAUNCH
Major League Baseball launches with eight charter franchises divided across the American and National Leagues.

All 114 players in 1871 universe were dropped into an inaugural serpentine draft.

THR33 · 03-21-2017, 09:16 PM

1871 RECAP
Philadelphia Athletics stomp Chicago White Sox, 4-0 in inaugural World Series.

Lack of pitchers forced disabling of injuries/suspensions.

Parity in both leagues was surprising though I suspect having Interleague Play enabled is driving some of this.

THR33 · 03-21-2017, 09:45 PM

1872 RECAP
Chicago White Sox win the rematch from last season's World Series, defeating Philadelphia Athletics in seven games.

No expansion scheduled as average roster size is currently 16.5 with just 2 pitchers.

Parity remains unmatched from any of my similar replays on previous OOTP versions.

THR33 · 03-21-2017, 10:34 PM

1873 RECAP
Cleveland Forest Citys capture their first World Series, defeating defending champion Chicago White Sox in five games.

Average roster size has expanded to 22.5 and some teams are beginning to use their AAA team. Lack of pitchers forces postponement of first evolution of league structure.

THR33 · 03-22-2017, 12:37 AM

1874 RECAP
St. Louis Browns defeat Boston Red Sox, 4-3.

All 25 man rosters are now filled and all teams have 7-10 players on AAA squad. League structure to evolve during offseason.

THR33 · 03-27-2017, 02:02 AM

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION / FEDERAL LEAGUE ESTABLISHED
Feb 1, 1875

The new Federal League has been created with four new teams:

New York Mutuals
Troy Haymakers
Washington Olympics
Rockford Forest Citys

The Federal League (FL) will serve as the lone second division of professional baseball in the newly formed National Association. The FL champion will join Major League Baseball the following season as promotion and relegation is being introduced as part of the National Association affiliation between MLB and FL. The promoted FL champion will replace the MLB team that finishes with the lowest winning pct at season's end.

=======================================

How was this accomplished?

It took some trial and error and some manual work to limit fictional players, but here is what I did during January 1875:

-Expanded MLB with four new teams
-Completed Expansion Draft (20 rounds) with player protection list = 20
-Created Federal League with Triple A affiliated sub league
-Deleted all players and teams from Federal League
-Moved 4 new teams from first step above from MLB to FL
-Moved Triple A affiliates of new teams from MLB3A to FL3A
-Mirrored rules for FL/FL3A to MLB/MLB3A
-Generated new schedules for all leagues

The integrated promotion/relegation function is turned on but not automated to allow for MLB relegation playoff.

NEW PYRAMID

THR33 · 03-27-2017, 03:18 AM

1875 RECAP
The first National Association combined draft was conducted with all 12 teams from the MLB and FL.

Cleveland Forest Citys win their second WS in three seasons, defeating Brooklyn Atlantics 4-1.

In the inaugural Federal League Championship Series, New York Mutuals rode FL pitching triple crown winner Joe Borden to a 4-2 series victory over Washington Olympics.

A power outage has struck across the National Association with only one player hitting more than 5 home runs (Gat Stires - 9).

THR33 · 03-27-2017, 11:28 PM

1876 RECAP

MLB World Series: Brooklyn Atlantics over Baltimore Canaries in 7 games
FL Championship: Boston Red Sox sweep Rockford Forest Citys
Promotion: Boston Red Sox (FL to MLB)
Relegation: New York Mutuals (MLB to FL)

The first foray into promotion/relegation shows the gap in talent between the charter MLB franchises and the new FL clubs. Boston compiled a ridiculous record of 132-30 with a run differential of +623(!!!) in their lone season in the second division.

On the flipside, MLB newcomers New York Mutuals struggled to a 37-125 record with just 14 wins at home and will return to the FL.

No expansion as draft class was minuscule for 1876. Average organization size = 22.75 players.

jDaveMc1984 · 03-28-2017, 11:35 AM

Thanks for this! This makes me want to set up my own MLB/Federal League Promotion Relegation.

Maybe when it gets to the 1900's you include a third tier? Maybe keep MLB as the smallest league with the highest concentration of talent (like, 8-10 teams max?)

THR33 · 04-01-2017, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jDaveMc1984

Thanks for this! This makes me want to set up my own MLB/Federal League Promotion Relegation.

Maybe when it gets to the 1900's you include a third tier? Maybe keep MLB as the smallest league with the highest concentration of talent (like, 8-10 teams max?)

I'm hoping to keep interested in this enough to get to several tiers. I once got to the 1960's and had 80 teams spread across five leagues and four tiers. I'd like to get into the 1990's this go round.

THR33 · 04-01-2017, 01:41 AM

1877 RECAP

MLB World Series: Baltimore Canaries over Brooklyn Atlantics in 5 games (rematch of 1876 World Series)
FL Championship: Rockford Forest Citys sweep Troy Haymakers
Promotion: Rockford Forest Citys (FL to MLB)
Relegation: Boston Red Sox (MLB to FL, 2nd relegation all-time)

The revolving door in Boston continues to turn as the Red Sox have gone down-up-down the past three seasons. They will return to Federal League in 1878.

In the FL, the Washington Olympics have set the bar for futility, finishing the season with an amazingly pathetic 21-141 record.

THR33 · 04-02-2017, 12:32 PM

1878 RECAP

MLB World Series: Cincinnati Reds win their first WS with a sweep of Baltimore Canaries.
FL Championship: Boston Red Sox defeat Troy Haymakers in 5.
Promotion: Boston Red Sox (FL to MLB, 2nd promotion all-time)
Relegation: Rockford Forest Citys (MLB to FL, 2nd relegation all-time)

The FL teams promoted to MLB have gotten crushed thus far.

All three leagues had a pitching triple crown winner: Jim Britt (AL), Lon Knight (NL), AL Spalding (FL).

03-21-2017, 07:18 PM	#1
THR33 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 13	American Baseball Leagues - Alternative historical what-if In this thread I'll post updates to a custom alternative historical replay beginning in 1871. The premise of this "what if" is to mimic the club aspect of football and provide a true baseball leagues pyramid using many of today's modern rules from the beginning of baseball's history. I've tinkered with this replay every year since OOTP5 but the integrated promotion/relegation functions with OOTP18 have sparked a renewed interest. I wanted to take a fresh look and go more in depth than I have with any previous edition. Beginning in 1871 with a focus on using minimal fictional players initially, expansion of teams and leagues will be slow but consistent. CURRENT PYRAMID Attached Images Last edited by THR33; 03-27-2017 at 02:09 AM.

03-21-2017, 07:56 PM	#2
THR33 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 13	1871 - INITIAL LAUNCH Major League Baseball launches with eight charter franchises divided across the American and National Leagues. All 114 players in 1871 universe were dropped into an inaugural serpentine draft. Attached Images

03-21-2017, 09:16 PM	#3
THR33 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 13	1871 RECAP Philadelphia Athletics stomp Chicago White Sox, 4-0 in inaugural World Series. Lack of pitchers forced disabling of injuries/suspensions. Parity in both leagues was surprising though I suspect having Interleague Play enabled is driving some of this. Attached Images

03-21-2017, 09:45 PM	#4
THR33 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 13	1872 RECAP Chicago White Sox win the rematch from last season's World Series, defeating Philadelphia Athletics in seven games. No expansion scheduled as average roster size is currently 16.5 with just 2 pitchers. Parity remains unmatched from any of my similar replays on previous OOTP versions. Attached Images

03-21-2017, 10:34 PM	#5
THR33 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 13	1873 RECAP Cleveland Forest Citys capture their first World Series, defeating defending champion Chicago White Sox in five games. Average roster size has expanded to 22.5 and some teams are beginning to use their AAA team. Lack of pitchers forces postponement of first evolution of league structure. Attached Images

03-22-2017, 12:37 AM	#6
THR33 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 13	1874 RECAP St. Louis Browns defeat Boston Red Sox, 4-3. All 25 man rosters are now filled and all teams have 7-10 players on AAA squad. League structure to evolve during offseason. Attached Images

03-27-2017, 02:02 AM	#7
THR33 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 13	NATIONAL ASSOCIATION / FEDERAL LEAGUE ESTABLISHED Feb 1, 1875 The new Federal League has been created with four new teams: New York Mutuals Troy Haymakers Washington Olympics Rockford Forest Citys The Federal League (FL) will serve as the lone second division of professional baseball in the newly formed National Association. The FL champion will join Major League Baseball the following season as promotion and relegation is being introduced as part of the National Association affiliation between MLB and FL. The promoted FL champion will replace the MLB team that finishes with the lowest winning pct at season's end. ======================================= How was this accomplished? It took some trial and error and some manual work to limit fictional players, but here is what I did during January 1875: -Expanded MLB with four new teams -Completed Expansion Draft (20 rounds) with player protection list = 20 -Created Federal League with Triple A affiliated sub league -Deleted all players and teams from Federal League -Moved 4 new teams from first step above from MLB to FL -Moved Triple A affiliates of new teams from MLB3A to FL3A -Mirrored rules for FL/FL3A to MLB/MLB3A -Generated new schedules for all leagues The integrated promotion/relegation function is turned on but not automated to allow for MLB relegation playoff. NEW PYRAMID Attached Images Last edited by THR33; 03-27-2017 at 10:39 PM.

03-27-2017, 03:18 AM	#8
THR33 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 13	1875 RECAP The first National Association combined draft was conducted with all 12 teams from the MLB and FL. Cleveland Forest Citys win their second WS in three seasons, defeating Brooklyn Atlantics 4-1. In the inaugural Federal League Championship Series, New York Mutuals rode FL pitching triple crown winner Joe Borden to a 4-2 series victory over Washington Olympics. A power outage has struck across the National Association with only one player hitting more than 5 home runs (Gat Stires - 9). Attached Images

03-27-2017, 11:28 PM	#9
THR33 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 13	1876 RECAP MLB World Series: Brooklyn Atlantics over Baltimore Canaries in 7 games FL Championship: Boston Red Sox sweep Rockford Forest Citys Promotion: Boston Red Sox (FL to MLB) Relegation: New York Mutuals (MLB to FL) The first foray into promotion/relegation shows the gap in talent between the charter MLB franchises and the new FL clubs. Boston compiled a ridiculous record of 132-30 with a run differential of +623(!!!) in their lone season in the second division. On the flipside, MLB newcomers New York Mutuals struggled to a 37-125 record with just 14 wins at home and will return to the FL. No expansion as draft class was minuscule for 1876. Average organization size = 22.75 players.

03-28-2017, 11:35 AM	#10
jDaveMc1984 Minors (Single A) Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Gap PA Posts: 94	Thanks for this! This makes me want to set up my own MLB/Federal League Promotion Relegation. Maybe when it gets to the 1900's you include a third tier? Maybe keep MLB as the smallest league with the highest concentration of talent (like, 8-10 teams max?) __________________ I just got out of the shower!

04-01-2017, 01:41 AM	#12
THR33 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 13	1877 RECAP MLB World Series: Baltimore Canaries over Brooklyn Atlantics in 5 games (rematch of 1876 World Series) FL Championship: Rockford Forest Citys sweep Troy Haymakers Promotion: Rockford Forest Citys (FL to MLB) Relegation: Boston Red Sox (MLB to FL, 2nd relegation all-time) The revolving door in Boston continues to turn as the Red Sox have gone down-up-down the past three seasons. They will return to Federal League in 1878. In the FL, the Washington Olympics have set the bar for futility, finishing the season with an amazingly pathetic 21-141 record.

04-02-2017, 12:32 PM	#13
THR33 Bat Boy Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 13	1878 RECAP MLB World Series: Cincinnati Reds win their first WS with a sweep of Baltimore Canaries. FL Championship: Boston Red Sox defeat Troy Haymakers in 5. Promotion: Boston Red Sox (FL to MLB, 2nd promotion all-time) Relegation: Rockford Forest Citys (MLB to FL, 2nd relegation all-time) The FL teams promoted to MLB have gotten crushed thus far. All three leagues had a pitching triple crown winner: Jim Britt (AL), Lon Knight (NL), AL Spalding (FL).